They turned to see the duchess standing in it, and surveying them with the eyes of an avenging angel.
[Illustration: They turned to see the Duchess] They all rose; and the Honourable John Ruffin said calmly: "How are you, Caroline?
I suppose you motored down.

Charming weather for motoring." "Very," said the duchess in a terrible voice.

"And a charming gathering I find at the end of it." "Yes; sit down and have some tea.

You must be thirsty," said the Honourable John Ruffin.
"How are you, Caroline?
Sit down and have some tea," said the duke, seizing on the opening, in rather uncertain tones.
"Tea!" said the duchess, in a yet more terrible voice.
"And bread and butter," said the duke hastily.
"Do you think I came here to drink _tea_ ?" said the duchess in the tone of one who had come to drink blood.
"A lemon squash then," said the duke hastily.
"I haven't come here to drink tea, or lemon squashes," said the duchess.

"I've come to learn what this means--to put an end to this ridiculous farce ?" "Eh?
What?
What farce ?" said the duke.
"This farcical substitution of this wicked child, Mary Bride, for Marion," said the duchess, glaring at Pollyooly.
"But you're not going to do any substituting.