he smaller conveniences; so that when
he took up a trifle it was not perforce in every case the sign of an
uncanny calculation. When the elephant in the show plays the fiddle it
must be mainly with the presumption of consequent apples; which was
why, doubtless, this personage had half the time the air of assuring
you that, really civilised as his type had now become, no apples were
required. Mr. Longdon viewed him with a vague apprehension and as if
quite unable to meet the question of what he would have called for such
a personage the social responsibility. Did this specimen of his class
pull the tradition down or did he just take it where he found it--in the
very different place from that in which, on ceasing so long ago to "go
out," Mr. Longdon had left it? Our friend doubtless averted himself
from the possibility of a mental dilemma; if the man didn't lower the
position was it the position then that let down the man? Somehow he
wasn't positively up. More evidence would be needed to decide; yet
it was just of more evidence that one remained rather in dread. Lord
Petherton was kind to little Aggie, kind to her companion, kind to
every one, after Mr. Longdon had explained that she was so good as to be
giving him the list of her dear friends. "I'm only a little dismayed,"
the elder man said, "to find Mr. Mitchett at the bottom."

"Oh but it's an awfully short list, isn't it? If it consists only of
me and Mitchy he's not so very low down. We don't allow her very MANY
friends; we look out too well for ourselves." He addressed the child
as on an easy jocose understanding. "Is the question, Aggie, whether we
shall allow you Mr. Longdon? Won't that rather 'do' for us--for Mitchy
and me? I say, Duchess," he went on as this lady reappeared, "ARE we
going to allow her Mr. Longdon and do we quite realise what we're about?
We mount guard awfully, you know"--he carried the joke back to the
person he had named. "We sift and we sort, we pick the candidates over,
and I should like to hear any one say that in this case at least I don't
keep a watch on my taste. Oh we close in!"

The Duchess, the object of her quest in her hand, had come back. "Well
then Mr. Longdon will close WITH us--you'll consider henceforth that
he's as safe as yourself. Here's the letter I wanted you to read--with
which you'll please take a turn, in strict charge of the child, and then
restore her to us. If you don't come I shall know you've found Mitchy
and sha