Evening star., 1901-05-11
CHAPTER XVI.
The Now Life

You haven't mentioned it to the young
man himself?' asked Lady Evenswood.
Certainly not. I've only seen him once.
and then he didn't talk of his own affairs.
He takes the thing very we'll He's lost his
position and he's the hero of the news
papers, and he bears both Affections
quite coolly. lad of good balance, I
think"
rs he aSreeable?"
Hum I'm not sure of that, No excess
of modesty, l fancy.
Il suppose you mean he's not shy? All
young men are conceited. l think | should
like you to bring him to see me-
For forty years such an intimation from
Lady Evcnswood had enjoyed the rank of
a command. Lord Southend received IT
with proper obedience
THE solution l spoke of has occurred to
some of u.s. he went on. Hes poor now,
but with that he could make a marriage
The case is very exceptional"
SO SO is what you propose, George"
''Oh. there are precedents 1t was done
in the Bearsdale case.
There was a doubt there" Lady Eyens
wood knew all about the Bearsdale case,
though it was ancient history to South
end; she had danced with both parties
to it.
The house was against the marriage
unanimously"
But he did not deny the doubt.
asked
1T would be necessary to approach Dis
ney. Southend spoke with some appear
ance of timidty. Mr.. Disney was prime
minister. And the truth is none of us
seemed to like the job. So John Fullsome
suggested YOU
What brave men you are!" Her face
wrinkled humorously.
We'll. he might bite US; and he couldn't
bite you-not so hard. anyhow"
And you want me to ask for higher
rank? That wasn't done in the Bearsdale
case, nor in any other that l ever heard
Of"
We shouldn't press that A barony
would do. But if Disney thought that un-
der the very exceptional circumstances a
viscounty-'
sisted. The slight embarrassment in South
ends manner stirred the old lady's curl
osity. It's rather odd to reward man
for his mothers. There, l don't say
ball, poor girl"
Disney used to know her as a girl
II you're relying on Robert Disney's
romantic memories" But She stopped,
knows. But, again, why viscounty?'
Driven into corner, but evidently rather
ashamed of himself, Southend explained
The viscounty would be more convent
ent II match came about between him
and the girl
What. the new Lady Tristram? Well
George, romance has taken possession of
you today"
Not at ALL he protested Indignantly.
Its the obviously sensible way OUT
Then they can do 1t without a WIS.,
county?"
'Oh. no: not without something. There's
the past you see"
And a sponge is wanted? And the bigger
the sponge the better. And I'm to get my
nose bitten off by asking Robert Disney
Tor 1t! And II by a miracle he said yes,
for all l know somebody else might say
no.'
III think about it after I've seen the
young man. Lady Evenswood promised
rave you any reason to suppose he likes
None at all-except. of course. the way
pose?" sup
Really. l doubt the necessity. and eny-
now. the gracefulness needs some exulans-
tions In case like this. Still. l alwavs
fancied he was going to marry another
girl. daughter OF a friend Of mine-Iver-
you know who I mean?'
''Oh. yes: bring Harry Tristram to see
me-, said she. Goodbye, George You're
looking very we'll"
And you're looking very young"
Oh finished getting old before you
were forty 'ON
A thought struck Southend. ''You might