The Washington herald., 1908-01-08

tons come off," said Sir Samuel; the
Johnnies that sell gloves ought to do the
stitching themselves-eh?"
He was studying Katherine attentively,
wondering the while who the deuce she
might be- He thought he had sampled
all the inmates of Mrs. Laneing's small
house. Those he had seen he had found
very unexciting; but this girl was diff
ferent
Il think this button is quite firm. it
will not come off just yet" said Kathe-
rine. and she gave him back the glove.
Before he could speak again she had
vanished, and the door was shut behind
he,
Sir Samuel pulled the glove on with
jerk
''D-d hne eyes" he said. but she
knows all about that, and puts frills on
in consequence"
Mrs Laneing's door was widely open.
and she herself arrayed in all her glory
as Miss Granger mounted the stairs and
passed In for a moment to give the bag.
'Ts he very furiOus? asked Mrs. Ian
cling.
May I admire you?" asked Katherine
in reply. This sort of thing is all so
new 10 me. / have never seen any one
in evening dress before, except once, and
that was In a fashion paper" Her eyes
had a glow in them as she scanned Ca
milla, over whose white clinging gown
Dennis was Just slipping a theater wrap
OF pink chiffon and chinc!la. How
Betty would love 10 see you as you are
now. She imagines you so 10 a fairy
world every night, and If she saw you
she would believe in her dreams,
II feel as if I were coming to pieces"
Camilla laughed But l simply detest
and abominate being hurried! Dennis.
put a safety-pin in here. and you need
not sit up for me. I have my key, and
expect 7 shall be late"
As she was passing out Mrs. Laneing
paused by Katherine and kissed her
lightly
You are a nice thing" she said affec-
tionately, "and I wish you were coming
with me- I shall take you to the play
one night" Then gathering up her skirts,
she rustled softly on TO the landing and
disappeared.
Sir SamueTs patience had evidently
evaporated; he had emerged from the
drawing-room, and was now eXpostulat-
ing
Don't swear too audlbIy." Katherine
heard Mrs. Iancing say, with her rip
pling laugh. cor you will wake the babies,
and then everybody will call you mon
ster."
The girls delicate brows met in
frown. Even in this far-off way she felt
the arrogant familiarity of this mans
manner toward Mrs Lancing, and re-
sented 1t. Just as she had resented his at
tempt at impertinent familiarity with
herself. She supposed. however. as Sir
Samuel seemed TO be so intimate. that he
must be connection, probably near
relative Later on. however. when Dem
mis- came up from her supper. and they
went together through a minute examina-
ton Of the children's belongings, Kathe-
Tine learned casually, from the maids
chatter. tnat Sir Samuel BrOXbourge was
not really relation-only a friend; and
she found herself wondering a little why
so refined and dainty a woman as Camilla
should care for friendship with such
man.
This was not the only matter that
seemed strange and even inexplicable
where Mrs Lancing was concerned Nat
urally Katherine was novice in life as
il was lived i'm the world in which the
children's mother occupied a prominent
place: she was indeed. 20 a great extent
ignorant of the ways and dOings OF
everyday people (since at school she had
known nothing Of what passed beyond
the school boundaries, and in Octavia
Baynhurst's house her outlook had been
even more circumscHbed), so that it was
no great matter for surprise If she found
herself unable to understand all that
passed about and around her now. But
what she lacked in actual experience. in
definite knowledge. was filled in by
natural wit and sympathy and intuition.
It needed no deep study to grasp the
best and sweetest traits Of so human a
being as Camilla, nor was It necessary
for worldly knowledge 10 open her eyes
20 the glaring faults, the amazing con-
trasts, in this wOmdn's character.
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.