years as much as you," said he.

"I am not going to ask _your_ leave to be in my father's house."

"I am not going to ask your leave to put you out of it."

Tom's spirits rose. There seemed every promise of an unrehearsed
entertainment for the delectation of his guests.

"I caution you, sir."

"I will take all responsibility," said the doctor. "Anything more you
have to say can just as well be said in Mr Pottinger's office to-morrow
morning as here."

"Thank you, sir," said Mr Ratman, with a snarl. "It is never pleasant
to have to introduce oneself, but I am glad to have had the opportunity
before this distinguished company. It is now the turn of the other side
to move. If they want me they must find me. Good night, your grace;
you are a nice loyal neighbour to an old comrade's boy. Good night,
you, sir; take as much responsibility as you like if it is any
satisfaction to you. Good-bye, my pretty little Jill; some day you'll
have to call me cousin Roger, and then we'll be quits. Good night,
gentlemen and ladies all. The prodigal's return has not been a success,
I own, but it's a fact all the same. _Au revoir_."

And he bowed himself out.

"This fellow is either the most impudent villain I ever met," said the
Duke, "or there is something in his story."

This seemed to be the general impression. A few, Dr Brandram among
them, scoffed irreverently at the whole affair. But the majority of
those present felt decidedly disturbed by the incident, and poor Miss
Jill Oliphant had the mortification of seeing her party drop flat after
all.

Tom and she made Herculean efforts to rehabilitate it. Jill played her
polka till she was tired, and Tom, after setting out all the duplicate
"goes" in the hall, retired to grope in the wet grass for a few of the
unexploded squibs.

Some of the guests did what they could to back their hosts up, and made
great show of enjoying themselves, but the Duke was preoccupied, and the
Bishop was pensive. The Marigold girls talked in a corner, and Mr
Pottinger was out in the hall calling for his carriage.

"Odious man!" said the poor little hostess, "he's spoiled all our fun.
No one likes our party now. They'll all be glad to get away; and we did
try so hard to make it jolly."

"Never mind," said Tom cheerfully, "it would have been worse if he had
turned up before the grub and the fireworks. They didn't miss them.
Keep it up, Jilly, I say; it's going off all right."

Wh