"
His aunt laughed.
"No, thank you, Adrien, I know your idea of slavery," she said. "You
would hand it over to Mr. Vermont, and he does quite enough of your work
already." Vermont was a favourite with Miss Penelope, owing chiefly to
his frequent gifts of marron glaces--a great weakness of hers.
"Besides," she continued, "Barminster House is too modern. I want to
revive a ball, just as it happened two or three centuries ago. It must
be Barminster Castle or nothing."
Adrien smiled across at her.
"Your word is law, my dear aunt; but if I were you, and it comes off at
all, I'd leave the arranging of it to Jasper."
Mr. Vermont beamed. Nothing seemed to please him so much as the idea of
work, especially when it involved the spending of money other than his
own.
"I am at your service, dear lady," he said amiably.
Miss Penelope rose, and gave the signal for the ladies to retire.
"I shall take you at your word, Mr. Vermont," she said graciously, as
she passed out.
After the ladies had gone, the wine circulated freely, and in the merry
badinage that followed it must be admitted that Jasper Vermont was the
life and soul of the party.
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