The Washington herald., 1907-10-11
CHAPTER ".


Sir Percy Ca5Iyon kept his word to
himself, and did not go near Lucy Army
tage Nevertheless he could not avoid
seeing her One dun afternoon he was
taking tea with Mrs. Vereker and the
three girls. who were all SO much alike
that only their names differentiated them.
In the midst of the deadly duilness with
which Mrs Vereker invested this func-
ton visitors were announced. Lucy
Armytage with her aunt arrived to pay
their call Of ceremony after the bali
Mrs. Vereker and Mrs Armytage were
birds. or rather fowls. of a feather, as
each OF them was distinctly OF the barn
yard variety. They sat and talked com
monplaces comfortably together, like a
couple Of olG sheep browsing side by
side the lady from BardstOwn and TIE
lady from the greatest metropolis in the
world. and found each other thoroughly
cOmpaniOnable. Not so Lucy Armytage
and the three Nereker girls. Lucy's
manner Of saying the unexpected thing.
her gravity which was really her meth
Cd Of trifing, her quick, iucisive hum0v.
puzzled Jane, Sarah, and Isabella. SO
also it puzzled Sir Percy CarlyOn, who for
that reason found Lucy Armytage the
most interesting woman he had ever
known. She had odd scraps, and even
whole volumes. of knowledge upon the
most unexpected subjects. She knew
nothing about art or music, but she con-
fessed her ignorance with a sweet hui
mnity which bewitched Sir Perez more
than all the knowledge that Minerva
carried under her helmet Lucy had,
however. read much and indiscriminately
about the East, could discuss occulusm
intelIigentIy, knew Omar, and had the
Indian Mutny at her finger tips.
The truth is" she said to Sir Percy,
holding her muff to shield her face from
the FIRE and reminding him once again
Of the picture in the Louvre, we are very
old-fashiOned IN Bardst0wn. At home
we have a great many old books, but
not many new ones. My uncle hates
modern books. as he does most modern
things. He is what they call in France
intransigeante, and our library is a hap
hazard collection of antiques"
Then Lord Baudesert entered. and his
appearance created the same flutter
among the ladies of the family as if a
vuiture had descended upon a dovecote
Mrs. Vereker fastened 10 give him tea.
while Jane, Sarah, and Isabella fell over
each other in their efforts TO provide
him with thin bread and butter. Mrs
Armytage, too, was somewhat awed by
the appearance Of a live ambassador, and.
except Sir Percy, Lucy alone remained
tranquil Lord Baudesert talked with her
a little. and was pleased to find that she
could give a connected answer without
fear or embarrassment And then an
untowaTd thing occurred-the door open
ed, and at almost the same moment two
South American diplomats, between
whom frantic controversy and charges
and counter-charges were raging, entered
the room. Mrs. Vereker looked fright
ened 10 death, and the Vereker girls
could think OF nothing else to say but 10
invite the beligerents half dozen
times over each 10 have tea. Lord B2u-
deserts manner was perfect in its evenly
matched courtesy, and Sir Percy Carl
yon was not a whit behind. Lucy ARMY
tage. however. who knew how the land
lay calmly engaged one OF the sultry-
eyed South Americans in conversation
and even got him off In corner to look
at a picture Then Sir Percy. seeing a
way out of the situation, went up to
Lucy and her diplomat and asked them to
come into the next room 20 see por-
trait lately added 10 the embassy. With
perfect taste and grace Lucy managed to
take the South American, with Sir Percy
escortng them, into the adjoining room
"a service for which Sir Percy thanked
her with a meaning glance. They We're
absent only five minutes, hut that gave
time for the other belligerent to take his
departure. Then Lucys diplomat, after
five minutes talk with Lord Baudesert,
went out, and Lucy and Mrs. Armytage
began to make their adieux. AS Lucy