'Kyngestown, as it used to be called' (Madame Frabelle hastened to show her knowledge) 'in the days when Saxon kings were crowned there. Am I wrong or not? Oh, surely yes.... Wasn't it Kingston? Didn't great Caesar cross the river there? And the Roman legions camp upon the sloping uplands?' Bruce gasped. 'You know everything!' he exclaimed. 'Oh no. I remember a little about the history,' she said modestly, 'Ah, poor, weak King Edwy!' 'Yes, indeed,' said Bruce, though he had no recollection of having heard the gentleman mentioned before. 'Poor chap!' 'Too bad,' murmured Edith. 'How he must have hated that place!' said Madame Frabelle. 'Rather. I should think so indeed.' 'However, _you_ won't,' said Edith adroitly changing the subject, seeing her husband getting deeper out of his depth. Most of the evening Madame Frabelle read up Baedeker, to the immense astonishment of Bruce, who had never before thought of regarding the river from the historical and geographical point of view. The next day, which was fine, if not warm, the two started off with a certain amount of bustle and a bundle of rugs, Madame Frabelle in a short skirt with a maritime touch about the collar and what she called a suitable hat and a dark blue motor veil. She carried off the whole costume to admiration. Archie seemed rather bewildered and annoyed at this division of the party. 'But, Mother, we're going out to lunch with grandmother.' 'I know, darling. I'll come and fetch you from there.' Conventional and restrained as Archie usually was, he sometimes said curious things. Edith saw by his dreamy expression he was going to say one now. He looked at her for a little while after his father's departure and then asked: 'Mother!' 'Yes, darling.' 'Is Madame Frabelle a nice little friend for father?' Edith knew he had often heard her and the nurse or the governess discussing whether certain children were nice little friends for him or Dilly. 'Oh yes, dear, very nice.' 'Oh.' The cook came in for orders. 'You're going to lunch all alone then, aren't you, Mother?' 'Yes, I suppose I must. I don't mind. I've got a nice book.' Archie walked slowly to the door, then said in a tone of envious admiration which contained a note of regret: 'I suppose you'll order a delicious pudding?' * * * * *