"Oh, by the way," said the gentleman spoken of, as he came hurriedly back, sending the door open so that it banged upon a chair, "Lady Maude, my dear, you are only to take that medicine when you feel low." As he spoke he hitched on his light overcoat that he had partly donned in the hall, and then, fishing in one of the pockets for his gloves, he brought out a piece of tongue. "Oh, bless my soul!" muttered his lordship; and he toddled towards the window. "What the dickens is this?" cried the doctor, holding out his find, and putting up his double eye-glass. "Tongue, by jingo! Is this one of your tricks, my Lord Tom?" "No," roared Tom, as he burst out laughing, and followed his father to the window, where the old gentleman was nervously gazing forth. "I'm so sorry," said her ladyship, quivering with indignation. "It must have been one of the servants, or the cat." "Well," said the doctor, solemnly, "I'll swear I didn't steal it. I might perhaps have pocketed something good, but I hadn't got this coat on." "Pray say no more, doctor," said her ladyship. "Robbins, bring a plate and take this away." "Yes, my lady," said the butler, who was waiting in the hall to show the doctor out; and he made matters worse by advancing with a stately march, taking a plate and silver fork from the sideboard, removed the piece of tongue from the doctor's fingers with the fork; and then deftly thrusting it off with his thumb on to the plate, he marched out with it, the ladies all bursting into busy conversation to cover his retreat. Then the doctor went, and a general ascent towards the drawing-room was commenced, his lordship hanging back, and Tom stopping to try and avert the storm. "Such idiotic--such disgraceful proceedings, Barmouth," exclaimed her ladyship, closing the dining-room door. "There, that will do, mother," said Tom, quietly. "Lookers-on see most of the game." "What do you mean, sir?" said her ladyship. "Why this," said Tom, savagely. "There, don't faint; because if you do I shan't stop and attend you." "If I only dared to face her like my son Tom," said his lordship to himself; "damme, he's as brave as a little lion, my son Tom." "Sir, your language is most disgraceful," said her ladyship, haughtily. "That's what all people think when something is said that they don't like. Now look here, mother; I don't mean to stand by any more and see the old man bullied." "Bless him, I am proud of that boy," thought his lordship. "Damme, he's little, but he's a man." "Diphoos!" cried her ladyship. "I don't say it was not stupid of the gov'nor to go and take that piece of tongue, and put it in the wrong pocket." "But, my dear boy, I--" "Hold your tongue, gov'nor," cried Tom. "It was stupid and idiotic of him perhaps, but not one half so stupid and idiotic as some things I see done here." "Tom, I do not know what you mean," cried her ladyship.