"Then," said the Mayor, "after the Institoot's opened, there's a grand luncheon at the Grange, with the Duke, and his Lordship, and the Squire, and all." He paused: the Alderman whistled indifferently, and his wife drew a step nearer. The Mayor proceeded, bringing his finest rhetoric into play. "The Crown," he said, "the County, and the Town will be represented." "What, are you going, Hedger?" asked the Alderman, with an incredulous laugh. "The Squire and Mrs. Delane are so good as to make a point of me and Mrs. Hedger attendin'--in state, Johnstone." "My!" said Mrs. Johnstone, moving a step within the door. "That'll be a day for Susan." "His Lordship gives Susan his arm," said the Mayor. "Aint there any more going from the town?" asked Mrs. Johnstone, while the Alderman ostentatiously occupied himself with one of his posters. "The Squire," replied the Mayor, "did want another,--there's no room but for two,--but he thinks there's no one of sufficient standin'--not as would go." "Well, I'm sure!" said Mrs. Johnstone. "You see, ma'am," pursued the Mayor, "we must consider the lady. The lady must be asked. Now would _you_ ask Mrs. Maggs, or Mrs. Jenks, or Mrs. Capper, or any o' that lot, ma'am?" "Sakes, no!" said Mrs. Johnstone scornfully. "'There is a lady,' I says to the Squire, 'as would do honor to the town, but there--the man's wrong there!'" Mrs. Johnstone came nearer still, glancing at her husband. "When I mentioned the party I was thinkin' of," the Mayor went on, "the Squire slapped his thigh, and, says he, 'The very man we want, Hedger,' he says; 'all parties ought to be represented. He's a Liberal--a prominent Liberal; so much the better. Now, won't he come?' 'Well,' says I, 'he's an obstinate man;' and Mrs. Delane says, 'You must try, Mr. Mayor. Say what pleasure it 'ud give me to see him and Mrs. Johnstone----' There, I've let it out!" A pause followed. The Mayor drew a card from his pocket. It was headed, "To have the honor of meeting H. R. H. the Duke of Mercia." The Mayor laid it on the counter. "There!" he said. "You must do as you think right, Johnstone. Of course, if you like to go on like this, worryin' the Squire's friends, why, it isn't for you to put your legs under the Squire's ma'ogany. So the Squire says. He says, 'Let him drop that nonsense, and come and be friendly--he may think what he likes.'" There was another pause. "There'll have been nothin' like it in my day," said the Mayor. "And only me and Susan from the town!" "There'll be plenty ready to go," said Johnstone. "Aye, that they will, but they won't have the askin'. Mrs. Delane says there aint a soul she'll have, except me and Susan, and you and Mrs. Johnstone. You see, ma'am, it isn't everyone who can sit down with the county." The heart of Mrs. Johnstone was alight with pride and exultation and longing. She looked at her husband and she looked at the Mayor.