"I shouldn't mind a lift from you," he suggested.
"Sorry," explained the one with the reins; "but you see how rough the lane is, and really the machine is too heavy as it is. Ta-ta."
"On minute," said the pedestrian. "If it's too heavy I'll jolly soon remedy that," and he took a step to the dog-cart and pulled out the birds. "Pity you didn't think of that before. Now it's lighter. Off you go, and the next time you are offered a day's shooting you just inquire, from some one who knows, how you should behave. You will in that way be prevented from appearing a complete bounder."
For some time afterwards there was a sort of coldness between that man and the First Family, whose representative had been prevented by him from adding three brace of partridges to their menu for the next week.
For a plentiful lack of good manners the representatives of the "best set" in Mallingham could scarcely be surpassed in any community. The youth probably was quite sincere in his belief that he was conferring a conspicuous favour upon the man who had invited him to an afternoon among the partridges. How could it be expected that he should think differently when he had seen his mother and sisters feasting at the Mayoral ball one night, and cutting the Mayor the next day when they met him in the street?
It was not a Mayoress of Mallingham, but of a much more important municipality--one, in fact, of so great importance as to have a Lord Mayor and a Lady Mayoress--who had the privilege of entertaining a certain elderly offshoot of the Royal Family upon the occasion of the laying of the foundation-stone of a new hospital in the town. This particular minor Royalty is well known (in certain circles) for her ample appreciation of the dignity of her exalted position, and, like all such ladies, she is gracious in proportion to such dust of the earth as Mayoresses and Presidents of Colleges and Chairmen of Hospital Boards; and she made herself so pleasant to the Lady Mayoress who was entertaining her, that the latter determined to keep up the acquaintance, so she made it a point to pay her a visit in her private capacity. She drove up the stately avenue to the mansion, and inquired if Her Royal Highness were at home, just as if Her Royal Highness had been the wife of the vicar. She was admitted--as far as a certain room--and after an interval of long waiting there entered, not Her Royal Highness, but a stranger, a member of the "Household" of the minor Royalty, and they had a chilly chat together.