"Ah, you are among the rank and fashion, you see, and we are country cousins doing the sights. You visit the real people, and we stare at the images at Madame Tussaud's. You attend private views, and we go in with the rabble. You go to luncheon parties at The Star and Garter, and we have buns and tea in an ABC shop, and pay an extra penny for cream. We move in different circles, Major Darcy," cried Peggy, with a toss of the head which contradicted the humility of her words. "It is not to be expected that we should meet. To-morrow morning we are going to the Zoo." The big officer looked down at her with admiring eyes, paused just long enough to give added effect to his words, and then said deliberately: "May I go with you?" "Certainly not!" replied Peggy promptly; and when Hector demanded her reason, "You would be too great a strain upon us," she explained. "We should have to behave properly if you were there, and that would spoil the fun. You would be shocked at our behaviour, or if you were not shocked, you would be bored, and that would be even more disastrous." "Try me and see. There is no fear of my being bored, and I promise faithfully to be so far from shocked that I will do every single thing that you do yourself." "Go round with the crowd and see the animals feed?" "Certainly, if you wish it." "Give biscuits to the elephants?" "With pleasure! I'd do anything for an elephant. Finest beast you can find." "And nuts to the monkeys?" "Er--is that a necessary condition? I really cannot face the monkey- house in this weather." "Walk round the parrot-house and examine every cage, and offer your finger to be bitten?" "I would wait outside until you came back." "That's shirking. If I let you off the monkeys, I should insist upon the parrots; but the most important of all is the dromedary. Will you have a penny ride with us round the grounds on the back of a dromedary?" "My dear Peggy! Anything in reason to enjoy the pleasure of your society, but really--" "Nobody shall come with us to the Zoo who is too proud to ride on the dromedary," said Peggy firmly. "I told you you would be shocked, and you see I was right; but Mellicent and I have no pride at all where animals are concerned, and we intend to do every possible thing that can be done. We will have to defer our next meeting for another occasion, Major Darcy." "Not longer than Fwiday, I hope, Peggy," interrupted Rosalind sweetly. "I want you to keep Fwiday afternoon disengaged, and come with us to Lady B's garden-party, which will be one of the things of the season. The Pwince and Pwincess will be there, and everybody who is in town, and there is to be a pastowal play beneath the trees, so that altogether it will be worth seeing. You will come, won't you, Peggy? You really must pwomise to come."