glad. I was afraid the gout--Come, Sophy, my dear, we have
trespassed long enough. Good-morning!"

He was gone. Scarcely, however, could his host and hostess exchange
glances before he reappeared.

"Oh, Mrs. Goodwyn-Sandys, that quotation--I have just remembered it.
It was, 'Welcome, little strangers!' The original, I believe, has
the singular--'little stranger'--but the slight change makes it more
appropriate. 'Welcome, little strangers!' Good-morning!"

O Troy, Troy! Scarcely had the garden gate creaked again, when Mr.
and Mrs. Goodwyn-Sandys looked at each other for a moment, then sank
into arm-chairs, and broke into peals of the most unaffected
laughter.

"Nellie, hand me a cigar. This beats cock-fighting."

"Whist, me dear!" answered the lady, relapsing into honest brogue,
"but Brady is the bhoy to know the ropes."

"I believe you, Nellie."

Outside the garden gate the Admiral had fallen into a brown study.

"I perceive," he said, at length, very thoughtfully, "that wine and
biscuits have gone out of fashion, as concomitants of a morning call.
In some ways I regret it; but they are evidently people of extreme
refinement. Sophy, how badly your gown sits."