ie. Be as proud and unpleasant as you like to my daughter, but
leave me alone. Mind that!"

His lordship promised, and in pursuance of his host's instructions
strove manfully to subdue feelings towards Miss Rose by no means in
accordance with them. The best of us are liable to absent-mindedness,
and he sometimes so far forgot himself as to address her in tones as
humble as any in her somewhat large experience.

"I hope that we are making you comfortable here, my lord?" she said, as
they sat together one afternoon.

"I have never been more comfortable in my life," was the gracious reply.

Miss Rose shook her head. "Oh, my lord," she said, in protest, "think of
your mansion."

His lordship thought of it. For two or three days he had been thinking
of houses and furniture and other things of that nature.

"I have never seen an old country seat," continued Miss Rose, clasping
her hands and gazing at him wistfully. "I should be so grateful if your
lordship would describe yours to me."

His lordship shifted uneasily, and then, in face of the girl's
persistence, stood for some time divided between the contending claims
of Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London. He finally decided upon
the former, after first refurnishing it at Maple's.

"How happy you must be!" said the breathless Jane, when he had finished.

He shook his head gravely. "My possessions have never given me any
happiness," he remarked. "I would much rather be in a humble rank of
life. Live where I like, and--and marry whom I like."

There was no mistaking the meaning fall in his voice. Miss Rose sighed
gently and lowered her eyes--her lashes had often excited comment. Then,
in a soft voice, she asked him the sort of life he would prefer.

In reply, his lordship, with an eloquence which surprised himself,
portrayed the joys of life in a seven-roomed house in town, with a
greenhouse six feet by three, and a garden large enough to contain it.
He really spoke well, and when he had finished his listener gazed at him
with eyes suffused with timid admiration.

"Oh, my lord," she said, prettily, "now I know what you've been doing.
You've been slumming."

"Slumming?" gasped his lordship.

"You couldn't have described a place like that unless you had been,"
said Miss Rose nodding. "I hope you took the poor people some nice hot
soup."

His lordship tried to explain, but without success. Miss Rose persisted
in regarding him as a missionary of food and