spick-and-span chess-board of a villa out on the Minsterham road."

"They have not more children than you have."

"Five Lambkins to our four, besides Gussy and Killy," said Lance;
"though A-—which is all that appears of the great Achilles' unlucky
name—-is articled to Shapcote, and as for Gussy, or rather Mr.
Tanneguy, he is my right hand."

"We thought him a nice sort of youth when he was improving himself in
London," said Clement.

"You both were very good to him," said Lance, "and those three years
were not wasted. He is a far better sub-editor and reporter than I
was at his age, with his French wit and cleverness. The only fault I
find with him is that he longs for plate-glass and flummery instead
of old Froggatt's respectable panes."

"He has become the London assistant, who was our bugbear," said
Geraldine.

"I don't know how we should get on without him since we made 'Pur'
daily," said Lance.

"How old ambitions get realized!" said Geraldine.

"Does his mother endure the retail work, or has she not higher views
for him?" asked Clement.

"In fact, ever since the first Lambkin came on the stage any one