Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16
Flung the bottle itself into midstream

steam launch puffed its way past the yew
hedge that Lily spoke again.
Tell me more about this Mr.. Cochran"
she said
Maud was already half immersed In her
book; she had been quite unconscious of
Lily's diplomacy. She started, however,
when the question was put to her, and
flushed a little.
There really is no more to tell she
said. Il think have told you all. BY the
way, he is coming to town some time this
month. You could see him If you wanted
He did cure Sandy; also he cured Duncan
Fraser's wife. l convinced of those
things. Then there is the other fact-the
typhoid ceased when he. so to speak, took
II in hand. OF course, you may say 1t was
coincidence; you may say that those
cures. too. were condolences. But when
condolences come in bunch like that one
wonders if there is not sohe-well, some
law-which lies behind them and accounts
for them"
She paused a moment.
"A lot of apples and other things fell to
the ground" She said, and Newton de-
duced the law of gravity from them"
Lily Thurso lit a cigarette and threw the
match away with quite unnecessary vigor.
What a fool Alice Yardly is!' she OBJ
served. She is, isn't she? Somehow if
person talks such abject nonsense as that
about anything, one concludes that the
subject she is talking about is nonsense,
too. But ii doesn't follow. And Mr. Coch-
ran doesn't talk nonsense she asked.
NO. He isn't the least nonsensical. AS
you see. he goes and cures people when
they are really ill., instead of-well, guess
ing. He's a very good fisherman, tooP
Lily could not help laughing. Maud had
mentioned this IN voice of such high APP
proVal.
But isn't that inconsistent" she asked.
IF you don't believe in the reality of
death. il seems to me Odd to go and kill
things.
oh. think it's inconsistent" said Maud,
land so does he. But did you ever see
7 Jeff -aT
did. l never want to, either-he would be
so very dull. Like a chronometer."
And Mr.. Cochran isn't|
Maud raised her eyebrows, and dropped
the book she was reading.
Dear Lily she said, ARE you fshing?
Lily laughed again.
Il think | am she remarked.
About me? OF course, l will tell you,
then and save you the trouble. l am not
in the least in love with Mr.. Cochran, nor
have / the smallest reason TO believe that
he is in. love with me. That was the sort
of fishing you meant, wasn't II! Brutally
put was 1t that"
YES. to be frank Now I want to talk
about something quite different. / went
seeing you. He Rad just taken laudanum.
Not because he had any pain He told me
SO. But he let me pour the rest of it out of
the window. which did"
For obvious reasons Lady ThurSo omit
ted all mention OF her actions sequel.
Maud's face. which had been one of
amused merriment at her accurate conjec-
ture as to her sister-in-l laws fishing. grew
quite grave again.
That is something" she said.
Yes, II Is bit of cotton wool with chic
reform on it, which you put into decayed
tooth. to stop its aching she said But
what afterward? Something permanent
! has to be done"
| Lily bent forward and picked up the book
| that Maud had let fall.
| Advise me, dear Maud" She said
| You are troubled about it?" she asked.
you are really troubled? / was too by
the way. but all this delicious week in
| London made me forget"
I'm horribly troubled" said Lily. II
| am troubled all round. Do talk-do re-
| assure me You simple and straight
| forward"
| This was quite true. Maud was possessed
| of well-spring of transcendent honesty:
| sometimes she found that to be con-
| venient gift. because people trusted her;
! sometimes il was inconvenient. since she
/ had to live UP to 1t. and at this moment
was forced to reconsider recent statement
| of hers.
| "Oh. Lily. how tiresome you are" she
! said in a tone of deep reproaeh. Il tell
| you the truth. as far as l can, then you
probe me further. At least I suppose you
are fishing again."
Lily smiled.
II was not, but am she said. What
| is it?''
"Oh, It's me-" said Maud. despairingly.
ITS me and our Mr.. Cochran. Lily, do
like him awfully; like him most awfuliy.