The morning call., 1892-07-17
CHAPTER III.

Lady Pym, most of whose time was spent
abroad. had no town house, but when she
found herself in London always took up
her quarters at that ld-estahlished and
most spectable of hotels known as "Muni-
ble's," TO which place Oswald now betOok
himself in his cab. he had been there be-
fore, and the head waiter did not tail TO rec
ogniZe him. Her ladyship, who ordered
her rooms three days since, has not vet ar
rived" said the man, "but here's q telegram
for YOU, sir. which came couple of hours
ago"
The message, which was from Paris, was
TO the effect that her ladyship was laid mp
with bad cold, and had decided OF TO risk
the journey till she was somewhat better
Mean while, Oswald was 10 stay on at Num-
ble's. pending her arrival The request
thus conveyed was enc which Oswald was
by no means disinelined to carry into effect
To be young and in good health, to have
ample funds at command. should you choose
to draw upon them, and, moreover to fnd
yourself established at free quarters in one
of the most comfortable hotels in town
what more could any reasonable mortal de-
sire? Oswald desired nothing more, but
wisely determined t. enjoy himself while
the opportunity was his, knowing from ey-
perience that when her ladyship should
arrive she would keep him pretty closely
tied to her aprOn-strings, aid that all his
pleasant little bachelor treats - harmless
though they were-must then perforce be
put stop 10.
Thus it came to pass that Oswald now
spent the pleasantest three days he had
ever spent in London, in the course of
which. however. he found time TO write a
long letter to his darling Nellie, under
cover of young married friend of hers.
who was the confidant of their love secret
| On the evening of the third day a second
| telegram reached the young man. Her
ladyship was better, but not yet well enough
to travel. Meanwhile her godson was TO
stay on where he was.
On the morning of the fourth day Oswald
| took up Captain Demetrius' card and re-
garded 1t with an air of doubt. He had
promised to call at Miutern place on the
second day after his arrival, but some feel
ing had hitherto held him back, into the
origin OF which he did not care to inquire
too closely. 1t may have been a conscious
ness that, 10 certain extent, he had made
| an ass of himself during his journey UP to
! the town which now flied him with q sort
| OF manufactures at the thought of meet
! ing the captain again. But he had given
| his promise to call, and, although he had de-
| layed carrying ii into effect, he had not the
| slightest intention OF breaking it.
IN call upon him this very afternoon"
| he said presently with an air OF resolution.
"a man of the world such as he is will
| know how to make some allowance for an
| ignorant yokel like me"
No. "a Mlntern place was let out In diff
| ferent suites OF apartments, Captain Deme-
| trius and his daughter being just then the
| occupants of the drawing-room floor Aims
! lie sent up his card by The page, and half q
minute later was requested to walk up
| stairs. The captain in person, in purple
velvet dTessing-gown aud wearing his GRIM
son silk skulcap, met him at the door and
shook him by the hand with much cor
dIalItv.
MY dear Mr.. Ainslie, am delighted to
see you," lie said. II was beginning to
! think that you had either forgotten or re-
GREETED your promise. That you have not
forgotten 1t your presence here is sufficient
! proof, and / Will try to fatter myself that
you have not regretted it,"
BY this he had led Oswald into the room.
which was well, if somewhat garishly, fur
nished. Putting his hands on the young
mans shoulders. with smiling inslstenee he
pressed him down into capaeious. softly
cushioned chalr fronting the window. Al
though the spring was well advanced, the
day was chilly, and the blazing fire in the
! CRATE added an element of comfort to the
room. Two or three large bowls filled with
flowers. several OF which were altogether
strange TO Oswald, stood about and exhaied
sweet bnt pungent perfume. Before
many minutes had passed Ainslie found
himself chatting with his host on q pleas
antly easy and almost confidential footing
Evidently the captain had gift for prt-
ting others at their case, and was himself
so seemingly open and unreserved that IL
would have needed a far more sus-
picious disposition than Oswald could
lay claim TO not 10 have re-
sponded in somewhat similar strain.
Thus, In the course OF The first Quar-
ter of an hour the captain had heard all
about Lady Pym's Illness and her nom
arrival in town, he had also been told
which might perhaps be a matter of minor
interest 70 him-to which theaters and other
places Of amusement Oswald had found his
way since they two had parted at the ter
minus.
Scarcely had Oswald sunk into his easy
chair before Demetrius said 10 him:
,,Myrrha will be here presently"
Inc Young man bad taken the remark as
applying TO the captains daughter, and had
feit no particular interest in the announce
neht-ioT was not his heart bound up in his
darling Nellie? But when. after a time, the