rings till she said that
his ma had better accept her notice, and engage the Pickerings' cook
instead.

"Orders from you, Master Clifford, I will not take. And now you've got
it straight. _For grars_ in the afternoon is a thing I don't hold with
and never would hold with, and I've lived in the best families. There's
some nice sandwiches made of _gentlemen's relish_ made of Blootes'
paste, your ma's always 'ad since I've been here; it's done for her and
the best families I've lived in. _Fors grars_ is served at the end of
dinner with apsia and jelly, or else in one of them things with crust on
the top and truffles. But for tea I consider it quite out of place."

She went on to say that if she couldn't have her kitchen to herself
without the young gentlemen of the house putting their oar in, she would
leave that day month.

Clifford fled, frightened, and tidied himself.

At about five, when two or three old cronies of Lady Kellynch's were
sitting round, talking about the royal family, a gigantic motor, painted
white, came to the door, and Mrs. Pickering was announced.

She was very young and very pretty. Her hair was the very brightest
gold, and she had rather too much mauve and too much smile; she almost
curtsied to her hostess, and instantly gave that lady the impression
that she must have been not so very long ago the principal boy at some
popular pantomime.

CHAPTER XXV

MRS. PICKERING

"Our boys are such very great friends--I really felt I must know you!"
cried Mrs. Pickering in the most cordial way. She spoke with a very
slight Cockney accent. She bristled with aigrettes and sparkled with
jewels. Her bodice was cut very low, her sleeves very short, and her
white gloves came over the braceleted elbows. She wore a very high,
narrow turban, green satin shoes and stockings, and altogether was
dressed rather excessively; she looked like one of Louis Bauer's
drawings in _Punch_. She was certainly most striking in appearance, and
a little alarming in a quiet room, but most decidedly pretty and with a
very pleasant smile.

Lady Kellynch received her with great courtesy, but was not sufficiently
adaptable and subtle to conceal at once the fact that Mrs. Pickering's
general appearance and manner had completely taken her breath away.
Also, she was annoyed that Lady Gertrude Muenster was there to-day. Lady
Gertrude was one of her great cards. She was a clever, glib,
battered-looking, elderly woman, who, sinc