“Oh, it's just the clash of the parish,” said my little Scot, who once was Yankee. “And everybody's so glad.”
“Are they, indeed?” said Lady Anne, blushing in her pleasure. “That is exceedingly kind of them. I always thought our own people the nicest and kindest in the world.”
“That's just it,” said Bud, cheerfully. “Everybody everywhere is just what one is one's self—so Aunt Ailie says; and I s'pose it's because you're—Oh, I was going to say something about you, but I'll let you guess. What lovely weather! I hope your papa is well? And Mr. Jones?”
“Thank you; papa is very well, indeed,” said Lady Anne. “And Mr. Jones—” She hung upon the name with some dubiety.
“The coachman, you know,” said Bud, placidly. “He's a perfectly lovely man, so fat and smiley. He smiles so much his face is all in gathers. So kind to his horses, too, and waves his whip at me every time he passes. Once he gave me a ride on the dickey; it was gorgeous. Do you often get a ride on the dickey, Lady Anne?”
“Never!” said Lady Anne, with a clever little sigh. “Many a time I have wished I could get one, but they always kept me inside the carriage. I don't seem to have had much luck all my life till—till—till lately.”
“Did Mr. Jones never take you on his knee and tell you the story of the Welsh giants?”
“No,” said Lady Anne, solemnly shaking her head. “Then you're too big now. What a pity! Seems to me there isn't such a much in being a big L lady, after all. I thought you'd have everything of the very best. You have no idea what funny ideas we had in America about dukes and lords and ladies in the old country. Why, I expected I'd be bound to hate them when I got here, because they'd be so proud and haughty and tyrannical. But I don't hate them one little bit; they don't do anybody any harm more'n if they were knockabout artistes. I suppose the queen herself 'd not crowd a body off the sidewalk if you met her there. She'd be just as apt to say, 'What ho! little girl, pip! pip!' and smile, for Auntie Bell is always reading in the newspapers snappy little parts, about the nice things the royal family do, just the same as if they weren't royal a bit.”
“Yes, I sometimes see those touching domestic incidents,” said her ladyship. “You mean such things as the prince helping the cripple boy to find his crutch? They make me almost cry.”
“I wouldn't wet a lash, if I were you,” said Bud. “That's just the press; like as not there's nothing behind it but the agent in advance.”