"Jolly," he said; adding, hastily: "But not in the least a house-party sort of thing, is it? where they play bridge and drink whiskey-sours?"
Katrine shook her head. "These people live in My Country. I've stolen some, but others come of their own accord. They are very great people. Colonel Newcome is the host. You know him?"
"Adsum," Frank answered, softly, and Katrine flashed a smile of appreciation back at him.
"
And Henry Esmond," she went on, "I have a time with him. Of course, he never really married that other woman and went to live in Virginia. He adored Beatrice until the end, and is always trying to have her with him. I've had it out with him!" She smiled again, as at a memory, and extended one hand dramatically.
"'Henry Esmond,' I said (you know he's a little man, so I looked straight in his eyes as I spoke), 'I will not have her here with her red stockings and their silver clocks.'
"'Ye've listened to gossip of her,' says he.
"''Twas you yourself that rode after her and the King, when ye crossed swords with his Majesty for her honor,' said I.
"'An event which never took place, believe me,' said he, with a bow, and he bows like a king.
"'Ye lie like a gentleman,' said I, 'and I've pride in ye for it; but Beatrice Esmond never comes in here.' And then I just told the truth to him. 'I've had jealousy of her for many years, despite her morals,' I explained."