Lewis stopped a moment, and laughed inordinately.
"Why, Toney, you'll have a hornet's nest about you!"
"Do you think so? I was a little afraid of the result, so I thought I would tell you about it, and you might just talk it over with his Royal Highness."
"Mr. Plantagenet Russell! He looks so like a descendant of somebody, so I call him 'His Royal Highness' in my own mind."
"But what do you mean to do for this riff-raff?"
"Not a doubt about it, I assure you! It's only the ne'er-do-weels that will answer such an advertisement! The decent ones will think it a hoax."
"Well, it's rather wholesale you know, Toney."
"And look here, Mr. Waycott, I've drawn out a plan. I want you to see it."
"Why to house my doctors, officers, and orphans."
"Of course I do, only the difficulty is the land to build on. Aunt Dove will never consent to have a Home on the estate."
"Then I shall be up a tree, because I want it close by. I shall want to see after it, and you promised you would help me, and Uncle Evas will be awfully interested."
Lewis gave a side glance at Toney. She was perfectly in earnest.
"We must manage it somehow I see. You'll give me a night to consider it in, won't you?"
"Of course! I've been thinking of it ever since I knew my General had left me his money. I've made lovely plans about all sorts of things."
"No, only a stone house at Aldersfield. It will be hard work I know, but I love what Mr. Hales calls 'the strenuous life.'"
"You always were active-minded, but I think you will live to repent your palace."
"But you won't laugh about it, and you'll help, won't you?" Toney was very much in earnest. Lewis paused and took her hand suddenly.
"Of course I will. It is very, very good of you to trust me. It's a compact."
Toney looked at him suddenly. A faint blush spread where there was room, then the nervousness passed away.
"I do trust you ever so much. Thank you. What shall we exchange for a compact. It ought to be half a button! But about his Royal Highness, do you think he had better be warned?"
"I really think I would let him enjoy one night more without a nightmare."
Even Toney, who was terribly in earnest at this moment, could not resist laughing.
"You must come and see him. He really is very nice looking, but I am rather disappointed that he does not care to talk of Australia. You ought to stick to your country through thick and thin."