The Glenwood post., 1909-05-15
CHAPTER V.-continued.

/ He HOlSe Ol tne controversy was
heard all over town, and it was dis:
cussed in Berkeley Square as else
where. Lady Hawkshaw was no Ion
ger subscriber to Almack's. Not be.
ing able to rule It, 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 stage duchess. A
long company Of gentlemen with their
iwords attended her, and Giles and
Hy Lord Winstanley led the process.
Son. Mrs. Trenchard was the best
imitation of a 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 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 outlandish French, had much more
the genuine air of 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.
l 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. 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
when the ball was over and
the people began pouring out. Then,
|9fraid to be caught by Giles, l ran
A,ome as fast as my legs could car
ry me.
When l reached Berkeley Square it
was altogether dark, and l realized
that l was locked out.
house, and my heart sank. There was
blind alley at one side, and l re-
membered that in it opened the win
dow of Sir Peters study, as he called
it, although. as l have said. it was
more like the cubby-hole of the Ajax
than any other place 1 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. climbed up, softly tried
the window. and to my joy found II
open. In another minute | was stand
ing inside the room. l had my flint
and steel in my pocket, and l CROPPED
about until found candle, which
lighted.
l had often been in the room before,
but its grotesque appearance struck
me afresh, and l could not forbear
laughing. although / 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.
l looked around to see how l could
make myself comfortable for the
night, and. opening locker in the
wall. l found collection of old boat.
sloaks of Sir Peters, in every stage OF