“A compliment,” sneered its recipient.

“Gal’s on the big side. A reg’lar bouncer; but, by George——!”

His grace paused on the apostrophe to his natal saint.

“Carries her clothes like Grandmother Dorset,” said he.

“It is a great responsibility,” said Caroline, “for a woman of my age to have a creature like that to look after.”

“Money?”

“Not a sou.”

“Pity,” said George, whose standards were frankly utilitarian. “Fine-looking gal. Cheriton appears to think so.”

By now the space between the bath-chair and the first pair in the procession had been increased to twenty paces.

“Cheriton,” called the old lady, “this is not a coursing match.”