"If these are Highland manners, Lord Tulliwuddle!" In extreme confusion the Baron stammered-- "I beg your pardon! Forgif me--but--ach, not zose questions, please!" Relenting a little, she inquired "What may I ask you, then?
Do tell me! You see I want just to know all about you." With an affrighted gesture the Baron turned to his friend.
"Bonker," said he, "she does vant to know yet more about me! Vill you please to tell her." The Count looked up from the curios with an expression so bland that the air began to clear even before he spoke.
"Miss Maddison, I must explain that my friend's proud Highland spirit has been a little disturbed by some inquiries, made in all good faith by your father.

No offence, I am certain, was intended; erroneous information--a little hastiness in jumping to conclusions--a sensitive nature wounded by the least insinuation--such were the unfortunate causes of Tulliwuddle's excusable reticence.

Believe me, if you knew all, your opinion of him would alter very, very considerably!" The perfectly accurate peroration to this statement produced an immediate effect.
"What a shame!" cried Eleanor, her eyes sparkling brightly.

"Lord Tulliwuddle, I am so sorry!" The Baron looked into these eyes, and his own mien altered perceptibly.
For an instant he gazed, and then in a low voice remarked-- "By ze Gad!" "Once!" counted the conscientious Bunker.
"Lord Tulliwuddle," she continued, "I declare I feel so ashamed of those stupid men, I could just wring their necks! Now, just to make us quits, you ask me anything in the world you like!" Over his shoulder the Baron threw a stealthy glance at his friend, but this time he did not invoke his assistance.

Instead, he again murmured very distinctly-- "By ze Gad!" "Twice!" counted Bunker.
"Miss Maddison," said the Baron to the flushed and eager girl, "am I to onderstand zat you now are satisfied zat I am not too vicked, too suspeecious, too unvorthy of your charming society?
I do not say I am yet vorthy--bot jost not too bad!" Had the Baroness at that moment heard merely the intonation of his voice, she would undoubtedly have preferred a Chinese prison.
"Indeed, Lord Tulliwuddle, you may." "By ze Gad!" announced the Baron, in a voice braced with resolution.
"May I take the liberty of inspecting the aviary ?" said the Count.
"With the very greatest pleasure," replied the heiress kindly.
His last distinct impression as he withdrew was of the Baron giving his mustache a more formidable twirl.
"A very pretty little scene," he reflected, as he strolled out in search of others.