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 come down to give his uncle good-morning before I started for business to-day?"

"Ronny has gone," replied Lucille shortly.

"Gone," exclaimed the Senator. "Why, where have you sent him?"

"That is my business," returned Mrs. Clutterbuck. "Surely I have a right to do what I please with my own nephew."

"Nephew," echoed he. "Whew!"

"Have you any reason for questioning the relationship?"

"Well, no," replied her husband, stroking his beard; "but it strikes me for so near a relative, the lad does not seem to care particularly about you. Why, I do believe he likes me better than he does you."

"Ronny has bad taste."

"Maybe, madame, maybe," returned her husband. "But you might keep a civil tongue in your head. It's that kind of thing that riles my guests."

"What kind of thing?"

"Oh, drop it. Now tell me, when do you expect Ronny's return?"

"I don't expect it at all."

"Ah, I see you are not in a communicative mood, so I shall take myself off. But see here, madame. You were intended by Nature for the leisure class, but in the States we haven't got the institution. Some day we may import it from