"I understand," he assented, humbly. "This is where the roses will be."

She nodded.

"That wall, you see," she explained, "keeps off the north winds, and the
chestnut grove the east. There is sun here all the day long. You should
come to Blakely in two months' time, Sir Leslie. Everything is so
different then."

He sighed.

"You forget, my dear child," he murmured, "that you are speaking to a
slave."

"A slave!" she repeated. "How absurd! You are a Cabinet Minister, are
you not, Sir Leslie?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"I was once," he answered, "until an ungrateful country grew weary of the
monotony of perfect government and installed our opponents in our places.
Just now we are in opposition."

"In opposition," she repeated, a little vaguely.

"Meaning," he explained, "that we get all the fun, no responsibility,
and, alas, no pay."

"How fascinating," she exclaimed. "Do sit down here, and tell me all