is quite well," she said. "You must call him
excellency now, my dear."

"Indeed! That is a great step."

"Considering that Tony began as an office-boy. How richly rewarding you
are, my dear. And shan't I make an odd ambassadress! I haven't been to a
Court since the dark ages, when I went to those beloved States. We will
practise after dinner, dear, and you and Marion shall be the King and
Queen, and I will try to walk backwards without tumbling on my head. You
will like being the King, Robert. And then we will be ourselves again,
all except Og, who shall be Tony and shall go out of the room before
you."

He gave his treble little giggle, for on the whole it answered better
not to be dignified with Barbara, whenever he could remember not to
be; and Lady Ashbridge, still nursing Petsy, threw a bombshell of the
obvious to explode the conversation.

"Og has two mutton-chops for his dinner," she said, "and he is growing
still. Fancy!"

Lord Ashbridge took a refreshing glance at the broad stretch of country
that all belonged to him.

"I am rather glad to have this opportunity of talking to you, my dear
Barbara," he said, "before Michael comes."

"His train gets in half an hour before dinner" said Lady Ashbridge. "He
has to change at Stoneborough."

"Quite so. I heard from Michael this morning, saying that he has
resigned his commission in the Guards, and is going to take up music
seriously."

Barbara gave a delighted exclamation.

"But how perfectly splendid!" she said. "Fancy a Comber doing anything
original! Michael and I are the only Combers who ever have, since
Combers 'arose from out the azure main' in the year one. I married an
American; that's something, though it's not up to Michael!"

"That is not quite my view of it," said he. "As for its being original,
it would be original enough if Marion eloped with a Patagonian."

Lady Ashbridge let fall her embroidery at this monstrous suggestion.

"You are talking very wildly, Robert," she said, in a pained voice.

"My dear, get on with your sacred carpet," said he. "I am talking to
Barbara. I have already ascertained your--your lack of views on the
subject. I was saying, Barbara, that mere originality is not a merit."

"No, you never said that," remarked Lady Ashbridge.

"I should have if you had allowed me to. And as for your saying that he
has done it, Barbara, that is very wide of the mark, and I intend shall
continue to be so."

"Dear great Bashaw,