Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-18
CHAPTER xIII-Continued.


From treating the matter with absolute
contempt Lord Cecil soon found himself
discussing it with as much interest as his
sister and wife. Lady Cecil discovered
that Anthony was very like the picture
in the gallery at Cammarleigh Abbey ON
the right hand side of the fireplace.
You mean the one on the left. Hilda,
said Lady Editha.
This led to some discussion. in which
Lord Cecil joined. and it turned out
finally that they all meant a different
picture.
Il think that Mr.. Brooke is rather like
folly" said Lady Editha.
folly is very handsome" said his
mother. indulgently. but | always
thought him like my father
Nonsense" said Lord Cecil. hes a
good-looking boy and a Bruton all over.
sTolly was glad that he had remained to
listen. He felt that when three grown
up people sat down and grew enthusi-
astic about his personal appearance he
could go through life with a certain feel
ing of confidence. AS a matter of fact
although he was by no means conceited
boy. in the small sense of the word he
could not resist assuming a self-conscious
Smrk.
The proba bilities of Anthony being
Cammarleigh's son were gone into at
length: in fact it might have been
thought that so far from being anxious
to prove the contrary they were con-
cerned in establishing a fact. There was
great pleasure in tracking the suspicion
to a certainty.
IF you come to think of it." said Lady
Cecil. there is no reason why Percy
should not have married.
And he is secretive by nature" put in
Lord Cecil. adding, with brotherly
warmth: "Cammarleigh always did ag-
gravate me. even when we were children.
We had a nurse who used constantly to
say. His lordship is an aggravator. And
so he is
Neither of the women was prepared to
deny that Cammarleigh was both aggra-
waiting and secretive.
We'll. suppose" said Lord Cecil. that.
for the sake of argument, this young man
is Bruton on the wrong side of
the
Cecil demonstrated his wife
We'll, on the wrong side of the matri-
monial preserve. What can be Cammar-
leigh's object in suddenly springing him
upon .us-although it's quite wonderful
how people will accept these things il
they are done discreetly and by degrees.
If he intends to make him his heir there
is nothing more to be said. but I shall
give him a very good piece of my mind"
II wonder who his mother was?''
Lady Cecil put the question tentatively
almost as il the browning improperly of
the matter were that Anthony should
have had mother at all.
Yes, indeed .assented Lady Editha,
who had been dying to get on to this
most important and fascinating side of
the question.
All three looked thoughtful. They were
in reality going through the strenuous
mental task of selecting a victim for i'm
notation. inally, with sigh of disap-
M vafr ,nrf f.f, n,
all looked at one another with an express
sion as if to say: Il give it up
Il think she must have been lady
because he looks a gentleman
oh. he's gentleman right enough"
said Lord Cecil. Just the faintest sug-
f1ashy is hardly the word
: 1t struck me- said his wife t'aS If 1t
were just a touch of sonnet hing brazen''
Yes" assented Lord Cecil. ITS a sort
of expression as If he knew that there
was something wrong and was deter
mined to face it out. Well. if Cammar-
leigh makes him his heir to as much as
he is able to leave it can't be helped
There will be enough to go round even
then. l should have sixty thousand a
year"
Il wonder who his mother was" muir
INJURED Lady Editha. with strong accent
on the word wonder.
Again the two ladies set their minds to
work. but without result
At this moment there was a slight noise
in the conservatory. Tolly found himself
being surveyed by his father with amaze
ment and displeasure.
What are you doing there, sir?" And
as folly made no reply he took him
gently by the collar and helped him into
the room. What were you doing there
sr?"
folly was really afraid of his father
and having hesitated for a moment he
lost his head and stammered out:
II was wondering who his mother was"
Leave the room. sir said his father
sternly. Il will speak to you afterward :"
folly left the room and went for long
walk
He must be taken away from Eton,"
said Lady Cecil, as the door closed upon
him.
Nonsense" answered her husband
do you want the boy to grow up
fool?'
HE must have heard us discussing his
looks said Lady Editha. How very
unpleasant. 1t is so bad for a boy to
know that people think him good look
ing.
Il hope to goodness folly won't go and
mention the matter to Mr. Brooke There
may not be a word of truth in it, and We
may all find ourselves let in for a libel
action.
with folly in the witness box against
U.S. added Lady Editha.
well. at any rate. in that case we
should know whether the story was true
or not" said Lord Cecil. with some logic