would never be uttered except when employed in directing the fifth
footman or the third stable-boy--or perhaps a scullery maid--to do
this, that or the other thing at the behest of her Grace, the
daughter of William W. Blithers. This eventually worked on his
imagination to such an extent that he forgot his natural pride and
admitted that perhaps she was right.

But now, just as they were on the point of accepting, in lieu of a
Duke, an exceptionally promising Count, the aforesaid event conspired
to completely upset all of their plans--or notions, so to speak. It
was nothing less than the arrival in America of an eligible Prince of
the royal blood, a ruling Prince at that. As a matter of fact he had
not only arrived in America but upon the vast estate adjoining their
own in the Catskills.

Fortunately nothing definite had been arranged with the Count. Mrs.
Blithers now advised waiting a while before giving a definite answer
to his somewhat eager proposal, especially as he was reputed to have
sufficient means of his own to defend the chateau against any
immediate peril of profligacy. She counselled Mr. Blithers to notify
him that he deemed it wise to take the matter under advisement for a
couple of weeks at least, but not to commit himself to anything
positively negative.

Mr. Blithers said that he had never heard anything so beautifully
adroit as "positively negative," and directed his secretary to submit
to him without delay the draft of a tactful letter to the anxious
nobleman. They were agreed that a Prince was more to be desired than
a Count and, as long as they were actually about it, they might as
well aim high. Somewhat hazily Mr. Blithers had Inquired if it