Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-25
CHAPTER Xxx.

station. IVY nat Is II 10 Nc!
Hamlet " said Anthony.
Hamlet? What an extraordinary
idea
Il know it is" answered Anthony. cool
w. But Lord CammarleiSh fancies that
can play the part He may h. wrong,
but he is quite obstinate about it. He
has some idea of raising the tone of
home th"atricals.
Are YOU going To play it all?'' asked
Lady Editha hlankly.
Anthony quite saw the humor of enter
II lining a smart house party with n per-
Torrance Of Hamlet He did not for
one moment suppose that they would en-
JOY it very much. but he knew that he
could play the part. and he knew that it
would impress Sybil. and he was callous
to every other consideration.
mo. not quite all. Lady Editha. ]
shall cut a good many of the ether parts
down..
II sail play Ophelia " Announced
Sybil.
This was the moment that Anthony had
feared
Il would much rather you didn't.
Sybil.'' said Lady Edtha. plaintively.
''She goes mad. and your poor Aunt Mary
went mad-and You are so very like her.
No. dear. l couldn't bear it
Anthony was exceedingly grateful to
Lady Editha for providing such an adj
mirahle excuse. which. founded on sent-
meDt, was capaDie OF minute SNpi'SltlI
When the house party learned that they
were to see Anthony as Hamlet they
only put it down as the price that they
were expected to pay for entertainment
1t was always the case: you were IN
variably imposed on by your host Some
declared that Cammarleigh was spelling
the young man.
When Anthony announced at dinner on
the night of SYPHILIS arrival that he was
going to play Hamlet in Difference to
-tpl, l,.. COLL
thought that he had gone too far.
Cammarleigh yellowed. and grin of
fury which was quite CHASTITY crossed his
face. BY supreme effort. however, ne
controlled himself. and Anthony quickly
drew the attention Of the company away
from him to his end of the table.
Rather big part to attempt. isn't it
said Lord Cecil Bruton.
We'll. you see. was actor before
l became your brothers secretary.
Really" said Lord Cecil. and as lay
men will do when talking of the stage. he
began to babble the most amazing non
sense. what was the name of that
piece?" he asked. giving loud laugh at
the mere thought of what he ramcm-
bered "By Jove it really was a very
funny piece, There was fellow had IA
lot of papers. and a lot of other fellows
wanted them, and they all struggled and
fell about 1t was exceedingly well
written
She had travelled down with the Duke of
Frant. Anthony had written suggesting
that she should catch the eleven forty
five from Euston and when Mrs. Wester-
by found that the Duke of Frant was go
ing by the same train she began to think
that it was quite possible that she and
Anthony had grown to understand each
other without having been put To the dis
comfort of an explanation. She had
genius for managing young men of
ANTS tyn ha u1a
aristocracy and nobility his instincts
were primarily commercial. and as. dur
ing the days he had been good deal at
her house. she had obtained a very great
insight into his business affairs he soon
found himself asking her advice and con-
fiding in her. quite III the old way He
felt that some explanation was due for
having kept away from her. and little
uncomfortably he explained that he had
not been to see her. because
My dear Frant.' said Mrs. Westerly,
Il quite understand. You are going to be
married. You must have a great many
calls on your time. but remember. ! am
always there if you should want me-.
Frant thought this was very friendly
of her indeed. He had been dazzled by
Sybil but hS had never felt when with
her that ease and serenity of spirit which
Mrs. Westerby's companionshp filled him
with He had Il feeling at the back of his
mind that she was the woman for him.
his. if temperament it could be called
soothing influence like Mrs. Westerby's
was more comfortable than a disturbing
and restless piece of butterfly brilliance
like Sybl. He had sense of painful in
feriority in the presence of the latter.
while Mrs. Westerly. who notorious
for her mentality. always made him feel
perfectly satisfied with himself. He was
quite sorry when the journey ended. and
remembered with appreciation a remark
she had made 10 the effect that because
a man was married he was not neces-
sarily debarred from making a friend of
another woman and turning to her for
advice i'm matters i'll which she was Il
specialist
Anthony noticed the air of excellent
ccmradeship with which they arrived al
the abbey. Quite unprecedented by his
own passion fer Sybil. he knew perfectly
have any married life to speak Of
whereas. married to Mrs Westerly.
Frant would be as happy possible.
According to absurd custom. Frant
took Sybil in to dinner. and they vera
| closely watched by Anthony and Mrs
West arby. Sybi and Anthony were
somewhat distant with each other at the
moment. They had had distinct quarrel
on the subject of OpheGa. Anthony
by no means avcrse to quarreIing with
her. He knew that Frants lymphatic
temperament would get on her nerves.
and for her lover who would strike fra
was necessary. Anthony had very def
nitely refused to allow her to play Ophcl'a.
He knew perfectly well that she would
make q very bad actress. at any rat. To
begin with and he did not propose to
have his performances spoiit.
1T is absurd to try and persuade me
that you are refusing because of what
mother said. You simply think that
| shall spoil the piece. Well, there have
| been heaven-born actresses before now
Yes. said Anthony. $50 we are told
| but when you come to think of it we have
| never seen one. The years go by and
| certain number of actresses ara en-
durable because they have had little or
no experience. but just think what they
are like when they know their business
as they call It
| That's an argument in favor of my
| playing Ophelia.
| Anthony was annoyed In his anxiety
to give his opinion of actress IS in gen
| eral he had rather shown his hand
| II don't see the use of having theatre
| Gals in house if you have nothing but
professionals to act Where does the fun
| come in?''
| ''You must blame your uncle. not me-
! That may take other people in but
you don't think that 7 believe it? You
know perfectly well that it is simply
your own vanity"
That is very true" said Anthony.
and don't mind admitting it in the
| least. there being nobody here as wit
ness.
II begin to think You are quite unprin-
| cipled."
Anthony looked AT her and smiled
Sweeti;.
| Sybil was too clever to internrat this