Now that the kilt lay ready to his hand he could not be persuaded even to look at it.

In gloomy silence he donned his conventional evening dress and announced, last thing before they left their room-- "Bonker, say no more! To-morrow morning I depart!" Their hostess had explained that a merely informal dinner awaited them, since his lordship (she observed) would no doubt prefer a quiet evening after his long journey.

But Mrs.Gallosh was one of those good ladies who are fond of asking their friends to take "pot luck," and then providing them with fourteen courses; or suggesting a "quiet little evening together," when they have previously removed the drawing-room carpet.

It is an affectation of modesty apt to disconcert the retiring guest who takes them at their word.

In the drawing-room of Mrs.Gallosh the startled Baron found assembled--firstly, the Gallosh family, consisting of all those whose acquaintance we have already made, and in addition two stalwart school-boy sons; secondly, their house-party, who comprised a Mr.and Mrs.Rentoul, from the same metropolis of commerce as Mr.Gallosh, and a hatchet-faced young man with glasses, answering to the name of Mr.Cromarty-Gow; and, finally, one or two neighbors.