"You do not mean that, Duke? I would see them in their graves first. He
says 'My lady' every other sentence, and wants to send me flowers, and a
box for the opera, and to drive me in the Park."

Her husband laughed. "I'll stake my life he can't ride. You will have him
about the place like a tame cat." Then, seeing that his wife was annoyed:
"Never mind, Molly, I will help you all I can. I want to be kind to
them."

"I know you do. But what is your 'pretty conspiracy,' Duke?"

"A well-stocked ranche in Colorado." He did not mean it. And she knew it.

"How can you be so mercenary?" she replied.

Then they both laughed, and said that they were like the rest of the
world.



II

Lady Lawless was an admirable hostess, and she never appeared to better
advantage in the character than during the time when Miss Gracia Raglan,
Mr. John Vandewaters, and Mr. Stephen Pride were guests at Craigruie. The
men accepted Mr. Vandewaters at once as a good fellow and a very sensible
man. He was a heavy-weight for riding; but it was not the hunting season,
and, when they did ride, a big horse carried him very well. At
grouse-shooting he showed to advantage. Mr. Pride never rode. He went