THE CASSILLIS LITIGATION 67 



both to have been given), was played by his lord- 

 ship's relative, Charles, third Duke of Queensberry, 

 in aiding his heir-presumptive to add another dignity 

 to the already long list of honours enjoyed by his 

 fortunate family. Or possibly his grace may have 

 deprecated his kinsman's attempt to triple his 

 already dual coronet. Nor is any opinion of the 

 Duchess's recorded on this matter, although she 

 appears to have been well qualified for those duties 

 which pertain to the sterner sex in the business 

 affairs of everyday life. 



This lady, though she had a shrewd regard for her 

 own dignity and privileges, would no doubt have 

 done her best to thwart even a baronet's acceding 

 to an earldom; as she seems to have shown in a 

 peculiar way her dislike to gentry either appearing 

 to be more than they were, or ' aping ' nobility. 

 That her actions Avere hardly polite I have already 

 recorded; the following will illustrate her views 

 more fully. 



If, while visiting, she was entertained with a 

 'dish of tea' served in a fashion she deemed too 

 grand for the status of her hostess, she would some- 

 times manage to overturn the table and break 

 the china. So skilfully was this done, and so much 

 sorrow expressed at her carelessness, that few of her 



