Page:Elizabeth's Pretenders.djvu/56

Rh "There is Captain Drayson."

"Who the deuce is Captain Drayson? I never heard of him. You are always inventing new men, Molly."

"You forget, William; we met him in the winter out hunting several times. And I had known him before in London. He is in the —th, and quartered at Manchester."

"Ah! well, you've a better memory than I have. Then there's General Palliser and Lady Wargrave—that makes ten. You haven't any more, I hope?"

"No; the house won't hold any more. I wish you would build a wing, William—a nice large room for dancing below, and some bedrooms above."

"Can't afford it, Molly. I live up to every penny of my income as it is."

Generous Elizabeth was on the point of saying, "Let me build the wing for you," when the sober good sense of her uncle's next speech stopped her.

"And it ain't the building only, you see, but a larger house means more expense; and I don't want large parties, and balls, and all that. It ain't worth it. Ten's a very good number. A couple of whist-tables, and two to play piquet or bezique—what d'ye want more?"

"Don't put too much sugar in!" a voice called out from the bay window. Coco's perch was always placed there at breakfast-time.

His mistress went up to him, laughing, with a lump in her hand.

"You don't mind how much one puts in, you spoilt pet!" Then turning to her husband, "Oh! it is as you like, dear," said Mrs. Shaw, with her sweetest manner. "I wouldn't, for the world, have you do anything you