"Not as yet, Tom."

"Go among your tenantry?"

"Very seldom----"

"O fie, sir, fie! Here's you pasitively wasting all your natural advantages,--shape, stature, habit o' bady all thrown away--I always admired your curst, high, stand-and-deliver air--even as a child, and here's you living and clothing yourself like----"

He paused as the Sergeant re-entered, who, spreading out the three suits upon the table with a flourish, stood at attention.

"I knew it--I feared so!" murmured the Viscount, turning over the garments. He sighed over them, he groaned, he nearly wept. "Take 'em away--away, Zeb," he faltered at last, "hide 'em from the eye o' day, lose 'em, a Gad's name, Zeb--burn 'em!"

"Burn 'em, sir?" repeated the Sergeant, folding up the despised garments with painful care, "axing your pardon, m'lord, same being his honour's I'd rather----"

"Next week, nunky, you shall ride to town with me and acquire some real clothes."

The Major stroked his chin and surveyed the Sergeant's wooden expression!

"Egad, Tom," said he, "I think I will!"

Glancing from the window, the Major beheld a train of heavily-laden pack-horses approaching, up the drive.

"Why, what's all this?" he exclaimed.

"That?" answered the Viscount yawning, "merely a few of my clothes, sir, and trifling oddments----"

"G.o.d bless my soul!"

"Sir," said the Sergeant, tucking the garments under his arm beneath the Viscount's horrified gaze, "with your permission will proceed to warn grooms and stable-boys of approaching cavalry squadron!" and he marched out forthwith.

CHAPTER IX

WHICH IS A VERY BRIEF CHAPTER

"I pr'ythee spare me, gentle boy Press me no more for that slight toy That foolish trifle of a heart I swear it will not do its part Though thou dost thine----"

The Viscount checked his song and inserting the upper half of his person through the open lattice, hailed the Major cheerily.

"What, uncle, nunky, nunk--still at it? 'Tis high time you went to change your dress."

"O? And why, Tom?"

"I look for our company here in twenty minutes or so."

"What company, may I ask?"

"Lady Belinda and Our Admirable Betty."

"Good G.o.d!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the Major starting up in sudden agitation.

"Coming here--you never mean it?"

"I do indeed, sir!"

"But Lord! Why should they come?"

"As I gather, sir, 'tis because you invited 'em----"

"I? Never in my life!"

"Why, 'tis true sir, I was your mouthpiece--your amba.s.sador, as it were."

"And she--er--they are coming here! Both!"

"Both, sir."

"Lord, Tom, 'tis a something desperate situation, what am I to do with----"

"Leave 'em to me sir! They shan't daunt you!"

"Ha! To you, Tom?"

"And dear old Ben----"

"O?"

"And Alton----"

"Indeed!"

"And Marchdale----"

"Any more, nephew?"

"And Alvaston----"

"Ah?"

"And Dalroyd and Denholm----"

"Did I invite 'em all, Tom?"

"Every one, sir!"

"I wonder what made me?"