"How so; I was under the impression the bird hunt is a thing of the past?"
"No, indeed! not while there are men in the field."
"How so; I do not follow you?"
"Stupid, you are born huntsmen, our bonnets are a perch for a decoy, and," she added, looking at him archly, "our faces are under them."
Here there was merry laughter from Mrs. Gower and Captain Tremaine, the former saying gaily,
"You would not accomplish it, the strength of will of one of the party would keep the whole uppermost. I appeal to Mr. Smyth."
"I am with you, Mrs. Gower; Tremaine must go under, even though he is an Irishman."
"Irish questions always do get muddled, eh, Smyth?" said Dale, jokingly, seeing that Smyth, intent on dinner, had not heard the argument.
"That they do, Dale. Which is it, Mrs. Gower, the Coercion Bill or Home Rule?"
"Neither," she said, laughingly, "we were on the 'Peace Party' (you remember the meeting at the Gardens, on last Sunday); and I have been suggesting that the Body Guard bury their pretty uniforms, and Captain Tremaine raises the war-cry of, 'bury the Peace Party, chairman and all, first.'"