Jean Yarrow I found later, helping him to cut sandwiches and bawling the most unsuitable answers to questions which, poor soul, she could not hear. When he said something about "potted tongue", she thought he said "clot in the lung" and gave him a history of her own complaints which I could not help feeling was _not_ suitable for the ears of a young man... The duke, meanwhile, was mixing cup by some secret process that he had learned at Cambridge; I hoped it would save the wine a little, but from this point of view it was _not_ a success. They only asked for more, like that boy in the book... To use a favourite word of Will's, Colonel Butler was a "superman." But for him... I mean, there was plenty of high spirits but not a hint of rowdiness. And he was master of the ceremonies, cook, butler, carriage-finder. The older generation, too, has been so much thrust into the background that we find it refreshing when a young man shews a little politeness and consideration. As soon as supper was ready--he had prepared it with his own hands--, Colonel Butler asked if he might take me down. Arthur was with me and he at once intervened. "No, no," he said. "You're a dancing man. Go off and find Phyllida. You'll spoil her evening if you don't ask her to dance." I should have thought it was hardly necessary to _throw_ the girl at him like that, but after the way Brackenbury and Ruth had been crying over their lost sheep... "It's no use your thinking you can keep her for Will," Arthur said, though I had never uttered a word. "Look at them--meeting... And now look at them--dancing. Come down to supper." I don't think that any account of the dance was published in the press. I certainly supplied no particulars. But I expect you read about the dinner. I have been inundated with letters of thanks--the most touching, unquestionably, from the princess, who loved what she called my little informal gathering. It was not quite what I had intended, but the _effect_ was good; when our friends saw us together--I mean Arthur and me, of course--harmoniously, lovingly... As regards Phyllida and Colonel Butler, you know as much as I do... There has been no announcement; and, if people do not wish to tell me things, I do not choose to ask... From every point of view--almost, the evening was highly successful. But I shall never forgive Spenworth, never... As long as I live... X LADY ANN SPENWORTH IS A PRISONER IN HER OWN HOUSE _Lady Ann_ (_to a friend of proved discretion_): You must forgive me for making you wait like this. The servants have positive instructions to say that I am not at home to any one until I have been specifically asked. Why one should be at the mercy of anybody who chooses to burst in... When all is said and done, the Englishman's home is still his castle.