"Every duty, for _me_, has its appointed time!" said the secretary.
"Your letters are in the hall. I suppose you have a large circle of acquaintances, Mr. Russell?"
Toney was trying to smother her laughter as the secretary bowed low to the hostess.
"Not very large," said Mr. Russell, as if he were trying to be humble. "Rather a bore to answer them."
"I'm afraid it will take you some time, but, of course, one uses a paper-basket largely, even with letters from acquaintances," said Lady Dove politely. She was won over by the new secretary's deference.
"I hope you will tabulate them," put in Toney meditatively. "One can see at a glance then if--they are worse off or better off than the others."
"I make a list of everything," said Lady Dove. "You remember, don't you, Anne Faber, how well I kept the callers' book? One could see at a glance if people had not done their duty. I can always manage to show people politely what I think of them."
"It takes a very little time to book up letters, and I never believe those who say their letters were lost in the post."
"I don't think your letters will take very little time to-day, but, of course, I shall help you," said Toney, thinking of the terrible heaps in the hall.
Mr. Russell looked at the heiress with mild condescension.
"Thank you, I prefer doing it alone, and then there can be no mistake. I should not wish to stop your lessons in motor driving, Miss Whitburn."
"I've nearly conquered it; I've stuck up over my dressing table, '_Laborare est orare_,' that means the 'motor-car.'"
"Well, Toney, I hope it won't soon be your epitaph this neat Latin," smiled her uncle.
Happily Lady Dove soon got into most interesting conversation with Mr. Russell on the subject of social duties, so that Toney was then able to escape and to beckon to her uncle and Mrs. Faber to come and help her. Sir Evas could not help laughing heartily when he contemplated the pyramid of letters.
"This beats even you, Toney! Confess what you have been doing. Your aunt thinks the poor young man has such a large circle of friends."
"Oh, Toney, what is the new scheme?" said Mrs. Faber smiling.
Toney pulled her advertisement out of her pocket.
"I was so much afraid you would see it, but really I didn't guess the people would answer so promptly."