Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-25

peachment-which, 1t may be mentioned,
was self-evident. You haven't. either"
was the best retort he could make.
mo, but I've brushed my teeth" said
the ever-ready Miss Gaymer.
WELL" pursued Binks. desperately.
''you haven't done your hair"
my lad" replied his opponent. frankly.
IF you were q woman and had to put
things on over your head. you wouldn't
have done your hair either"
! Binks, utterly demoralized, fell out OF
the fighting line. :.
Joey. I've shaved" murmured the Sec
ond gentleman, in deprecating voice.
Miss Gaymer turned a surprised eye
.'Why, Cherub. dear?' she inquired
'Cherub," who was still of an age to
be exceedingly sensitive on the subject
Of his manly growth. blushed deeply and
subsidized. But his companion was made
Of sterner stun.
Come along, Cherub!' he said. Lets
run her into her bedroom and lock her in
until we've bathed. Hang 4! It's the
third time she's done it this week"
Lay one finger on me, children" pro-
claimed Miss Gaymer, land I'll never
speak to either Of you again"
She made ready for battle by twining
her feet in and out Of the legs Of the
Windsor chair, and sat brandishing a
Her heartless opponents advanced to
the attack. and, seizing the arms Of the
chair. bore IL swiftly, occupant and all,
down the passage. Joan. utterly unpre-
pared for these tactics. was at first too
taken aback to do anything but shrek
ard WELD the loofah: but. shortly recov-
ering her presence Of mind, she slipped
off the seat. and, doubling round her
bearers, who were hampered by the chair,
scampered back toward the bathroom
only to run heavily into the arms Of an
unyielding, sunburned and highly en-
barrassed gentleman, who had been stand
ing nervously on the other side Of the
door Of that apartment for the last five
minutes. awaiting an opportunity to es-
cape. and had suddenly emerged there
from on a dash to his bedroom, under the
perfectly correct impression that 1t was
case of now or never.
"Oh. beg your Why, IT'S Hughiel"
cried Joan. Yes. It really isl"
other. It was their first meeting. Hughie,
owing to q breakdown on the branch line,
had arrived late the night before, after
the ladies had gone to bed. Joan and
he had not set eyes on each other for nine
years
Miss Gaymer recovered her equanimity
first.
you're not a bit changed, Hughie,"
she observed. with a disarming smile. "A
little browner-that's all. Am I?'
Hughie did not answer for moment
He was genuinely astonished at what he
had just seen, and not q little shocked.
Where young girls are concerned there is
no greater stickler for propriety than
your man of the world; and this sudden
instance of the latter-day camaraderie Of
Hughes breath away. He felt almost
as fluttered as an early Victorian matron.
Suddenly he realized that he had been
asked q question.
It's rather hard to say, until-until--"
until I've got my hair up and more
clothes on?" suggested Miss Gaymer.
Perhaps you're right. Still. I look rather
nice, don't you think?' she added. mod
estly. preening herself in the kimono.
However. you'll see me at breakfast.
Meanwhile, I want you to hold those two
boys back while I get into the bathroom.
Ta-ta, dears!''
And with an airy wave Of her hand to
the unwashed and discounted hrm OF
Dicky and Cherub, who stood grinning
sheepishly in the background, Hughes
ward slipped under her guardians arm
and disappeared into the bathroom: with
q swish of cerulean drapery and a tri-
umphant banging of the door.
Half an hour later Hughie descended to
breakfast, there to be greeted by his host,
Jack Leroy. q retired warrior of thirty
eight, OF comfortable exterior and incur
able laziness, and his wife. the one-time
render Of Hughes heart strings In the
person Of Miss Mildred Freshwater. An
other old friend was the Rev. Montague
Darcy, whom we last saw dancing the
cachuca by the waters Of the Cam. Here
he was. tribe more rotund and wearing
archdiaconal CATERS. but still the twin
kling-eyed Darcy of old. One or two
other guests were seated at the table, but
as yet there was no sign OF Joey. When
she did appear, it was in riding habit:
and after q hearty meal, in no way ac-
CELEBRATED by urgent and outspoken mes-
sages from the front door. where her
swains were smoking the pipe OF patience,