The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1909-05-14
CHAPTER v.-centlnusd.

CHAPTER v.-continusd.
The noise of the controversy was
heard all over town. and 1t was dis
cussed in Berkeley Square as else
where. Lady Hawkshaw was no Ion
ger q subscriber to Almacks. Not be-
ing able to rule 1t, she had retired. the
assembly rooms not being large
enough to hold herself and . certain
other lady.
Giles had told me that ON the even.
ing Of the ball he and other gentlemen
interested in the victory for Mrs.
Trenchard would escort her to the
ball. 80 at eight O'Clock l proceeded
to the lsdy's house in Jermyn street,
and saw her set forth in state in her
chair. She was blazing with diamonds,
and looked like a stage duchess. A
long company of gentlemen with their
swords attended her, and Giles and
my Lord Winstanley led the process.
sion. Mrs. Trenchard was the best
imitation Of lady ever saw, rs she
sat in her chair. smiling and tanning
herself. with the linkboys gaping and
srinning at her: and the gentlemen.
especially such as had had y little
more wine than usual, shouting: "Way
for Mrs. Trenchard! Make way
there!"
Yet 1t seemed to me a II she were
only an imitation, after all, and that
Lady Hawkshaw. with her turban and
her outlandish French, had much more
the genuine air Of a great lady. Mrs.
Trenchard would go to Almack's on
any terms, but Lady Hawkshaw would
not go, except she ruled the roost, and
fought calamity with the duchesses
and countesses. only retiring from the
field because she was one against
many.
followed the merry procession un-
til we got to King street. st. James,
where the coaches were four deep, and
footmen, in regiments, blockaded the
street. Giles and Lord Winstanley
were to take Mrs. Trenchard in, and
very grand the party looked as they
entered. BY that time, though. l was
very miserable. remembered that
ut the same time the next night l
might not have my friend. hung
around among the footmen and idlers.
watching the lights and listening to
the crash Of the music, quite uncon.
scious Of the flight of time. and was
astonished when the ball was over and
the people began pouring out. Then,
afraid to be caught by Giles, l ran
home as fast as my legs could car.
~ me.
When reached Berkeley Square IT
was altogether dark, and l realized
that l was locked out.
looked all over the front of the
house, and my heart sank There was
. blind alley at one side, and / re-
membered that in it opened the win.
dow Of Sir Peters study, as he called
1t. although, as l have said, it was
more like the cubby-hole of the Ajax
than any other place l can call to
mind. The window was at least 20
feet from the ground. but a waterspout
ran up the wall beside it, and to a
midshipman, used to going out on the
tOpsail-yard, it was 4 trifle to get up to
the window. climbed up, softly tried
the window, and to my Joy found !,
open. In another minute was stand
ing inside the room. had my fin,
and steel in my pocket, and l CROPPED
about until l found candle, which
lighted.
had often been in the room before
but its grotesque appearance STRUCK
me afresh. and l could not forbea,
laughing. although l was in no laugh
ing mood. There was a regular ship.
transom running around the wall. The
whole room was full of the useles.
odds and ends that accumulate OF
board a ship. all arranged with the
greatest neatness and economy o
space, and there was not one singl,
object in the room which could pos
sibly be of the slightest use on shore
locked around to see how 1 coult
make myself comfortable for TIL
night, and. opening a locker in tn