92 THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



that didn't matter a bit ; he, Ronald Dennison, would get her 

 partners. — Ah, but that was not quite what she meant. They 

 didn't exactly know who to apply to, about 



At this juncture the Reverend, having caught part of their 

 conversation, good-naturedly broke in with — 



" Oh, certainly, you must come to the Ball, Miss Binkie. 

 Your mother has been telling me there's some difficulty about 

 getting cards, but that can't be allowed to stand in the way for 

 a moment. If you like, Mrs. Binkie, I'll put your name down 

 on the committee's list — and see some of the ladies about 

 it myself," he added, as he suddenly recollected what 

 would inevitably happen to the said name, if left to stand 

 by itself. 



" Now that's what I call down-right friendly, that is," ex- 

 claimed Mrs. Binkie enthusiastically. " Do have some more 

 champagne," under the impression that she was rewarding his 

 promised good offices by a wholly unusual luxury. "And the 

 Dook, now ; I suppose he'll really be there, will he? " 



" Oh dear, yes. He's as keen on dancing now as he was 

 twenty years ago. He'll certainly be there, and is going to 

 take quite a big house party with him." 



"Well, I'm sure it's really very kind of him, that it is. 

 And to people like you and me, now, which is only what you 

 might call common and ordinary, it seems very condescendin', 

 don't it? But there, you seem to know him almost like his 

 equal, you do. I suppose you see him quite often, now, 

 Mr. Yarboro?" 



" Oh yes. He's my uncle, you see," said the cleric, helping 

 himself to port before passing the decanter. 



Mrs. Binkie could have bitten her tongue out with vexation. 



