natural history very interesting."

"I should imagine you found it expensive. Aren't some of the creatures
savage?"

"Millicent looks after them; and I always beat the sellers down.
Fortunately, I can afford to indulge in my caprices. You can consider
this my latest fad, if you like. I am subject to no claims, and my
means are hardly large enough to make me an object of interest to
sycophantic relatives."

"Is your companion fond of attending to wild animals?" Mrs. Ashborne
inquired. "I have wondered where you got her. You have had a number,
but she is different from the rest."

"I suppose you mean she is too good for the post?" Mrs. Keith
suggested. "However, I don't mind telling you that she is Eustace
Graham's daughter; you must have heard of him."

"Eustace Graham? Wasn't he in rather bad odor--only tolerated on the
fringe of society? I seem to recollect some curious tales about him."

"Toward the end he was outside the fringe; indeed, I don't know how he
kept on his feet so long; but he went downhill fast. A plucker of
plump pigeons, an expensive friend to smart young subalterns and boys
about town. Cards, bets, loans arranged, and that kind of thing. All
the same, he had his good points when I first knew him."

"But after such a life as his daughter must have led, do you consider
her a suitable person to take about with you? What do your friends