The morning call., 1895-03-03
Charlie. who knew the phrase chiefly in


connection with fish.
- rise of screw, you know
"Oh! ah! yes-what fool / am ~ and
Charlie disappeared beneath the waves.
When they were all on the bank, driving,
Willie, encoura ged by not being discour-
aged (save by Sutton's silence) in his ad-
vances, ventured further and asked in a
Joking tone:
And aren't you marked off yet? We've
been expecting to hear of it for the last
! twelve months"
Nv hat do you mean?"
, 'Why, You and Miss Buslkll."
Charlie struggled through his shirt and
| then answered with his first touch of dis
! tance:
Nothing in it. People've got no bust
ness to gossip"
Its pretty impertinent," observed Vic
tor Sutton, in slow but deliberate tones.
Willie flushed.
81 beg pardon" he said, gruffiy. 81 only
! repeated what heard. "
"My dear fellow, no harm is done" cried
Charlie. ''Who was the fool?"
| "Well-in fact-my father"
| The situation was awkward but they
wisely eluded it by laughter. But thought
struck Charlie.
Il say, did your father state it as fact 2''
"Oh, no, but as certainty, you know"
"When?''
Last night at supper"
Charles brow clouded. Miss B--that
is, Agatha-was certain TO have been at
supper. However, all that could be put
right in the evening-that one blessed
evening lett to him. He looked at Willie
| and opened his mouth to speak, but he
shut it again. 1t did not seem to him that
he could question Willie Prime about the
lady. She had chosen to tell him nothing,
and her viii was his law.
But he was yearnlng to know who she
/ i
and this time virtue really had reward
beyond itself, for Willie would blithely
have told him that she was.a dressmaker
| (he called Nettie, however, the manager of
court modistes husiness), and that would
not have pleased Charlie.
1t was all very well for Charlie to count
on that blessed evening, but he reckoned
without his hoSt-or rather without his
| guests.
The Bushels came to lunch, Mile driv-
ing her terrified mother in a lofty gig, and
at lunch Mile recounted her vision of
Agatha Merceron. She did not believe it,
of course, but it was queer, wasn't it?
Victor Sutton rose to the bait at once.
We'll investigate it, F" he cried ''Mer-
ceron" Che meant the patient Mr.. Vansit-
tart), didn't you once write an article on
! 'Apparitions for Intellect?'
| Eyes, | proved there were none" an
swered Mr.. Vansittart.
That's impossible, you know" re-
marked Mrs. Marland, gently.
"Wel1 put you to the proof this very
evening" declared Mr.. Sutton.
Charlie started.
care you game, Miss Bushell?" con-
tinued Victor.
"Ye-yes, if you'll keep quite near me"
answered Mile, with playful shudder.
| Charlie reflected how i'll playfulness be-
came her, and frowned. But Mile was
pleased to see him frown; she liked to show
| him that other men liked to keep quite
near to her
Then this evening we'll 60 in body to
the Pool"
Il shall not CO." shuddered Mrs. Mar
land
"An hour before su.lsetr
Half an hour. She might be early, and
We'll stay half an hour after Well give
her fair show"
Come, thought Charlie, 81 shall get
an hour with Agatha"
~ QUILL come, Charlie?' asked Victor.
ooh, all right" he answered, hiding all
signs OF vexation. He could get back by 6
and join the party. But why was Mrs.
Marland looking at him?
The first step, however, toward getting
back is to get there, and Charlie found this
none so easy. After lunch came lawn
tennis, and he was impressed.
Mr.. Vansittart played middle-aged
game, and Victor found little leisure, for
this modest sport among his more am
bilious amusements. Charlie had to
balance Mile Bushell, and he spent very
hot and wearying afternoon. They would
go on; Victor declared it Was good for