“Well, mamma,” said Lady Selina, dutifully, “I’ll not say another word about it; only let me know what you want me to do, and I’ll do it.  Who is it you mean to ask?”

“Why, first of all, there’s the Fitzgeralds:  your father thinks that Lord and Lady George would come for a week or so, and you know the girls have been long talking of coming to Grey Abbey—­these two years I believe, and more.”

“The girls will come, I dare say, mamma; though I don’t exactly think they’re the sort of people who will amuse Adolphus; but I don’t think Lord George or Lady George will sleep away from home.  We can ask them, however; Mountains is only five miles from here, and I’m sure they’ll go back after dinner.”

“Well, my dear, if they will, they must, and I can’t help it; only I must say it’ll be very ill-natured of them.  I’m sure it’s a long time since they were asked to stay here.”

“As you say, mamma, at any rate we can ask them.  And who comes next?”

“Why your father has put down the Swinburn people next; though I’m sure I don’t know how they are to come so far.”

“Why, mamma, the colonel is a martyr to the gout!”

“Yes, my lady,” said Griffiths, “and Mrs. Ellison is worse again, with rheumatics.  There would be nothing to do, the whole time, but nurse the two of them.”

“Never mind, Griffiths; you’ll not have to nurse them, so you needn’t be so ill-natured.”

“Me, ill-natured, my lady?  I’m sure I begs pardon, but I didn’t mean nothing ill-natured; besides, Mrs. Ellison was always a very nice lady to me, and I’m sure I’d be happy to nurse her, if she wanted it; only that, as in duty bound, I’ve your ladyship to look to first, and so couldn’t spare time very well for nursing any one.”

“Of course you couldn’t, Griffiths; but, Selina, at any rate you must ask the Ellisons:  your papa thinks a great deal about the colonel—­he has so much influence in the county, and Adolphus will very likely stand, now.  Your papa and the colonel were members together for the county more than forty years since.”

“Well, mamma, I’ll write Mrs. Ellison.  Shall I say for a week or ten days?”

“Say for ten days or a fortnight, and then perhaps they’ll stay a week.  Then there’s the Bishop of Maryborough, and Mrs. Moore.  I’m sure Adolphus will be glad to meet the bishop, for it was he that christened him.”

“Very well, mamma, I’ll write to Mrs. Moore.  I suppose the bishop is in Dublin at present?”

“Yes, my dear, I believe so.  There can’t be anything to prevent their coming.”

“Only that he’s the managing man on the Education Board, and he’s giving up his time very much to that at present.  I dare say he’ll come, but he won’t stay long.”

“Well, Selina, if he won’t, I can’t help it; and I’m sure, now I think about the cook, I don’t see how we’re to expect anybody to stay.  What am I to do, Griffiths, about that horrid woman?”