The Washington herald., 1912-11-10
CHApTKR IN.

CHAITKR xH
Here Collingwood was almost q
daily visitor. Lady Astwill came oc-
easioually to offer advice and consola-
bon, and usually succeeded in iezvina
Peggy more miserable than ever BE-
fore. Lord Ellerdine, too, femained
faithful in spite of the objections oi
bis sustefe connections These thfee
were I'll that remained of the court
over which Pesyy had ruled The
Others had fed with half-concealed JOY
IN their hearts. Her beautiful wings
bad outshone the others so long that
there was general satisfaction when
some Of the coloring was rubbed of
by the hand of scandal.
Of the three who remained loyal
Peggy found the most pleasure in the
society of Ellerdine. He was honestly
devoted to her in a purely friendly
way. She might have tapped her
bright wings in his face for years and
never sent . ripple through his stolid
British calm. Also he was perfectly
honest with her. and as sympathetic as
he was honest.
And somehow, wher he told her
frankly that she was in "a beastly mess
and he would be jiggered if he saw
bow she was gong to get out OF It.
and that he would do every bally
thing he could think of. but he wasn't
much at thinking" it gave her more of
. warm, projected feeling than any
thing else. If Lady Attwill told her
the same thing IN her low, sweet voice,
Peggy cried herself to sleep.
There was subtle reason for this
For while Lady Attwill knew in her
heart that Peggy was utterly innocent
of any real wrongdoing. her attitude
family suggested that she believed the
worst had happened. Ellerdine, on the
other hand, frankly admitted to him
self that he believed Peggy guilty, but
he was her friend, right or wrong. In
many respects Peggy was still child,
and with a chi1d's instinct she was
drawn to honesty and good will.
No matter what his private convie-
lions might be as to the merits of the
ease, Lord Ellerdine was convinced
that a divorce was beastly mess from
any standpoint The fact was borne
in upon his consciousness some weeks
after the scandal became public prop
erty. After Peggy's ordeal on the
stand he decided that it was his duty
to take steps looking to the prevention
of any further action. AL of which
connotes a remarkable mental activity
on the part of his lordship.
By herculean stroke of thought he
finally came to the conclusion that he
must seek out Admission and have a
talk with him Action was always
driving along in the immediate wake
of thought with Ellerdine, and so after
he had made up his mind to see the
injured husband he sent his card up
TO his apartment at the club.
1t was, perhaps, a commentary on
the iron mans true feeling toward his
wife that he at once admitted the Wis
itor. Though he would not admit it to
himself, in his heart he hoped that El-
lerdine came as an envoy from Peggy.
But therein he showed that he did not
quite understand the girl: After her
letter had been ignored. Peggy would
fore she would have made another ad-
vance
Dickey was just a little nervous as
with distant politeness. He had told
matte service was just what was need
nothing TO fear from Admission. who
had not had his advantages. But the
expression of the lined, hawk face and
frosty gray eyes-the color of a new
knife-as Admission waited for him to
begin, all but caused a panic in Dick
eys not too we'll adjusted mentality.
<ha,y
tapped his shoe with his cane Then
he cleared his throat several times and
smiled fatuously.
"Deuced good speech of the chan
cellor's on the pension fund.-" he said
at last. He had not read it. but he
had heard that it was. and if he could !
trust his memory Admission was a
leader of the government party. He |
thought IT was a good diplomatic be-
ginning.
Admission said that it was-and
waited.
Dickey reversed the arrangement of
his crossed legs and tapped the other |
foot for a change. There was a ST.
lence of perhaps a full minute Ad-
maston stirred in his chair. Dickey
started.
"BaIly lot Of talk about it," he re-
marked. -
Admaston said that there was-and |
waited again. Dickey pulled his mus
tache with his other hand and fidget-
ed. Then he grinned again. Admas-
maston began drumming impatiently
on the desk. Dickey was becoming |
dizzy with nervousness.
"See here, Elferdine," he said, cold
1y. you did not call on me to talk
politics, I take It. Is there anything
that you really want to say to me"
Dickey sat up violently. "Well-ert
he stammered. THAT is,
you see, I-I-you--" His voice died /
away in gurgle.
"Well?"
Dickey swallowed hard and took a
desperate plunge.