"Would that I did! You will have the best dishes and the best
guests. I feed at old Malton's; perhaps a tˆte a tˆte: Scotch
broth, and to tell him the news!"

"There is nothing like being a dutiful nephew, particularly
when one's uncle is a bachelor and has twenty thousand a-
year," said Lord Milford. "Au revoir! I suppose there will be
no division to-night."

"No chance."

Egerton and Berners walked on a little further. As they came
to the Golden Ball, a lady quitting the shop was just about to
get into her carriage; she stopped as she recognized them. It
was Lady Firebrace.

"Ah! Mr Berners, how d'ye do? You were just the person I
wanted to see! How is Lady Augusta, Mr Egerton? You have no
idea, Mr Berners, how I have been fighting your battles!"

"Really, Lady Firebrace," said Mr Berners rather uneasy, for
he had perhaps like most of us a peculiar dislike to being
attacked or cheapened. "You are too good."

"Oh! I don't care what a person's politics are!" exclaimed
Lady Firebrace with an air of affectionate devotion. "I
should be very glad indeed to see you one of us. You know
your father was! But if any one is my friend I never will
hear him attacked behind his back without fighting his