"The immediate one obviously is to turn herself into a lady--She means to do in a few years consciously, what nature takes many generations to accomplish in the ordinary course of events--Her progress is quite remarkable even in these six weeks." "What shall you do with her, Seraphim?" "Keep her as long as she will stay with me, G., and perhaps take her education in hand myself when you all leave." And then Lady Garribardine laughed softly. "Läo is a huge joke, dear boy--I think the parrot rooms suit her, don't you? Are you pleased with my arrangements for my guests?" There was something exquisitely whimsical in Her Ladyship's old black eyes, his met them delightedly. Aunt and nephew understood each other so well, these two perfect citizens of the world! "Läo is charming! And I am sure she is deriving all sorts of inspirations from the blue macaw's amourettes with the yellow-crested cockatoo, which she looks at from her downy couch--Seraphim, I am going to persuade Beatrice to stay on--Beatrice is an excellent creature in spite of her contempt for my powers as a chauffeur! She is quite amused with Victor Thistlethwaite. I paved the way by suggesting to her this morning that she should take the early train on Thursday, and she said at once, that she rather thought she was not leaving until Saturday with the rest." Lady Garribardine chuckled delightedly; the noise was as of cream bubbling--if cream can bubble! "_Tiens!_" was all she said and then went on to speak of other things. "Betty d'Estaire is going to catch young Allonby, G. I believe they will settle it to-night. For one of my blood she has a number of overmodern faults, and Gwendoline and Arabella will be glad to get her off their hands." "She is a promising young person." "Even blood can't stand against the total want of discipline which prevails among the present generation, G. When these impossible girls' children have grown up there won't be any ladies left." "I don't think they will have many children--we are breeding a neuter race, Seraphim. All the games are making their bones too rigid, and all the want of discipline is weakening their nerves--very few of the future ones will be able to stand the agonies of child-bearing." "You are not in a position to criticise, G., with no offspring of your own!" "I am not an eldest son; there is no obligation entailed upon me! Dick has three boys, fortunately, and Alec, two." "I consider that the poorest excuse." Mr. Strobridge sighed. "Perhaps it is--the whole thing is rather played out with us all, isn't it? Seraphim, when I talked with that balanced, healthy young woman to-day, I felt we want an admixture of new blood in a number of our families, if only to bring back our enthusiasm. Dick's children are fine enough fellows physically, but there is not half a peck o' wits among them--and as you know, Alec's little Yankee chaps are what their mother calls 'brainy' to a degree, but masses of overstrung nerves as well."