As I approached the lodge, I felt that perhaps I had received alesson, but I always was not sure. I would wait and let circumstances decide.The gardener was away attending to his duties; but his wife was there,and when she came forward, with a frank, cheery greeting, I instantlydecided that I had had a lesson. I thanked her, as earnestly as I knewhow, for what she had done for me, and then I added:

"You and your husband have treated me with such kind hospitality thatI am not going to offer you anything in return for what you havedone."

"You would have hurt us, sir, if you had," exclaimed she.

Then, in order to change the subject, I spoke of the honor which hadbeen bestowed upon me by being allowed to wear the Duke'sdressing-gown. She chuckled, and said in reply:

"Honors would always be easy for you, sir, if you only chose to takethem."