It was shirking--refusing to take a hand, to do one's best--false shame, indeed!--that ruined English society and English talk.

Let everybody take a lesson from the French! After which the lists were opened, so to speak, and Lady Dunstable, Meadows, the Dean, and about half the young people produced elegant pieces of translation, astounding copies of impromptu verse, essays in all the leading styles of the day, and riddles by the score.

The Home Secretary, who had been lassoed by his hostess, escaped towards the middle of the ordeal, and wandered sadly into a further room where Doris sat chatting with Lord Dunstable.

He was carrying various slips of paper in his hand, and asked her distractedly if she could throw any light on the question--"Why is Lord Salisbury like a poker ?" "I can't think of anything to say," he said helplessly, "except 'because they are both upright.' And here's another--'Why is the Pope like a thermometer ?' I did see some light on that!" His countenance cheered a little.

"Would this do?
'Because both are higher in Italy than in England.' Not very good!--but I must think of something." Doris put her wits to his.