with a genial wave of the hand.

"Of course," he exclaimed, as if annoyed by his own stupidity. "I did
hear that you were entertaining a Prince. Slipped my mind, however.
Well, well, we're coming up in the world, eh?--having a real nabob
among us." He hesitated for a moment. "But don't let me interrupt the
game," he went on, as if expecting King to end the contest in order
to present the Prince to him.

"Won't you sit down, Mr. Blithers?" said Mrs. King. "Or would you
prefer a more comfortable chair on the porch? We--"

"No, thanks, I'll stay here if you don't mind," said he hastily, and
dragged up the camp chair that Lieutenant Dank had been occupying.

"Fetch another chair, Lucas," said King to the servant. "And another
glass of lemonade for Miss Felton."

"Felton?" queried Mr. Blithers, sitting down very carefully on the
rather fragile chair, and hitching up his white flannel trousers at
the knees to reveal a pair of purple socks, somewhat elementary in
tone.

"We know your daughter, Mr. Blithers," said little Miss Nellie
eagerly.

"I was just trying to remember--"

"We live across the road--over there in the little white house with
the ivy--"