The felicitations were accepted of course in the spirit in which they were offered; and for our part we are very glad that dear Adela was able to let bygones be bygones, for, as all the world knew, Father and Mother had not been in the least to blame. Besides, it shows there was a core of magnanimity in the girl, and for this even we were hardly prepared, if we must confess the truth.
Pray do not think that Adela's good fortune was a mere figure of speech, since there was every reason to believe that the latest Scalp depending from the girdle of the Huntress was in all respects a very choice specimen. He looked one, certainly; and Mother, who was quite competent to form an opinion on such an abstruse subject, could tell by the way in which he handed hot buttered tea-cake that he had a beautiful nature.
Then Father had been at Eton with his father, and that, of course, was another point in the young man's favor.
"By the way," said the Ex-Ambassador, "I see in The Thunderer this morning that Philip is going into politics."
This was news for Father. Mother was incredulous.
"And as a Tag, Rag and Bobtail, if you please," said Pa quietly.
Father it was who was now smitten with incredulity.
"Impossible," he said.
