The Washington herald., 1908-07-09
CHAPTER VII.

clean-shaven face, the turquose-bluC
eyes. the white hair. the spotless linen
which are indissolubly associated with
parsons OF the old school, cadets OF
ancient families. who enter the church
because a living" awaits them, which no
prudent squire would like to bestow upon
an alien. Henshaw Magma, according tc
precedent. should have been bestowed
upon a Mottisfont who. although ex-
pected (for Mottisfonts are prolific, never
made his appearance. However. Il was
quite fitting that It should be given 70
George Vennable, who. rather late in
life. married the eldest girl. Alicia, George
being the grandson Of the lord chancel-
lor OF whom mention has been made.
Those who knew the rector intimately
said to each other that he had never got
over his great trouble; and they were not
alluding. even indirectly. 10 the loss OF
Alicia (Which took place when Joy was
fourteen). but to a more irremediable
misfortune: the loss OF the triumph which
the publication Of a magnum opus might
have brought 10 him. This was a stupen-
dous affair dealing with medieval COM
mon law and its relation TO the consti-
tutional history of England. The un-
happy man was putting last touches 70
the work Of a lifetime. when Dorkin's now
famous tones dealing with the same sub
ject fell from the printing presses amidst
tnunders of applause The rector had
quality enough to hide his chagrin and
his manuscripts. He bought a butterfly
net. When we met him. he had acquired
a local reputation as the keenest ento-
mologist in the Forest Of Us, with the
most remarkable collection OF lepidoptera
TO be found in Slowshire He had also
published a monograph upon fungi. with
special reference TO the rare species Of
boletus discovered by him. and named-as
botanists know-Edulis Vennabilis
The room ia which father and daughter
were consuming what ought TO be the
ple2santest meal of the day was long and
low. opening by a French window on to
pretty. sloping lawn There was very
little furniture but all OF II good: some
Hepplewhite chairs and a sideboard a
curious old Spanish mahogany bureau.
and a capaciOus cellaret OF the same
noble wood. Upon the walls hung a few
colorad prints mostly Morlands. and a
large map OF the Forest. Upon this map
cerJ&in red circles contained initials and
date. T. r. (June l4-gO. served 20 re-
mind the rector that he had captured a
fine specimen Of the purple emperor upon
piece Of liver which he had set as a
bait 'or his imperial majesty.
JOY poured the tea out of a George II
teapot and waited upon her father. who
sat beside her She knew exactly when
he wanted the mustard. and boiled his
egg TO within a fraction OF a second OF
three minutes
After the death OF Mrs Vennable. Miss
Lavinia Mottlsfont offered to mother.
the orphan. She and her sister, Miss
Priscilla, lived at The Lodge a small
house upon the edge of Mottisfont Park
Miss Lavinia, albeit of an easy and for
giving nature. could never forget that
George Vennable had left so moment0us
a decision 10 Joy, and Joy had actually
said Never" Afterward I'm rare mo-
ments Of expansion. Miss Lavinia would
say, with sign: when my poor, dear
sister was laid 10 rest in the churchyard
OF Hcrnshaw Magma, I observed to Pris-
ella, who was with me: Heaven help
the child. for her earthly father will not
do his part
JOY never told Miss Lavinla that while
her mother lay a-dylnE (being q true
Mottisfont, Mrs. Vennable expired leis-
urely, with due consideration for those
about herr she had whispered: Look
after your father better than 1 have"
An Injunction Obeyed implicitly. I'm spirit
and letter. For eight years (Joy was now
twenty-twOO she had ministered faithful
~ and willingly TO George Vennable-and
he had not the smallest idea Of the mag
nitude and loyalty OF that service. Joy
was his dear. good child. really quite a
little woman. He would have 30 think |
about finding her n husband some day I
Meanwhile-
Meanwhile, her clever little fingers could /
set butterflies 90 perfection.
The rector Clipped his egg. and blinked /.
pleasantly at Joy.
well. my dear. what have 10 do to- /
day?"
JOY instantly produced q neat note |
book. and opened IT,
"Pragson will be here AZ 10 about the 4
repairs 20 the vestry; at Il you promised |
10 call on Martha Lowell I could see ber
II you would rather"
by all means. She would sooner see
you than me. Who wouldn't?"
Joy continued:
Esme Burgess IS coming to lunch. I
have brace Of partridges and that eel
cry salad you like, with bits Of apples
IN. After lunch. I shall carry Esme off
10 play golf, and you Will have the whole
afternoon to yourself We dine at the
Park"
Last IlIne We dined there. your uncle
gave us marsala instead OF sherry. I
think he saw that only took one glass
He told me at dessert that II stood him
IN eighteen-and-six a dozen. said ne
had paid too much for il. Since your IN
Gle has ordered nothing but whiskev-
and-water. the wine you get in his house.
when there Isn't party, Is positive
ly-"
Father"
MY dear7''
Have you seen Esme's friend. Mr.
Reginald Charters?"
NO, my dear"
Il think you ought to call on him. He
Is lodging with Sarah Owbridge: and he
has taken out a Forest license. Esme
raves about him"
MY dear. If he is Esme's friend. write
a note"
you ought to write It, father"
Nonsense! Tell Esme. with my COM
pliments, to bring his friend to-day. What
name did you say?"
Charters. Reginald Charters"
Aha good name. One Of the Char
terises Of Saffron Charteris I'll be
bound
He spells his name C-h-a-r-t-e-r-s."
Does he? What a pity! Well ask
him TO luncheon. Perhaps he plays
bridge. A slice Of ham. my dear
JOY cut two thin slices.
He looks as IL he played bridge" she
murmured.
II he does play bridge" said the rec
tor Il shall have crow to pick with
you for not bringing him to my notice
before"
one of George Vennable's grievances
was that so few 'Foresters" PLAYED
bridge. The Mottisfonts, for instance
preferred Lotto. 4
I did not bring him 10 your notice be- {
fore. because More tea. father" I
Thank you: half a cup. nv dear. Co Il
on 80 =