THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 127 



what is it? " asked the Duke, suddenly coming to a full stop 

 in his flowery speech to the lady, as Lord Gravity appeared 

 round the corner without warning, and said — 



" The Dance Music Committee, father, would like to 

 know ' ' 



" My dear Gravity, pray represent me with the Dance Music, 

 or any other committee. Your judgment in all matters invari- 

 ably meets with my approval," answered the Duke, with a 

 courteous wave of the hand, and Lord Gravity had, perforce, 

 to retire. He knew that he had probably succeeded in putting 

 his father ' off his stroke ' for the time, and that sufficed him. 

 At all events, it was the best thing he could do, under the 

 circumstances. 



It took the Duke some few minutes to rearrange his 

 thoughts and prepare another pretty speech, and whilst the 

 fair Adela was gently paving the way for the reception of 

 further compliments, a slight diversion arrested their attention. 



A couple had just pulled up to rest, after gyrating several 

 times round the room. They were standing with their backs 

 turned to the Duke and Adela, but the latter quickly saw that 

 they were Konald Dennison and Penelope Binkie. The music 

 was just ending in a long drawn-out note, specially insisted on 

 by Herr Splitzen Lagerbier, and duly executed (not to say 

 murdered) by the Pea-Greens, when Pionald said — 



" So sorry this dance is over. Miss Binkie. It seemed such 

 a short one. May I take you in to supper?" and the lady, 

 well pleased at the idea, was just turning to give a smiling 

 assent, when Monsieur le Baron Stepitoff suddenly appeared 

 upon the scene. 



"Ah, my dear Mademoiselle Binkie, you will make me the 



