Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-17
'.Oh. the family must meet and discuss

oh. the family must meet and discuss
the matter.
We'll if they do, | hope they will
leave me out of it.
1t would hardly be proper to include
you in such discussion.
Tired as she was. Sybi lay awake
thinking the matter over. The idea of
Anthony being her cousin. and that con-
SeGuently In a certain way they belonged
to each other gave her strange pleas
ure. At last. however. she fell asleep.
Had she been an orthodox heroine she
would have dreamt of Anthony. St.
PaulS. knightSbridge, and wedding ia
vors instead of which she dreamt of
nothing al all. and it was not till she had
drunk her morning cup of tea that she
remembered to think about Anthony or
Frant. anybody.
Lady Editha concealed from her daugh-
ter that she intended to visit Lord and
Lady Cecil in the course of the morning
to discuss the matter. She had an eX-
tension of the telephone in her bedroom
and while still in bed she rang up her
sister-in-aw. During the usual delay
which ensued she lay back on the pillow
with the rapt smile which people are apt
to assume when they are holding the re-
ceiver to their ear.
"Yes-what is it, said an irrita BILE
voice.
Are you there"
''Of course I'm here. Who are you?"
Il am Editha.
Lady Cecil tried to throw little ge-
nality into her voice.
"Oh. my dear I was asleep
I'm so sorry" said Lady Editha ny
pocritically, knowing that she had
| counted on catching her sister-in-law in
bed, and being quite Indifferent as to
having reused her out of g pleaSa MT
sleep. But shall you be in this morn
ing?
Yes. / think so. folly is taking me to
the Academy at o'clock, I always go
during the luncheon hour. because no
body's there
would you be In If came round about
half-paSt eleven?''
Yes. Is it anything serious"
'Yes-it's about Percy
HAS the attack of hospitality been too
much for him.
|. II can't discuss it on the telephone
Ask Cecil to be in, too. Goodbye. dear
here's my breakfast"
Later Lady Editha walked round to
North Audley street in the broad morn
ing sunlight beneath the shelter of a
crimson parasol. She met her brot her in
the hall. Shewas ten minutes before her
time, and he had calculated his exit so
to miss her.
Don't 60 Cecil" pleaded Lady Editha
earnestly. 1T is really something that
you ought to hear
With sigh Lord Cecil DELAYED his
pleasant morning stroll in the row, and
followed his sister into bis wifes morn
ing room. This room, the plea SanteSt in
the house. had three large windows open
ing into conservatory Just inside the
door of the conservatory there was a deep
chair, in which folly. hidden from view
was reading a novel by Pierre Louys in
the original. not understanding all of it,
but grasping a great deal more than was
good for him. Long experience had
taught folly not to obtrude the fact of
his presence unnecessarily. SO he kept
quiet when he heard his aunt say:
DO You mind shutting the door, Cecil.
for this is hardly a thing for people to
hear. even although all London seems TO
know about it--at least. / should think all
London knows about it. for Mrs. Conner
sail knows about 1t. and that always
means the same thing sooner or later
You said it was something to do with
Percy. suggested Lady Cecil.
We'll. 50 it is
II hope there's no scandal" said Lord
Cecil, nervously. You never know what
these prigs are up to-"
1T all depends, said Lady Edtha.
upon what you call a scandal Things
which were scandals twenty years ago
don't seem 10 matter nowadays. And
everybody discusses the most appalling
things. AS far | can make out no
body seems to mind what any one has
DONE
Yes. but what has Percy done?" asked
Lady Cecil
a sudden thought crossed Lord Cecils
mind. and ne paled
You don't mean to say he's married?"
II said a scandal"
THAT would be scandal" answered
Lord Cecil, decisvely. "a crying scandal
shouldn't have had so many children If
there had been the least likelihood of
Percy ever marrying.
This was pet deusiOn of Lord Cecirs
and he aired it on every possible occasion
1t created an atmosphere of duty around
him.
NO. he is not married." said Lady
Editha "If he were the matter might
not be scandal
You don't mean to say he's got a fam
ily?' asked Lord Cecil.
There again." said Lady Editha. lit
all depends what you call family
Il call children family
mo, Percy hasn't got children
THANK Cod. said Lord Cecil. much
relieved. Has he been cheating at cards?
You can never trust Percy where money
is concerned"
know Mr.. Brooke?"
"What-Cammarleigh secretary? Very
nice young fellow. ! am told that he was
responsible for the fact that we had such
an excellent dinner last night
People are saying said Lady Editha
that he is
THAT he is what" asked Lord Cecil
looking at her sternly
Don't look at me like that, Cecil"
pleaded Lady Editha 1t wasn't | who
invented the rumor.
oh, what rumor. Editha? Do tell us
why, the rumor that Mr. Brooke is
Percys son.
Rubbish. said Lord Cecil Neyerthe-
less ne looked very uncomfortable.
We'll, it appears that everybody is
talking about it,
Il don't think that Percy is the sort of
man to give thing like that away after
having kept it secret for years"
Well. said Lady Cecil from what |
can gather he seems to occupy a very ex-
traordinary position in Grosvenor Square
He manages everything"
Oh. think, broke in Lady Editha
hastily, that the reforms he has effected
are perfectly marvellous" She and Svbil
had had so very much the run Of Cam
marleigh's establishment since Anthonv's
advent that she had not the least wish
to injure his position. even if he were
really Cammarleigh's son. She reflected
that such a rumor was of primary CON
Germ to Cecil, and as Cecil had always
been so very dctatorial the prospect of a
rival to his own children for Cammar
lelgh's personal property might have
Christening effect.
CTo be continued tomorrow