shoulders. A small, blue felt
hat was somewhat shading her eyes, but I could see she was looking at
me and smiling. I forgot all about Miss Tanyon--she simply didn't
matter now.

Involuntarily:

"Why. there's the Queen!" I cried, and started towards her.

"Where?" said Daphne.

"Here," I flung over my shoulder.

A four-wheeled truck of luggage, propelled by a porter across my bows,
blocked my way for a moment, and Daphne overtook me.

"So it is," she said. "But how did you know?"

CHAPTER XII

THE ORDER OF THE BATH

Berry blotted the letter with maddening precision. Then he picked it
up tenderly and handed it to me.

"How will that do?"

"Read it aloud," said Daphne.

I did so.

"Dear Sir,--In the interests of personal cleanliness, we have--not
without considerable hesitation--decided to install a fourth bathroom
at our historic home, 'White Ladies'. This decision will necessitate
the loss or conversion of one of the dressing-rooms, a fact which fills
us with the gravest misgivings, since there are only eleven in the
whole mansion. At the same time, thee conventions of a prudish age
make it undesirable that a second bath should be installed in one of
the rooms already existing for that purpose. We think the fourth room
on your right, as you leave the back stairs, going south. This is
locally known as the Green Room and takes its name, not, as you may
imagine, from the fact that the late Sir Henry Irving once slept there,
but from the hue of the rodents, said there frequently to have been
observed by the fourth Earl. Please execute the work with your
customary diligence. We should like to pay on the hire system, i.e.,
so much a month, extending over a period of two years. The great
strides, recently made in the perilous art of aviation, suggest to us
that the windows should be of ground glass. Yours faithfully, etc.
P.S.--If your men drop the bath on the stairs, the second footman will
at once apply for a warrant for their arrest."

Jill buried her face in the sofa-cushions and gave way to unrestrained
merriment. Jonah laughed openly. I set my teeth and tried not to
smile. For an instant the corners of Daphne's mouth twitched. Then:

"Wretched ass," she said.

"The truth is," said her husband, "you don't know literature when you
see it. Now that letter--"

"I suppose I shall have to write to the man," said I.

"There you are," said Berry. "Insults at every turn. I wa