The Ordway new era., 1909-05-14
CHAPTER V.-Continued.

Inc noise OF the controversy WAS
heard all over town. and 1t was dis
cussed in Berkeley Square as else
where. Lady Hawkshaw was no lon
ger a subscriber to Almack's. Not be-
ing able to rule Il. she had retired. the
assembly rooms not being large
enough to hold herself and a 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. So at eight o'clock l proceeded
to the lady'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. 4
long company Of gentlemen with their
swords attended her. and Giles and
my Lord Winstanley led the process.
fion. Mrs. Trenchard was the best
imitation OF lady l ever saw, as she
sat in her chair, smiling and tanning
herself. with the linkboys gaping and
grinning at her; and the gentlemen.
especially such as had had n little
more wine than usual. shouting: Way
for Mrs. Trenchard, Make way
there,'
Yet It seemed to me as If she were
only an imitation. after all, and that
Lady Hawkshaw. with her turban and
her ouuandish 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 gallantly 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, | was
very miserable. l remembered that
at the same time the next night
might not have my friend. l 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 bail was over and
the people began pouring out. Then,
afraid to be caught by Giles. ran
home as fast as my legs could car
~ me.
When I reached Berkeley Square it
was altogether dark, and l realized
that was locked out.
lppl.ad oil oy,r s-a..
house, and my heart sank. There was
a blind alley at one side. and | re-
nembered that in 1t 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 waterspout
ran up the wall beside it, and to a
midshipman, used to going out on the
topsail-yard, it was trifle to get up to
the window. I climbed up, softly tried
the window, and to my joy found it
open. In another minute was stand
ing inside the room. l had my flint
and steel in my pocket, and l groped
about until found a candle. which I
lighted.
had often been in the room before,
but its grotesque appearance struck
me afresh, and l could not forbear
laughing, although l was in no laugh
ing mood. There was regular ships
transom running around the wall. The
whole room was full of the useless
odds and ends that accumulate on
board ship, all arranged with the
greatest neatness and economy of
space, and there was not one single
object in the room which could pos
sibly be of the slightest use on shore.
looked around to see how I could
make myself comfortable for the
nisht, and, opening a locker in the
wall, found collection Of old boat
sloaks Of Sir Peters. in svsry stass Of