Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-04
CHAPTER w. Enter the Lady in Green

CHAPTER ". Enter the Lady in Green
GAVE you up long ago." said Priscilla
! ! ! !: !:
-. happily to Mark.
lINR wasn't asking yourself suffi-
GWXkN CENT?
NN2>Xu "Oh, it wasn't that Lady Nor
INY6N daunt was perfectly delighted, and
fNZAZN said that she had asked me already
HXlSQlNV4 with Cynthia and Uncle Hal, but
WlH3GlW/ that must have forgotten And
W6G|W said that had but that shouldn't
W9AW again. "
w Il want you to know my mother,
ODC<A O. said Priscilla hurriedly Mother,
@8 - may present Mr. Spencer"
% Mark flooded Mrs. Morris's petri-
OAS fled figure with his radiant smile.
'Oh, | hope that you will like me!
OF shall be awuly fond Of you because you
Priscillas mother. Don't you think, Mrs Hampton"
Mrs. Morris, = replied that lady icly.
But 1 thought that Priscilla" began Mark
in friendly perplexity
My daughter bears her fathers name"
Oh" said Mark, with wistful sympathy, "has
Sir" quivered Mrs. Morris, outraged dignity in
every line. @Mr: Hampden, with all his failings, was
gentleman He knew his place"
Il meant, is he dead?" explained Mark gently.
He is more" replied Mrs. Morris, and closed
her mouth with audible click
Il am sorry Though, of course" he added
consolingly, you couldn't have cared very much,
you wouldn't have married again. | do think that
that is the most extraordinary idea, marrying again.
But Priscilla had found her voice do tell me"
she begged feverishly, what made you SO late this
evening:
We'll, went to Sleep" explained Mark obediently.
After dinner | went upstairs, and Uncle Hal had
given me a book of poems to read. They called
gems from Wordsworth and went to sleep in the
middle of one about Peter Bell. They were the most
peculiar poems | suppose he must have been very,
very young don't think that ever read such peculiar
poems. Have you ever heard of them?"
Priscilla nodded weakly.
Have your" pursued the hapless Mark.
Mrs Morris gared If England contained 4, more
such refined and sublime geniuses the great Words
nth would he and fer SrOf
Mark looked tre crestfalen, and then frightened.
"Oh, well, didn't get very far. The genius probably
came later. Besides, l wasn't exactly fair because
/ kept comparing him with Swinburne all the time,
and, of course that made him ridiculous But,
then, could help seeming ridiculous beside
Swinburne, except Shakespeare and Browning, could
theyo | mean in England.
Mrs Morris closed her eyes and shuddered slightly.
"Algernon Swinburne is blot on civilization she
said distinctly.
Mark welcomed this uncharitable ultimatum with
affabe interest Il suppose he is, he agreed cheer
fully; but then, | don't think much of civilization.
I'd call most of my favorites in the Old Testament
David, for instance-blots civilization, wouldn't
you?
Il refuse to permit such blasphemy my presence,
exploded the sorely tried Mrs. Morris. do you
tearo | refuse! Priscilla"
Priscilla flew to the rescue, commanding her voice
by heroic effort Look the music is going to begin"
she said hastily the vile blaspheer who stood blank
~ contemplating his outraged victim "Dont you think
come back and take down to supper Don't
forget"
You know won't forget" said Mark.
The music had really started, "a string quartet
rendering exqusely and lovingly the quaint severity
o. Bach. Surely there would be a brief respite, during