will
drink with the blinds down, and then drive back to town again. He has
been made American ambassador, by the way, and will go in to dinner
before Robert. My dear, I can think of few things which Robert is less
fitted to bear than that. However, we all have our crosses, even those
of us who have our coronets also."

Lady Ashbridge's hospitable instincts asserted themselves. "But your
husband must come in," she said. "I will go and tell him. And Robert has
gone to play golf."

Barbara laughed.

"I am quite sure Tony won't come in," she said. "I promised him he
shouldn't, and he only drove down with me on the express stipulation
that no risks were to be run about his seeing Robert. We must take no
chances, so let him have his tea quietly in the motor and then drive
away again. And who else is there? Anybody? Michael?"

"Michael comes this evening."

"I am glad; I am particularly fond of Michael. Also he will play to us
after dinner, and though I don't know one note from another, it will
relieve me of sitting in a stately circle watching Robert cheat at
patience. I always find the evenings here rather trying; they remind me
of being in church. I feel as if I were part of a corporate body, which
leads to misplaced decorum. Ah! there is the sound of Tony's retreating
motor; his strategic movement has come off. And now give me some news,
if you can get in a word. Dear me, there is Robert coming back across
the lawn. What a mercy that Tony did not leave the motor. Robert always
walks as if he was dancing a minuet. Look, there is Og imitating him! Or
is he stalking him, thinking he is an enemy. Og, come here!"

She whistled shrilly on her fingers, and rose to greet her brother, whom
Og was still menacing, as he advanced towards her with staccato steps.
Barbara, however, got between Og and his prey, and threw her parasol at
him.

"My dear, how are you?" she said. "And how did the golf go? And did you
beat the professional?"

He suspected flippancy here, and became markedly dignified.

"An excellent match," he said, "and Macpherson tells me I played a very
sound game. I am delighted to see you, Barbara. And did Michael come
down with you?"

"No. I drove from town. It saves time, but not expense, with your awful
trains."

"And you are well, and Mr. Jerome?" he asked. He always called his
brother-in-law Mr. Jerome, to indicate the gulf between them. Barbara
gave a little spurt of laughter.

"Yes, his excellency