reatening intentions.

"I want a word with you, Count. I've been wanting a word with you all
morning," he began.

"Believe me, Mr. Gallosh, I appreciate the compliment."

"Where were you? I mean it was verra annoying not to find you when I
wanted you."

The merchant was so evidently divided between anxiety to blurt out his
mind while it was yet hot from the making up, and desire not to affront
a guest and a man of rank, that the Count could scarcely restrain a
smile.

"It is equally annoying to myself. I should have enjoyed a conversation
with you at any hour since breakfast."

"Umph," replied his host.

"What can I do for you now?"

Mr. Gallosh looked at him steadfastly.

"Count Bunker," said he, "I am only a plain man----"

"The ladies, I assure you, are not of that opinion," interposed the
Count politely.

Mr. Gallosh seemed to him to receive this compliment with more suspicion
than pleasure.

"I'm saying," he repeated, "that I'm only a plain man of business, and
you and your friend are what you'd call swells."

"God forbid that I should!" the Count interjected fervently. "'Toffs,'
possibly--but no matter, please continue."

"Well, now, so long as his lordship likes to treat me and my family as
kind of belonging to a different sphere, I'm well enough content. I make
no pretensions, Count, to be better than what I am."

"I also, Mr. Gallosh, endeavor to affect a similar modesty. It's rather
becoming, I think, to a fine-looking man."

"It's becoming to any kind of man that he should know his place. But I
was saying, I'd have been content if his lordship had been distant and
polite and that kind of thing. But was he? You know yourself, Count, how
he's behaved!"

"Perfectly politely, I trust."

"But he's not been what you'd call distant, Count Bunker. In fac', the
long and the short of it is just this--what's his intentions towards my
Eva?"

"Is it Mrs. Gallosh who desires this information?"

"It is. And myself too; oh, I'm not behindhand where the reputation of
my daughters is concerned!"

"Mrs. G. has screwed him up to this," said the Count to himself. Aloud,
he asked with his blandest air--

"Was not Lord Tulliwuddle available himself?"

"No; he's gone out."

"Alone?"

"No, not alone."

"In brief, with Miss Gallosh?"

"Quite so; and what'll he be saying to her?"

"He is a man of such varied information that it's hard to guess."

"From all I hear, there's not been much variety s