, 1899-03-17
Calculates.
CHAPTER xII.-(oontinued.)
&N@A@0~

nus SdIu OF L1OnRul any llllHE Ahot hHo ~
been kindly of you. Did You sleep last
night? No. / can see you didn't. There!
lie down and get a little rest before lunch
con. l shall send you up a glass of cham
payne and a biscuit; don't refuse it"
She pulls down the blinds and goes soft
~ out of the room to her boudoir, where
she finds Beauclerk awaiting her.
He is lounging comfortably on a satin
fauteuil, looking the very beau ideal of
pleasant, careless life. He makes his sis
ter a present of a beaming smile as She
enters.
"Ah! good morning, Isabel; l am afraid
we ga I've you rather a fright, but you see,
it couldn't be helped. What an evening
and night it turned out! ] thought the
water works above were turned on for
good at last and forever. We felt ike
the Babes in the Wood, abandoned, lost
Poor, dear Miss Kayanaghi | felt so sor1
~ for her. You have seen her. l hope,
his face has now taken the correct lines
of decorous concern, ''she is not oyer-fal
tigued?"
'She looks tired, depressed" says Lady
Baltimore, regarding him seriously. II
wish, Norman, you had come home last
evening"
what! and bring Miss Kayanagh
through all that Storm
mo, you could have left her at Fall
ing. l wish you had come ONE
"Why p with an amused laugh. Are
you afraid ! have compromised myself
81 was not thinking of you. ] am more
afraid" with u touch of cold displeasure-
"of your having compromised Miss Kaya7
nagh. There are such things as gossipa
in this curious world. You should have
left Joyce in Mrs. Connolly's safe keeping
and come straight bach here"
ITO be laid up with the rheumatism for
the whole of the coming winter! Oil
most unnatural sister, what is it you
would have desired of meY'
~ h
SUMNER says Indy Baltimore.
81 hope l showed a proper attention to
all your guests"
you were very specially attentive to
her.
ITO Miss Kavanagh, do you mean?'
will n puzzled air. "Ah! well. yes. Per
haps | did give more of my time to her
and to Miss Maliphant than to the 9TH
ers."
"Ahi Miss Maliphant! one can UNDER
stand that" says his sister, with an into
nation that is not entirely complimentary.
''Can one? Here is one who can't, at
all events. | confess | tried very hard to
bring myself to the point there, but fail
ed. Nature was too strong for me. Good
girl. you know, but-er-awfuli'
1--WE are not discussing Miss Maliphant.
we were talking of Joyce" Jelly.
"Ah, truel' as if just awakening to a
delightful fact. And a far more charm
ing subject for discussion, it must be al
lowed. Well, and what of Joyce-you call
her Joyce"
"Be human, Norman!" says Lady Balti-
more, with a sudden suspicion of fire in
her tone. Forget to pose once in a way.
And this time it is important. Let me
hear the truth from you. She seems UNI
happy, uncertain, nervous. | like her.
There is something real, genuine, about
her. ! would gladly think that Do you
know she leans toward him, 81 have
sometimes thought you were in love with
her"
"Have you2 Do you know, so have ~
with a frankness very admirable. 'She is
one of the most agreeable girls of my ac-
quaintance. There is something very spe-
cial about her. I'm not surprised that
both you and fell into a conclusion of
that sort"
"Am | to understand by that-?"
"Just one thing. / am too poor to mar
ry."
1.-THE man who cannot afford to marry
should not afford himself the pleasures of
firtations," says Lady Baltimore, with
decision.
mo? Is that your final opinion? Isa-
bel, what a brow! What a terrible glance!
IT," smiling, ''you favor Baltimore with
this style of thing whenever you disap-
prove of his smallest action, / don't won
der he gibes so often at the matrimonial
collar. You advised me to think just now;
think yourself, my good Isabel, now and
then. and probably you will find life
easier"
He is still smiling delightfully."-. He filings
out this cruel gibe indeed in the most
careless manner possible.
"Ah! forget me-" says she, in a manner
as careless as his own. II she had quiz
cred beneath that thrust of his, at all
events she has had strength enough to
suppress all signs of it. 'Think-not of
her-I dare say she will outlive it-but of
yourself"
what would you have me do, then?"
demands he, rising here and confronting
her. There is a good deal of venom in his
handsome face, but Lady Baltimore
braves it.
Il would have you act as an honorable
man" says she, in a clear, if icy, tone.
you go pretty far, Isabel, very far,
even for a sister," says he, presently, his
face now white with rage. Il give you
more now. Attend to your own affairs,
which by all account require looking af-
ter, and let mine alone"
He is evidently furious. His sister
makes a little gesture toward the door.
your taking it like this does not mend
matters" she says, calmly, "it only makes
them, IL possible. worse. Leave meT' /,