"They came hoping to hear of something to their advantage. You see, Lady Southbourne, I advertised for people in reduced circumstances, and the answers were so many that Mr. Russell couldn't keep ahead."
"Something to their advantage, and pray what is that, Antonia? You must have taken leave of your five senses!" exclaimed Lady Dove, turning pink with vexation.
Here Mrs. Faber threw herself into the breach.
"It's only one of Toney's kind schemes, Lady Dove. I will go and see after the visitors, Toney, if you take my place."
This happily turned the stream of hot lava from poor Toney, and Lady Dove remarked,
"It is most tiresome, my companion has influenza. I generally find, don't you, Lady Southbourne, that middle-class people always give in if even a little finger aches. Of course, poor things, they do not understand our motto of 'noblesse oblige.'"
The Honourable Edward left the two ladies to their duet over the cowardice of the middle-class, and went to sit by Toney, who was drinking tea in earnest.
"It's rather warm work when you're taken by surprise. If I had been here it would have been all right," she said, smiling once more.
"I think it's always 'all right' where you are," said the young man gallantly. Toney looked up suddenly and gazed at him.
"Gracious stars! how awfully nice of you to say that, but it isn't true! I always seem to raise the dust when I come into this room! Aunt Dove was made of different paste, so somehow we don't blend. You see I was just reared anyhow, never knew there were gentlemen and ladies till I came here! Out home we were all men and women, and pretty rough at that—ouf!"