But then, you know, I would not put myself in it either." "Ah," grinned Mr.Barker, "the book would lose by that, but I should gain." "How ?" asked her ladyship.
"Because we should both be well out of it," said he, having reached his joke triumphantly.

But Lady Victoria did not like Mr.Barker, or his jokes, very much.

She once said so to her brother.

She thought him spiteful.
"Well, Vick," said her brother good-naturedly, "I daresay you are right.

But he amuses me, and he is very square on settling days." * * * * * Meanwhile Lady Victoria was not mistaken--Mr.Barker was spiteful; but she did not know that she was the only member of the party to whom he ventured to show it, because he thought she was stupid, and because it was such a relief to say a vicious thing now and then.