5."

Miss Matilda sniffed viciously.

"Mr. Marchmont," continued the Bishop, "in whose statements, I need
hardly say, I place no reliance, informed my sister that you had been
married with unusual frequency; and my son tells me, also, that you've
admitted to him a--er--a considerable number of--er--matrimonial
alliances. Would you--er--er--consider it an intrusion on my part if I
asked how many times you have been married?"

"I've had the marriage service performed over me," she replied,
"thirty-seven times in four years."

Miss Matilda threw up her hands in an access of horror.

"But your husbands--" stammered his Lordship.

"I never had but one husband," she said. "And here he stands." And she
took Spotts's hand in hers.

"Bless my soul!" exclaimed the Bishop. "You surely haven't married him
thirty-seven times?"

"Yes, that is exactly the case," she returned.

"But I don't understand."

"The explanation is very simple," she replied. "My husband and I are
both actors. He plays the part of the hero, and I the part of the
heroine. In the fifth act, after many struggles and disappointments,
we're at last united. To have the marriage ceremony actually performed
on the stage, or the next day at church, has always proved a great
attraction to our audiences. At first I objected. But I've been informed
by a competent authority in my own country that there's no canonical
rule against it, and in remarrying my husband I merely renew my vows to
him, and I've never once gone through the ceremony lightly or
thoughtlessly. I do not defend the practice, or expect you to approve of
it, and, now that you know the truth, I shouldn't think of asking you to
marry us again; but I don't consider that I've done anything of which I
need be ashamed."

"Dear me!" said the Bishop. "In my ecclesiastical position I can hardly
approve of the course you've taken; but as a man--well, it's a great
relief to me."

"I consider it a sacrilege," exclaimed Miss Matilda, "and, as I remarked
to Cecil this morning, that young person leaves the palace to-day, or I
do!"

"You'll naturally act as seems to you best," said her brother. "But I
beg you to remember that I'm master of this house, and that this lady is
my guest."

"And who, pray, will keep your house for you when I'm gone?" she
snapped.

"I'm sure that Mrs. Spotts will attend to it for me until Mrs.
Mackintosh and I are married."

"Till you're married!" his sister repeated after h