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 which you came was really a great privilege to us. It sounded beautiful."

Mrs. Dunbar smiled over the top of the hedge.

"I can't shake hands." she said, "but I'm very glad to meet you, Mr. Beauling; and if you men wish to be very useful you can each take an armful of roses for me."

Sheaves of roses were passed over the hedge, and the gentlemen took them in their arms.

"You can take them up to the house," said Mrs. Dunbar, "and make yourselves clean and beautiful for lunch."

They rode up to the house, gave the horses to one man, the roses to another, and went in. They made ready for lunch.

It was served on a thick, dark, straight-grained, dully shining mahogany, in a huge room that had French windows to the floor along one side, and smelled of roses. There was one mighty sideboard rich with plate, and another that was a foam of chiseled glass. Three men-servants waited. The table was laid for four.