"And bread and butter," said the duke hastily. "Do you think I came here to drink _tea_?" said the duchess in the tone of one who had come to drink blood. "A lemon squash then," said the duke hastily. "I haven't come here to drink tea, or lemon squashes," said the duchess. "I've come to learn what this means--to put an end to this ridiculous farce?" "Eh? What? What farce?" said the duke. "This farcical substitution of this wicked child, Mary Bride, for Marion," said the duchess, glaring at Pollyooly. "But you're not going to do any substituting. I won't have it," said the duke firmly. "Me? It's you! You've done it already!" cried the duchess, with a sudden note of astonishment in her voice. The duke shook his head, and with a smile of superior knowledge said firmly: "It won't do, Caroline. It's no good your trying it on." The duchess gasped: "What do you mean? What _do_ you mean?" she cried; and her tone was now all astonishment. The Honourable John Ruffin created a diversion by saying: "As far as I can make out this is a private matter; and little pitchers have long ears. Come along, little pitchers." And he was sweeping Pollyooly and Ronald off the lawn. The duchess glared at him, and stopped them for a moment with the words: "Is this your doing, John?" "Heavens, no! Osterley is the originator, and organiser, and perpetrator of the whole arrangement," he cried over his shoulder in a tone which carried conviction; and he vanished with the children. The duchess turned and glared again at the duke, as if she could not believe her eyes; she looked almost as if she saw him for the first time. "Sit down and have some tea. You must be wanting it," said the duke firmly; and he began to pour it out. The duchess sat down, with a somewhat helpless air, still staring at him. Matters seemed to be going differently from what she had expected. Her fine brown eyes looked very big. "You did this all yourself?" she said, in a somewhat breathless voice. "Did what? Two lumps, isn't it?" said the duke, putting two lumps into the cup and handing it to her. "Deliberately substituted a strange child for your own," said the duchess solemnly. "Oh, that," said the duke carelessly. "That's all right. You needn't worry about that. I've quite taken to Mary Bride. She's so--so companionable--and--and as clever as they make 'em, and as pretty as a picture. She makes a ripping Lady Marion Ricksborough. Why, when she comes into a room, or on to a lawn, it's beginning to make as much sensation as if it were yourself. I was awfully lucky to get hold of her." His tone had grown truly enthusiastic. The duchess ground her teeth and cried: "And do you think I'm going to stand it?"