DUKE

The duke's delight with the evident publicity which had attended the
presentation of Pollyooly to the county had lessened hardly at all by
the next morning. He thought it likely that, if the duchess were
anywhere in the United Kingdom, she would learn by some post that very
day that he had filled the place of Marion.

Then it occurred to him that these correspondents would not only
condole with the duchess on having lost her daughter, but also they
would condole with her on having lost such a charming and delightful
daughter; and he laughed more heartily than he had laughed for many a
long day.

In a natural desire for yet more publicity, that afternoon he took
Pollyooly with him and drove over to Overton Grange to introduce her to
the Ashcrofts, who had tried to play the part of mediators, with signal
ill-success, between him and the duchess. The Ashcrofts had heard that
Lady Marion Ricksborough had been present at the garden party at
Ilkeston Towers the day before. They were surprised by the news and
more than a little hurt that the duchess had not at once informed them
that the duke had recovered her. Also they were feeling that the duke
had brought Pollyooly to show her off to them as his triumph.
Therefore Lord Ashcroft, a strong, silent, bearded man, was a trifle
stiff with him, Lady Ashcroft a trifle cold; but they made up for it by
giving Pollyooly the warmest welcome possible; their friendliness was
almost overwhelming. After tea (to Pollyooly's regret there were no
ices) Lady Ashcroft took her up to the nurseries where she found a
little girl of eight and a little boy of six, and enjoyed herself
thoroughly. They were better than ices.

Lord Ashcroft and the duke smoked their cigarettes in silence for a
while after Lady Ashcroft and Pollyooly had left them. Lord Ashcroft
looked rather gloomy; the duke looked at peace with the world. Then
Lord Ashcroft said gloomily:

"How did you get hold of Marion?"

"Oh, money--just money," said the duke airily but with perfect
truthfulness.

Lord Ashcroft frowned; and they were silent again.

The duke, with the same air of content, lighted another cigarette.

Presently Lord Ashcroft said:

"She's very much improved both in looks and intelligence."

The duke sat bolt upright and said quickly and with heat:

"She's nothing of the kind!"

"Oh, yes; she is. You know she is," said Lord Ashcroft firmly. "It's
being with her mother."

"It's nothi