THE DERSINGHAMS AT HOME 143

suggest that it was really a challenge to Trape, who was
nothing if not patriotic. Obviously, he and Trape had
been quarrelling.

Major Trape stiffened, then smiled laboriously at his
hostess. "Mr. Golspie seems to think we can't make
anything in England. That's where he and I difiah.
Isn't it, Dersingham?"

"Well, yes, in a way, I suppose," Mr. Dersingham
mumbled unhappily. He felt divided between Worrell
and Angel Pavement, between his old and respected
school friend, Trape, with whom he instinctively agreed,
and the forceful man who was now saving Twigg and
Dersingham and making it prosperous, his guest for the
first time, too; and it was a wretched situation. He
muttered now that there was a lot to be said on both
sides.

"There may be," said Major Trape. "But I don't like
to hear a man continually runnin' down his own country.
Tastes diffah, I suppose. But I feel-well, it isn't done,
that's all"

"Time it was done then," said Mr. Golspie aggres-
sively. "Most of the people I meet here these days seem
to be living in a fool's paradise—"

"Now, Mr. Golspie," cried his hostess, with desperate
vivacity, "you're not to call us all fools. Is he, Mrs,
Trape? We won't have it." Then, saving the situation
at all cost, she turned to Miss Verever. "My dear, I
forgot to tell you, I've had the absurdest letter from
Alice. When I read it, I simply howled."

"No, did you?" said Miss Verever. *

"A-ha!" cried Mr. Dersingham, doing his best,
"What's the latest from Alice? We must all hear about
this."