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Rh awestruck word or two: 'My soul and body!' he gasped.

'Ah!' said the Bride, 'that is something flash, ain't it though? I wonder I hadn't forgotten it. And now you have a try, old man!'

Honest Garrod, the coachman, opened his eyes wide. He knew that this was Mrs Alfred; he had heard that Mrs Alfred was an Australian; but he could scarcely believe his ears.

'No, miss—no, mum—thank you,' he faltered. The 'miss' came much more naturally than the 'mum.'

'Come on!' cried the Bride.

'I'd rather not, miss—mum,' said the coachman.

'What rot!' said Gladys. 'Here—that's it—bravo! Now blaze away!'

The old man had given in, simply because this extraordinary young lady was irresistible. The first result of his weakness was a yell of pain from the stable-boy; the poor lad's face was bleeding where the lash had struck it. Rough apologies followed. Then the old coachman—who was not without mettle, and was on it, for the moment—took off his coat and tried again. After