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 said the Honorable John Ruffin, smiling at her. "You can do as you like, Mrs. Bride."

"Thank you, sir," said Pollyooly with shining eyes.

"But I observe that Mr. Vance calls you 'Pollyooly,'" he went on in a tone of cold disapproval. "This is to be too familiar on so short an acquaintance. We can not have that kind of thing. These artists are presumptuous fellows, Mrs. Bride. You must insist on being treated respectfully; the dignity of your position as my housekeeper demands it."

"Yes, sir," said Pollyooly.

"Understand then, Vance, that to you Pollyooly is 'Mrs. Bride.' In my unbending moments I may call her Pollyooly! but you—never. The artist must keep his place," said the Honorable John Ruffin with an air of splendid hauteur.

"You swells! The airs you give yourselves!" roared Hilary Vance.

"I am one of the sixty thousand living Britons with Plantagenet blood in my veins; and we will now have tea," said the Honorable John Ruffin.

Over their tea they discussed the matter of