I've had tea earlier for you," she went on with her most melancholy kindness--"and he's always late.

But we mustn't, between us, lick the platter clean." The Duchess entered very sufficiently into her companion's tone.

"Oh I don't feel at all obliged to consider him, for he has not of late particularly put himself out for me.

He has not been to see me since I don't know when, and the last time he did come he brought Mr.Mitchett." "Here it was the other way round.

It was Mr.Mitchett, the other year, who first brought Lord Petherton." "And who," asked the Duchess, "had first brought Mr.Mitchett ?" Mrs.Brookenham, meeting her friend's eyes, looked for an instant as if trying to recall.