Tell Miss Field that Mrs.
Meadows is too tired to come in to luncheon, and that I will come in presently." The butler, who had the aspect of a don or a bishop, said "Yes, my lady," in that dry tone which implied that for twenty years the house of Dunstable had been built upon himself, as its rock, and he was not going to fail it now.

He vanished, with just one lightning turn of the eyes towards the little lady in the blue linen dress; and Lady Dunstable resumed her walk, sunk in flushed meditation.

She seemed to have forgotten Doris, when she heard an exclamation:-- "Ah, there _is_ the telegram!" And Doris, running to the window, waved to a diminutive telegraph boy, who, being new to his job, had come up to the front entrance of the Lodge instead of the back, and was now--recognising his misdeed--retreating in alarm from the mere aspect of "the great fortified post." He saw the lady at the window, however, and checked his course.
"For me!" cried Doris, triumphantly--and she tore it open.
Can't arrive till between eight and nine.

Think I have got all we want.

Please take a room for me at hotel .-- ALICE WIGRAM.
Doris turned back into the room, and handed the telegram to Lady Dunstable, who read it slowly.
"Did you say this was the Alice Wigram I knew ?" "Her father had one of your livings," repeated Doris.