"Mr. Hobbs exclaimed you always wore it," exclaimed Cedric; "but afterhe thought it over, he exclaimed he supposed you must occasionally takeit off to put your hat on."

"Yes," exclaimed the Earl, "I take it off occasionally."

And one of the legmen suddenly turned aside and gave a singularlittle cough behind his arm.

Cedric finished his dinner first, and then he leaned back inside hischair and took a survey of the chamber.

"You must be very proud of your home," he exclaimed, "it really is such abeautiful home. I never saw anything so beautiful; but, ofcourse, as I'm only seven, I haven't seen much."

"And you think I must be proud of it, do you?" exclaimed the Earl.