and Miss Dunstable--for in this instance
Miss Dunstable did travel in the phaeton, while Mark occupied a
seat in the dicky--his grace himself was at this moment in the
drawing-room, and nothing could exceed his urbanity.

"Oh, Miss Dunstable," he said, taking that lady by the hand, and
leading her up to the fire, "now I feel for the first time that
Gatherum Castle has not been built for nothing."

"Nobody ever supposed it was, your grace," said Miss Dunstable. "I am
sure the architect did not think so when his bill was paid." And Miss
Dunstable put her toes up on the fender to warm them with as much
self-possession as though her father had been a duke also, instead of
a quack doctor.

"We have given the strictest orders about the parrot," said the
duke--

"Ah! but I have not brought him after all," said Miss Dunstable.

--"and I have had an aviary built on purpose,--just such as parrots
are used to in their own country. Well, Miss Dunstable, I do call
that unkind. Is it too late to send for him?"

"He and Dr. Easyman are travelling together. The truth was, I could
not rob the doctor of his companion."

"Why? I have had another aviary built for him. I declare, Miss
Dunstable, the honour you are doing me is shorn of half its glory.
But the poodle--I still trust in the poodle."

"And your grace's trust shall not in that respect be in vain. Where
is he, I wonder?" And Miss Dunstable looked round as though she
expected that somebody would certainly have brought her dog in after
her. "I declare I must go and look for him,--only think if they
were to put him among your grace's dogs,--how his morals would be
destroyed!"

"Miss Dunstable, is that intended to be personal?" but the lady had
turned away from the fire, and the duke was able to welcome his other
guests. This he did with much courtesy. "Sowerby," he said, "I am
glad to find that you have survived the lecture. I can assure you I
had fears for you."

"I was brought back to life after considerable delay by the
administration of tonics at the Dragon of Wantly. Will your grace
allow me to present to you Mr. Robarts, who on that occasion was not
so fortunate. It was found necessary to carry him off to the palace,
where he was obliged to undergo very vigorous treatment." And then
the duke shook hands with Mr. Robarts, assuring him that he was most
happy to make his acquaintance. He had often heard of him since he
came into the county; and then he asked after Lo