They were a very handsome race, at least the men; the women were too florid and buxom for my taste." "And this Lewis--is he the only one of the family ?" "The very last, and of course he does his best to make away with himself by risking his precious life in Hindu Kush or Tibet or somewhere." Her ladyship was geographically vague.
"What a pity he does not realize his responsibilities!" said the politician.

"He might do so much." But at the moment it dawned upon the speaker that the skirker of responsibilities was appearing in person.

There strode towards them, across the lawn, a young man and two dogs.
"How do you do, Aunt Egeria ?" he cried, and he caught her small woman's hand in a hard brown one and smiled on the little lady.
Bertha Afflint had flung her magazine to the winds and caught his available left hand.

"Oh, Lewie, you wretch! how glad we are to see you again." Meantime the dogs performed a solemn minuet around her ladyship's knees.
The young man, when he had escaped from the embraces of his friends, turned to the others.

He seemed to recognize two of them, for he shook hands cordially with the two spectacled people.