Page:The principal girl (IA principalgirl00snai).pdf/145

 "Mr. Shelmerdine, I quite accept that statement."

In the neck again, you silly blighter, snarled the Twin Brethren.

"I'd abdicate if I could, but I can't, ma'am, accordin' to the rules of the Constitution. My Governor says—"

"Mr. Shelmerdine, I fully appreciate the insurmountable nature of the barrier."

"I shall have enough to keep a wife, ma'am, but if you feel that I ought to go into Parliament, I shall be only too pleased to see about it at once."

Lady Macbeth appreciated the honorable nature of the proposal, which intensified her great regret. But even a seat in Parliament could not gloss over the fact that he was the son of his father.

Suddenly, the front door bell pealed loudly down in the basement and reverberated throughout the house. A casual caller—perhaps Grandmamma's old friend, Sir Swire, who called to see her most Sundays when he was in London.

The Braided Morning Coat winged a pious apostrophe to its private, particular gods.

Alas! the luckless garment was a trifle premature in its hymn of thanksgiving.