“How many daughters are there--in a bunch?” Mr. Temple Barholm suggested liberally. There Captain Palliser felt it safe to allow himself to smile, as though taking it with a sense of humor. “'In a bunch' is an awfully good way of putting it,” he said. “It happens to apply perhaps rather unfortunately well; both families are much poorer than they should be, and daughters must be provided for. Each has four. 'In a bunch' there are eight: Lady Alice, Lady Edith, Lady Ethel, and Lady Celia at Stone Hover; Lady Beatrice, Lady Gwynedd, Lady Honora, and Lady Gwendolen at Pevensy Park. And not a fortune among them, poor girls!” “It's not the money that matters so much,” said the astounding foreigner, “it's the titles.” Captain Palliser stopped short in the garden path for a moment. He could scarcely believe his ears. The crude grotesqueness of it so far got the better of him that if he had not coughed he would have betrayed himself. “I've had a confounded cold lately,” he said. “Excuse me; I must get it over.” He turned a little aside and coughed energetically. After watching him a few seconds Tembarom slipped two fingers into his waistcoat pocket and produced a small tube of tablets. “Take two of these,” he said as soon as the cough stopped. “I always carry it about with me. It's a New York thing called 'G. Destroyer.' G stands for grippe.” Palliser took it. “Thanks. With water? No? Just dissolve in the mouth. Thanks awfully.” And he took two, with tears still standing in his eyes. “Don't taste bad, do they?” Mr. Temple Barholm remarked encouragingly. “Not at all. I think I shall be all right now. I just needed the relief. I have been trying to restrain it.” “That's a mistake,” said Tembarom. They strolled on a pace or so, and he began again, as though he did not mean to let the subject drop. “It's the titles,” he said, “and the kind. How many of them are good-lookers?” Palliser reflected a moment, as though making mental choice. “Lady Alice and Lady Celia are rather plain,” he said, “and both of them are invalidish. Lady Ethel is tall and has handsome eyes, but Lady Edith is really the beauty of the family. She rides and dances well and has a charming color.” “And the other ones,” Tembaron suggested as he paused--“Lady Beatrice and Lady Gwynedd and Lady Honora and Lady Gwendolen.” “You remember their names well,” Palliser remarked with a half-laugh. “Oh, I shall remember them all right,” Tembarom answered. “I earned twenty-five per in New York by getting names down fine.” “The Talchesters are really all rather taking. Talchester is Lord Pevensy's family name,” Palliser explained. “They are girls who have pretty little noses and bright complexions and eyes. Lady Gwynedd and Lady Honora both have quite fascinating dimples.” “Dimples!” exclaimed his companion. “Good business.” “Do you like dimples particularly?” Palliser inquired with an impartial air.