Miss Billy was. Naturally I agreed with him
on that point. But what did you do to him?''

Billy smiled.

``Nothing--only engaged him for our butler
--for life.''

``Oh, I see. That was dear of you, Billy.''

``As if I'd do anything else! And now for
Dong Ling, I suppose, some day.''

Bertram chuckled.

``Well, maybe I can help you there,'' he hinted.
``You see, his Celestial Majesty came to me
himself the other day, and said, after sundry and
various preliminaries, that he should be `velly
much glad' when the `Little Missee' came to
live with me, for then he could go back to China
with a heart at rest, as he had money `velly
much plenty' and didn't wish to be `Melican
man' any longer.''

``Dear me,'' smiled Billy, ``what a happy
state of affairs--for him. But for you--do you
realize, young man, what that means for you?
A new wife and a new cook all at once? And you
know I'm not Marie!''