of the love I bear you and because you have no
mother to do these things for you. As for dear Uncle Richard--well, you
know, he can't."

"No, no! father is old and of late has been failing rapidly. Sarah and I
can look for no help from him. On the contrary, we must help him. I have
thought of nothing else, night or day, for years. Tell me what it is you
have to suggest. What you have had to say to us has always been for our
good. We should have starved these last five years had it not been for
you and good old Roger Wentworth. Tell me, Baron Ned, what have you come
to offer me?"

I had intended telling Frances privately of the Duchess of York's
announcement, but after my talk with her I concluded to wait and to make
the statement in the presence of her father, so I answered:--

"I am not ready to tell you just now, but I'll do so before I return to
London."

"Then return at once, Baron Ned."

"If I do, you'll never hear it," I answered.

"In that case, stay. But tell me as soon as you can, for pent-up
curiosity is killing to a girl," said Frances, with a doleful little
smile.

"Does nothing else trouble just now?" I asked.

She turned to me in surprise, blushed and answered: "Yes. My poor, dear
father. Yes--father. Of course there's nothing else. Why do you ask?"

"Just to be asking," I replied.

At that point we came to the shop where we were to buy our supper, and I
was glad to change the subject. I had learned definitely that there was a
man in the case, and my task would be to put him out if I could. The man
who first enters a young girl's heart is hard to dislodge, and the worst
part of the terrible business is that even she herself may be unable to
expel him her whole life through.

When supper was well under way that evening, I took the opportunity to
set my great ball rolling, and said:--

"Uncle Richard, I have come from London for the purpose of offering a
suggestion which may eventually be of advantage to all of you."

Sarah put down her knife and fork to listen; Frances held hers in
suspense, and Sir Richard looked up quickly, asking:--

"What is it, nephew? We all thank you in advance."

A cold bath is better taken quickly, so I plunged in.

"The Duchess of York has announced her intention to choose four maids of
honor by personal inspection. Aside from the fact that they must be of
good family, they will be taken solely on account of their beauty, the
most beautiful to win."

Frances