Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-17
CHAPTER XIII-Continued.

At O'Clock he saw Lady Editha and
! her daughter to their carriage. and, con-
sderng how splendidly everything had
gone was little perpleXed at the Curl
| Gus intonation In Lady Editha's voice as
! she said good night: indeed it almost
| startled him. and he stood watching the
| carriage as 1t rolled away. noticeable
! figure on the red carpet between the rows
of footmen. till a voice from the outskirts
! of the little crowd said in musical cock
ney:
Pore young NAMES down. earted
now she's gone ONE
| Anthony forgetting where he was, and
with the instincts of his Bohemian days
| asserting themselves answered the dis
heveled female sweetly:
Never down-hearted while you re
| about. dear
! He looked round. Mortified. Luckily only
| the servants and crowd had heard him.
| and they thought him very condescend-
| ing young aristocrat
He returned to the ballroom slightly
| perturbed Lady Editha had always
seemed SO exceedingly civil. and yet,
/ though a person of ordinary perception
might not have noticed anything amiss.
| the change to Anthony was apparent. He
| wondered whether Lady Editha had be-
| gun to suspect that he was in love with
her daughter or. what would be more
awkward, whether she suspected that her
daughter might be capable, of falling in
| love with him.
Il suppose that is the sort of thing that
! people cannot hide" he reflected. chow
| ever Secretive they are by nature.
| Had Anthony known what 1t was that
| had caused the change In Lady Editha' s
manner he would not have been so put
| out Lady Editha had been told in very
| strict confidence by distant relative of
the family what people were saying about
| Anthony and Cammarleigh. She had left
| her brothers house with the full deter
| mination not to mention such a matter to
| her daughter. So many mothers make a
| firm resolve never to discuss any doubtful
matters with their daughters. and end by
discussing everything. Sybil gathered
| from Lady Editha's manner that she had
something on her mind. but displayed no
| anxiety to find out what 1t was. knowing
| perfectly we'll that before her mother
went to bed she would have told her what
| it was
| They reached home. End Lady Edtha
! had not spoken, but still Sybil displayed
no curiosity even when her mother i'm
pressing kiss upon her brow. said:
| Good night, my darling, I hope you
| will sleep Well
Sybil was quite aware that Lady Editha
was congra rulating herself on a great
triumph of self control. Her admontion
to sleep we'll was delivered with the air
of one who would say: You who are
young and have no trouble may probably
sleep; shall not.
Sybil knew that Lady Editha would not
be able to hold out much longer She
was right. and just her maid had fin
ished brushing her hair the door opened
and her mother re-entered.
II want to speak to you. Sybil."
Elliot. having looked round to see that
everything was in order for her mistress
progress to bed left the room.
There was nothing simple about Sybils
room. Pink brocades of a by no means
inexpensive kind were exauisitely con
trasted with a green and white back
ground, and the Sheraton furniture was
of the most elegant. Where most girls
of her age would have had a simple white
dressing gown of some washing material,
she was robed in billowy waves of pink
silk Perhaps she was right to cultivate
the point of view of prospective
duchess.
MY dear said Lady Editha. II have
decided after all to tell you-although l
am sure 1t is exceedingly difficult to men
ton such a subject to ones daughter"
If Lady Editha had had the f1nesse of
Gregsbury her task might have been sim
plified by the ancient kings of England.
AS 1t was. she began somewhat clumsily.
"Sybl." she began. impressively, do
you see any likeness between your Uncle
Percy and Mr.. Brooke?'
None at all replied Sybl. decidedly.
This was not at all the answer that
Lady Editha wanted. The rumor required
nurturng, even by those who were most
interested in its not being true. There
was no pleasure in killing a scandal until
at any rate it showed that it was a fine,
healthy infant.
"Oh, my dear, think again Surely.
the nose
They've both got rather straight
moses.
Exactly" said Lady Editha. And
their mouths
lone can't see Uncle Percy's mouth
he's got such a heavy mustache."
Lady Editha. who had not seen her
brothers mouth for twenty years. said,
with the greatest convictions:
Il remember Percy's mouth perfectly;
it is very like Mr.. Brooke's."
Sybil was not slow in apprehension. but
she looked at her mother. mystified.
"Well?" said Lady Editha.
II don't know what you mean. mother"
Lady Editha began to have an uncom-
fortable feeling that perhaps her daugh-
ter was reproving her for mentioning
such subject.
II admit that it is a delicate matter,
my dear
What the subject of Mr.. Brooke's and
Uncle Percyts noses?'
Il said they were alike. Sybil
AS Sybil still gazed at her in bewilder
ment, Lady Editha continued:
1t has always surprised us that your
pursued Lady Editha. still receiving no
assistance from her daughter, ''Mr.
Brooke is very like him
What have you got to do with Mr..
Brooke's marrying, mother?"
Il never said anything about Mr.
Brooke marrying Sybil. What l am al
luding to is most unpleasant rumor. l
hear 1t is suggested that your Uncle
Percy and Mr.. Brooke are father and
SON.
SybiI sat and gazed at her mother in
anna cement. Then she broke into peal
of laughter.
MY dear. I don't know what you are
laughing att may be true"
Il Know
"Sybil. how can you laugh at such a
thing-it's almost improper. OF you! l
have been wondering all the way home
who his mother could have been,' added
Lady Editha. with sudden change of
tone
We'll. she must have been rather nice
looking.
II don't quite like the tone you take on
the subject my dear
Sybil began to laugh again
How very funny OF Uncle Percy
Funny" said Lady Edltha. It's ex-
ceedingly wicked
"Mr Brooke would be my cousin,
M no