.

Let us return to "The Bower." The Admiral having presented his
daughters, and arranged them in line again, cleared his throat and
began--

"Though aware that, as judged by the standard of the best society,
this visit may be condemned as premature, I have thought right to
stifle such apprehensions in my anxiety to assure you of a welcome in
Troy--I may say, an open-armed welcome."

Here the Admiral actually spread his arms abroad. His hostess
retreated a step.

"My daughters,--Calypso, I perceive an errant curl--my daughters,
madam, will bear me out when I say that only excess of feeling
prevents their mother from joining in this--may I call it so?--this
ovation."

(In point of fact, Mrs. Buzza had been judged too red in the eyes to
accompany the Admiral.)

"Ever since I beheld you and your husband--whom I do not see"
(here the Admiral stared ferociously under a table), "but who, I
trust, is in health--for the first time in church yesterday"--
(Oh, Admiral Buzza!)--"I have been forcibly reminded of an expression
in one of our British poets, which runs--Sophia, how the devil does
it run?"

Neither of the Misses Buzza had the faintest idea. Their father's
efforts to remember it were interrupted by Mrs. Goodwyn-Sandys, who
begged them, with a charming smile, to be seated.

"My husband," she said, "will be down in a minute or two. It is
really most kind of you to call; for, as strangers, we are naturally
anxious to hear about the place and its people."

Her voice, which was low and musical, came with the prettiest trip
upon the tongue. There was just the faintest shade of brogue in it--
for instance, she said "me husband"--but I cannot attempt to
reproduce it.

Upon this hinted desire for information, the Admiral bestowed his
cocked-hat under the chair, and began--

"Our small town, ma'am, may be viewed in many aspects--as an emporium
of commerce, a holiday centre, or a health resort. In our trade you
would naturally, with your tastes, find little interest. It is
rather our scenic advantages, our romantic fortresses, our river
(pronounced by many to equal the Rhine), our mild atmosphere--"

"On the contrary, I take the greatest interest in your trade."

The Admiral lifted his brows and smiled, as one who would imply
"You are kind enough to say so, but really, with your high
connections, that can hardly be seriously believed." What he said
was--

"It is indeed good of you to interest yourself i