Really, all women--even mothers--were tiresome at times with their
questions!

"'Pon my word, I don't." And he laughed awkwardly. "Austrian, perhaps,
or Russian. I have never thought about it; he speaks English so well,
and he is a naturalized Englishman, in any case."

"But as you are marrying into the family, don't you think it would be
more prudent, dear, to gather some information on the subject?" Lady
Tancred hazarded.

And then she saw the true Tancred spirit come out, which she had often
vainly tried to combat in her husband during her first years of married
life, and had desisted in the end. Tristram's strong, level eyebrows
joined themselves in a frown, and his mouth, clean-shaven and chiseled,
shut like a vice.

"I am going to do what I am going to do, Mother," he said. "I am
satisfied with my bargain, and I beg of you to accept the situation. I
do not demand any information, and I ask you not to trouble yourself
either. Nothing any one could say would change me--Give me some more
coffee, will you, please."

Lady Tancred's hand trembled a little as she poured it out, but she did
not say anything, and there was silence for a minute, while his lordship
went on with his breakfast, with appetite unimpaired.

"I will take the girls and call there immediately after lunch," she said
presently, "and I am to ask for the Countess Shulski. You pronounce it
like that, do you not?"