The Washington herald., 1908-01-06
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.

very nfieL. Alter 1t Boou uedl ol Nttlb-
Grafton, she had filed in the blank
eheque for a thousand pounds.
Her inclination and her necessity had
both urged her 10 make it three times
that sum. but she had been temperate,
feeling the need Of caution. The cheque
had gone to her bank the day before.
and already she had drawn very largely
against It, She dared not drain the money
in its entirety. otherwise she would leave
herself unprotected should the evil she
feared TO meet which she had borrowed
this SUM fall upon her.
In casting up her position, she had
dealt only with those things that were
disagreeably prominent, and she
had absolutely forgotten her obligation
10 her brother-in-law. She regretted now,
impatiently enough. that she had not
drawn upon Haverford for a much larger
amount. If she were to give Violet even
portion Of this debt, she would leave
herself without a penny of ready money
once more.
Mrs, Horace Lancing was continuing
10 press the matter home in an aggra-
waiting way; she enumerated the many
necessities her life lacked, and all that
she would have done during the last few
months if only her husband had culti-
vated prudence instead Of generosity.
1t suddenly dawned upon Camilla that
her brother-in-law must have passed
through an exceedingly unpleasant time.
Poor Horace!" she said to herself. He
was the only member Of her husband s
family who had shown her a particle of
sympathy. and she felt honestly sorry
in this moment that she should have
trespassed 50 heavily on that sympathy.
She let the curtain slip from her
fingers.
Look here, Violet. / can't possibly do
anything now, really I can't but at
Christmas 1 promise faithfully"
Mrs. Horace laughed,
AT Christmas. Oh, yesl And when
Christmas comes IL Will be- Violet. dear.
] am so very sorry, but can't you pos
sibly wait till Eastern Oh, I know-I
know
There were two bright patches Of un-
becoming color on her cheeks; she was
adjusting her veil with hands that
trembled
You have no right TO say that sort
of thing,' said Camilla, hOtly; 1T is
very unjust and very untrue"
And you have no right d go behind
my back and borrow from my husband,
said Violet Lancng. Her pale eyes
looked very angry. If you wanted
money so badly you might have asked
grandpa, / think, or somebody else. I
consider it was awfully mean of you TO
go TO Horace, and not TO let me know a
word about IL. We have all sorts of w0r-
ries ourselves, and the boys cost US no
end of money; but you are just Ned all
over again, Camilla! Everything you
want you must have, without considering
any one or anything but yourself. / used
TO think all the old trouble was Ned S
fault, and l was awfully sorry when you
were left to fight for yourself; but now
/ KNOW betteTr'
rs all this necessary" Camilla asked
in a low voice.
But Mrs Horace was wound up.
4 can't help ii. You've brought it on
yourself. and you ought 10 hear the truth
now and again. You're not only horribly
selfish, you're as deceitfuI as you can be.
You can't pretend so easily with me,
Camilla ] know perfectly well that your
life isn't dull and miserable as you try
10 make us believe. and I know, too. why
You never want any Of US to come here
unawaresi She jerked her veil down
over her chin and tore it. Il am not a
fool.' she finished with a hard laugh
You are very angry with me. and you
are talking a lot Of nonsense" said Ca
mflla.
She looked away from the other woman
Il am very sorry YOU are veXed, simply
because when 1 was i'm trouble I turned
to Neds brother. II seemed the most
natural thing to do. I know if Horace
had asked Ned toto help him IN the old
days, he would have done IT, and gladly
al
moment she could not speak; then. in a
low voice, she said Il shall send this
money back before Christmas; on thai
YOU may rely
Mrs. Horace LaHcing made a curious
expression with her mouth. and rose tC
p go. Instantly Camillas manner changed
Il am sorry YOU won't stay TO tea
You had such a horrid lunch. Give
Horace my love. and tell him I am ex-
remeIy hurt with him because he did
not come her and fetch you. VIII you
have cab?'
Violet Lancing shook her head: she
picked up her tweed coat and squeezed
herself into it with an effort. Her gloves
took some time to put on. To make
conversation and relieve the strained at
mosphere Camilla asked after the health
OF al the people she detested. She was
particularly anxious TO know how matter.
were passing with Mrs Horace's Owl
household, bat she avoided all mention
of her father-in-law, a fact Mrs. Horace
quickly made note of.
Il didn't tell grandpa I was coming
here, she observed. as she buttoned thu
last gloye-bUtton; it was evident she ha6
more to say, and she said It. Il think
it only friendly to let you know, Camilla
that grandpa is not very nice about you
fgr nom Hr s.r.sT Il.
see him, he seems to know all that is
going on here. The other night when YOU
were being discussed at dinner-time. he
was quite angry"
lie has always been nasty with me
That is nothing new" said Camilla
quickly.
Mrs. Horace Lancing looked at her ir
a sly kind of way
well, of course it is none of my
business, but 1 do think you are foolish
not to try to make friends with him
i, Have you ever thought what would han
pen if he were to stop your allowance,
/ have heard him threaten this more than
once. And then he complains bitterI,
that you never take the children To sef
him. II would help things "a lot for vor
II YOU were To do this now and then. He
is an old man. You know. and old peoplt
like to be remembered sometimes"
Camila,s eyes were bright
4 am sorry, but the suburbs make ms
ill. II Col. Lancing wants 10 see IN,
children he must come here
There was almost a frightened expires
sion for an instant on the other woman,
face; evidently grandpa" was no jokins
matter TO her.
We'll, you can't say I haven't warned
you,' she said, and then she laughed
Frhe suburbs have their uses all tn,
same sometimes. haven't they2" she ob
served. Let me see I think I left ml