The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-05-28
CHAPTER V.

on coming" says Mrs Clarence, drawing
the carriage rug closer round her. Moth
ing at this dreadful woman's party can
be duller than the hours we should have
spent at home. / wonder if she has
changed. and what direction the change
has-has-'
Here the landau drives into heavy
rut. so that whatever Mrs. Clarence
would have said about Madam O'Flaher-
ty is lost to posterity forever. The
shock is sufficiently great to unseat them
all, in a measure. This to Mr.. McGrath
seems most suitable opportunity of max
ing himself unpleasant all round, so with
a wild shrek of dismay he seizes May
in his arms. and holds her closely to him.
while a frenzied expression grows upon
his brow.
Let me go, Owen. Don't" cries May,
angrily pushing him from her.
What or earth do you mean. Nc
Grath?" exclaims Grey furiously.
II thought she was killed." says Owen.
with rather suspicious excitement. 'Oh.
Grey. what should What should you
have done-had she been killed."
Il don't know" returns Grey, SO
grufly. so indifferently as it seems to
May. that for the whole of the remainder
of the day she refuses so much as to look
at him.
Her roads haven't changed. anyway"
says Mrs Clarence with disgust; her
laces have been shaken little out of
place. Il expect neither is she. We
shall have an awful time here. know"
What is she likef" asks May.
las | remember her, she was a big.
fat, dreadful creature. with brogue YOU
could sit on without fear of breaking
down. l think it is a monstrous thing.
perfect infiction, to be compelled to
come here to-day just because this ridicu-
lous old woman happens to be a sort of
connection of Sir Lucien's. lie has made
US come-said he'd arrive after u.s.
'She is so fearfully inquisitive,' saws
Everard- You know l met her at the
Brownies the other day. She asked me
every question under the sum-"
They have driven up to the hall door
of 1.-The Larches,' Madam O'Flaherty's
house, by this time the hostess comes
numbering down from the topmost step of
the stone fight to receive them.
So far as May can see. Madam OFla-
herty is distinctly remarkable. She is
a gigantic woman, with three chins and
a topknot. On the topknot rests q hat
sailor hat, that girl of fifteen might
have worn-perched at an angle of A.
degrees.
Here you are, here you are" cries
she, prancing up to the door of the Ian
dau, and pushing the footman triumph
antly to one side. so glad to see YOU
all. But where's Lucien? No nonsense
about his being engaged now. | know all
about that. He can't be. Faith" with a
sudien thought" 'twould be a fool would
be engaged to him ~ Here she pauses
in hey rapid utterance. to give way to
loud and raucous laugh in appreciation
of her own wit.
Mrs. Clarence shudders.
"He-he's coming.' says she, which is
the readiest lie that occurs to her.
'He gave us distinctly to understand
that nothing would keep him away" sup
plements her brother nobly.
We'll, come along. come along" cries
Madam O'Flaherty, with great hospital
ity. Teas over there in the tent"
With their hostess they go round the
corner of the house, and into full view of
the guests already assembled.
A miscellaneous lot enough. Some very
char.ningiy and daintily clad, who stand
in groups together: others a little inn
possible perhaps, but not so altogether
out of the running as to be beyond know
ing on the outskirts of both these, some
really awful beings.
Beyond all these. little. slender. grace
full figure. leaning over the bank. and
dropping leaves or twigs into the stream
below, catches Hilary's eye.
1t is Amber, In a flash he knows
her. What other form on earth could be
like hers? Who else could claim such
delicate coloring. and that half-petulant.
half-haughty turn of the chin?
Here we all are now :" cries Madam
in her loud and strident tones. "Here
we all are-I really don't think I have
any more folks to expect. So now with
an encouraging and altogether ioyous
glance round at her guests. sort YOUR
selves and go for n little stroll round the
place. The gardens are looking lovely.
and we can't all play tennis"
A rather alarming silence follows upon
this noble command to 90 for a senti-
mental 'promenade" in the strawberries ::
even the impossible ones sit motionless
waiting on events Madam has forgot
ten TO make formal introductions.
Mrs. CLARENCE and May are struggling
with a wild desire for laughter, whereas
Mr.. McGrath looks sad Madam O'Fla-
herty sees his detection.
What's the matter with sou?" asks
she anxiously.
Il feel such n difficulty about sorting
myself says Owen modestly.