"You were, in a measure, shelved.

You were put on a list and told that you would hear from them--a sort of Micawber-like situation with which you were perfectly satisfied.

Then you took that moor up in Scotland and disappeared for nearly six months." "I was supplying the starving population with food," he reminded her genially.

"We sent about four hundred brace of grouse to market, not to speak of the salmon.

We had some very fair golf, too, some of the time." "Oh, I have not troubled to keep any exact account of your diversions!" Philippa said scornfully.