had a constitutional affection for small ceremonies, an affection nurtured
by his position as Chairman of the County Magistrates and President of the
local Unionist Association. After dinner that evening, a meal which was
served in the smaller library, he cleared his throat and filled his glass
with wine. His manner, as he addressed his wife and daughter, was almost
official.

"I am to take it, I believe," he began, "that you have finally decided,
Ella, to embrace our friend Delarey's suggestion and to leave us on
Saturday for New York?"

"If you please," Ella murmured, with glowing eyes. "I can't tell you how
grateful I am to you both for letting me go."

"It is naturally a wrench to us," Lord Ashleigh confessed, "especially as
circumstances which you already know of prevent either your mother or
myself from being with you during the first few months of your stay there.
You have very many friends in New York, however, and your mother tells me
that there will be no difficulty about your chaperonage at the various
social functions to which you will, of course, be bidden."

"I think that will be all right, dad," Ella ventured.

"You will take your own maid with you, of course," Lord Ashleigh
continued. "Lenora is a good girl and I am sure she will look after you
quite well, but I have decided, although it is a somewhat unusual step, to
supplement Lenora's surveillance over your comfort by sending with you,
also, as a sort of courier and general attendant--whom do you think? Well,
Macdougal."