“But what’s the difficulty?” said my Lady. “Why, don’t you see? The Ambassador, that brought this, is waiting in the house: and he’s sure to see Sylvie and Bruno: and then, when he sees Uggug, and remembers all that about ‘goodness, cleverness, and beauty,’ why, he’s sure to——” “And _where_ will you find a better boy than _Uggug_?” my Lady indignantly interrupted. “Or a wittier, or a lovelier?” To all of which the Vice-Warden simply replied “Don’t you be a great blethering goose! Our only chance is to keep those two brats out of sight. If _you_ can manage _that_, you may leave the rest to _me_. _I’ll_ make him believe Uggug to be a model of cleverness and all that.” “We must change his name to Bruno, of course?” said my Lady. The Vice-Warden rubbed his chin. “Humph! No!” he said musingly. “Wouldn’t do. The boy’s such an utter idiot, he’d never learn to answer to it.” “_Idiot_, indeed!” cried my Lady. “He’s no more an idiot than _I_ am!” “You’re right, my dear,” the Vice-Warden soothingly replied. “He isn’t, indeed!” My Lady was appeased. “Let’s go in and receive the Ambassador,” she said, and beckoned to the Professor. “Which room is he waiting in?” she inquired. “In the Library, Madam.” “And _what_ did you say his name was?” said the Vice-Warden. The Professor referred to a card he held in his hand. “His Adiposity the Baron Doppelgeist.” “Why does he come with such a funny name?” said my Lady. “He couldn’t well change it on the journey,” the Professor meekly replied, “because of the luggage.” “_You_ go and receive him,” my Lady said to the Vice-Warden, “and _I’ll_ attend to the children.” CHAPTER VII. THE BARON’S EMBASSY. I was following the Vice-Warden, but, on second thoughts, went after my Lady, being curious to see how she would manage to keep the children out of sight. I found her holding Sylvie’s hand, and with her other hand stroking Bruno’s hair in a most tender and motherly fashion: both children were looking bewildered and half-frightened. “My own darlings,” she was saying, “I’ve been planning a little treat for you! The Professor shall take you a long walk into the woods this beautiful evening: and you shall take a basket of food with you, and have a little picnic down by the river!” Bruno jumped, and clapped his hands. “That _are_ nice!” he cried. “Aren’t it, Sylvie?” Sylvie, who hadn’t quite lost her surprised look, put up her mouth for a kiss. “Thank you _very_ much,” she said earnestly. My Lady turned her head away to conceal the broad grin of triumph that spread over her vast face, like a ripple on a lake. “Little simpletons!” she muttered to herself, as she marched up to the house. I followed her in. “Quite so, your Excellency,” the Baron was saying as we entered the Library. “All the infantry were under _my_ command.” He turned, and was duly presented to my Lady.