Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-10
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
A day or two after the luncheon party
Lady Editha was astonished to receive a
letter from Cammarleigh saying that he
was DESTROYS Of giving ball to mark his
niece's entrance into society. So sur
prised was she that she spoke to Anthony
quite seriously when he paid his first
call. and asked whether he did not think
that her brothers brain might be soften
ing.
you know. Mr.. Brooke. my brother
was never known to be unselfish. and
this Is all so sudden that 1t has it's alarm
ing side. I don't mind saying so much
to you about him, because l feel that 1t
is possible to talk to you in confidence. y
Men do soften as they get Older" said
Anthony, although whether the process
originates with their hearts or their heads
is open to discussion. But still. forty
seven is hardly old, and 1T is usually the
hardest time of a mans life"
'T suppose IT is agreed Lady Editha.
who, like most people. was prepared to
sounded philosophical. we'll turned and
delivered with authority.
81 don't suppose 1 shall ever grow
hard-hearted.' said Anthony, but If
sentimentalist The middle way involves
a superb mental equilibrium"
Lady Editha made no reply to this: in
fact. she wondered what in the world he
was talking about.
II can't help feeling that Cammar-
leigh wants something" she said. after a
moments pause. She would have talked
to Anthony, even If she had not been so
sure Of his discretion, on any subject
which was personal.
Anthony was too wise on the occasion
of this visit to show the least disappoint-
a TraVerS. He
realized that his romance would require
great finesse and subtlety. Had he fol-
lowed his inclination he would have called
the day after Lady Editha and her
Square. He was little shocked to find
out what a general state of hurry Sybil
Travers' beauty had thrown him into. He
had been guilty of standing outside the
house In Curzon street at midnight and
wondering which of the bedroom lights
was hers Some people would think this
banal,'' he had said to himself. but l
do 1t because l have a beautiful nature.
If ever said my prayers it would be to
pray that 1 might always be open to the
influence of a beautiful face"
Lady Editha soon settled on the topic
Of her daughter. as Anthony knew she
would He was perfectly content to sit
there and listen. just throwing in guild
ing remark when she showed any dispo-
sition to change the subject.
it, said her mother. People speak of
her as an acknowledged beauty already;
in fact. it is quite possible that she may
be engaged before she comes out"
Anthony hardly moved a muscle, al
though If Lady Editha had sprung from
her chair and stabbed him with energy
in several places she could not have hurt
or surprised him more.
Really" he said.
1.-The Duke of Frant." explained Lady
hos v,lo hrll tA~ Ax,o
Sunday afternoons running. and has re-
turned to dinner and stayed the evening.
1t Is very significant, especially as he
always loses-and the men Of his family
are VIGOROUSLY mean about money"
THAT is indeed remarkable" said An
thony. when one comes to think how
many ways there are for a young man in
his position to spend his time
Lady Editha saw his point and laughed
spontaneously.
"Ah, you men have a splendid time of
it"
I'VE shall pay for it in the next world, "
said Anthony.
1.-The prospect does not seem to be very
convincing; it is obviously not restrain
ing"
DO you think hell ever was a very real
DOGGY except to children and old women?
If men won't give up good living because
of govt. they are hardly likely to give up
the flesh for fear of the devil
day." said Lady Editha. "Of that there
can be no doubt
THAT means, 1 suppose. that We hear
less and less Of the devil
Sybil came in while he was talking to
her mother and gave them tea
Anthony was gratified at the unques-
tioning way in which they accepted him
as a person of influence with Cammar-
leigh. AS to his antecedents. there
seemed to be no particular curiosity. al
-. l., ,1.>~ 1,4
had met her brother.
MY father was at Oxford with Lord
Cammarleigh. and they had a great re-
gard for each other" The choice Of the
word regard pleased him; it sounded
SO very old-fashioned and respectable.
Lady Editha was compelled to leave
them to go and write letter, and for the
first time he was alone with Sybil
Travers. He could not help contrasting
his condition the morning his landlady
ent one. How had it been possible for
any human being fitted by nature to
share the wine and oil to have been SO
grossly misplaced? The luXuries of the
present were his proper complement-the
charming room. with its canary SILK
panelings. Woodland-green carpet and
Old-world chintzes the sense OF luxury
conveyed by the silver of the tea equip
age, were the absolute necessities which
he had been compelled to do without. If
II De vulgar 10 love the expensive tHSu
Anthony was a vulgarian. for taste with
out expense he believed to be a delusion
Of small incomes. The fairy princess ex-
allied the atmosphere. and he felt HIM
self vibrating under the spell of a strong
and passionate fascination. He made not
the least attempt to conceal from her that
he was hopelessly In love. AS lover his
level was classic. and he would have
despised himself had he pretended not to
care. The way to arouse love Is to create
an electrically romantic atmosphere,
which will. at least. transform the COM
monplace. He knew that glances of in
tense meaning. a voice subdued to the
alteration. could never in his case be la
beled 1.-The languishings of that odious
young man." Good looks and sparkling
intelligence were a fluid background Peo-
pie without a true sense of the proper
tions of romance might have called his
combative methods in the tourney of love
affectation. but they would only have ex-
posed their own foolishness. and such
folk were not worth considering. The
ar nf WA in the camnafRnS of