gnified reproof. "Your Ladyship's dog
does not appear to be a very well-trained animal," the ex-schoolmistress
remarked.

"Well trained?" Lady Lydiard repeated, as if the expression was
perfectly unintelligible to her. "I don't think you have had much
experience of dogs, ma'am." She turned to Isabel, and embraced her
tenderly. "Give me a kiss, my dear--you don't know how wretched I have
been since you left me." She looked back again at Miss Pink. "You are
not, perhaps, aware, ma'am, that my dog is devotedly attached to your
niece. A dog's love has been considered by many great men (whose names
at the moment escape me) as the most touching and disinterested of
all earthly affections." She looked the other way, and discovered the
lawyer. "How do you do, Mr. Troy? It's a pleasant surprise to find you
here The house was so dull without Isabel that I really couldn't put off
seeing her any longer. When you are more used to Tommie, Miss Pink,
you will understand and admire him. _You_ understand and admire him,
Isabel--don't you? My child! you are not looking well. I shall take you
back with me, when the horses have had their rest. We shall never be
happy away from each other."

Having expressed her sentiments, distributed her greetings, and defended
her dog--all, as it were, in one breath--Lady Lydiard sat down by
Isabel's side, and opened a large green fan that hung at her girdle.
"You have no idea, Miss Pink, how fat people suffer in hot weather,"
said the old lady, using her fan vigorously.

Miss Pink's eyes dropped modestly to the ground--"fat" was such a coarse
word to use, if a lady _must_ speak of her own superfluous flesh! "May I
offer some refreshment?" Miss Pink asked, mincingly. "A cup of tea?"

Lady Lydiard shook her head.

"A glass of water?"

Lady Lydiard declined this last hospitable proposal with an exclamation
of disgust. "Have you got any beer?" she inquired.

"I beg your Ladyship's pardon," said Miss Pink, doubting the evidence of
her own ears. "Did you say--beer?"

Lady Lydiard gesticulated vehemently with her fan. "Yes, to be sure!
Beer! beer!"

Miss Pink rose, with a countenance expressive of genteel disgust, and
rang the bell. "I think you have beer downstairs, Susan?" she said, when
the maid appeared at the door.

"Yes, miss."

"A glass of beer for Lady Lydiard," said Miss Pink--under protest.

"Bring it in a jug," shouted her Ladyship, as the maid left the room.
"I like to froth it up f