Evening star., 1914-08-09


But indubitably she Dragon.
Miss Carteret was quick to endue the lady with
mental nickname, 4the Dowager Dragon term
whose asperity she modified by the admission that if
dragonish, she most probably dear.
the girls abstraction lifted sufficiently to permit
appreciation of the fact that she had been staring stead
fasy and for time far too long, at at and through
the subject of her reverie.
Confused and self-conscious, she colored II beg
your pardon she murnured, averting her eyes.
I'D rather you didn't said the Dowager Dragon
br,lskly 4If you apologize, I'll have to-l've been
staring every whit as hard you, my dear,-and l
apologize The conceit relshed; the lady rolled
it her tongue and paraphrased u may BE rude,
may be wrong; but admit it? Never' Then she
laughed heartily.
Miss Carteret ventured smile. Il was thinking
she offered in conclusive amendment.
Believe me- saw that the other interrupted, 4and
more read your thoughts quite plainly
@Oh, no.' the girl protested in alarm.
3But yes, my dear. You thinking that in
you'd caught something of tartar. Now weren't youe
But hand painted bark doesn't necessarily imply
venomous bite And if my complexion is candidly art
ful-must look her age or lose caste? l do
Wig; but think what fright should be without
one On the other hand my figure and eyes and teeth
all my own,' the last were frankly exhibited in an
infectious laugh, @and is my heart. In Short at my
worst I'm perfectly respectable old gossip But
gracious, Chid!-how you do on!'
With this bewildering reproach, the Dowager Dragon
and producing impressive bunch of keys, began
to unlock her various pieces of hand luggage.
Really she pursued, 4you don't give one chance
to ask single question. Here you've dragged out of
the most private bones in my skeleton cupboard
without much telling your name. No matter:
you won't refuse it when you know mine. It's Beggar
f-Amelia-widow. Now, as Peter Trait says, what
do you know about thato'
MISS CARTERET knew nothing whatever about
~ that, and owned her ignorance with look of
blankness that earned an indulgent chuckle.
Confess you have heard of me! But that's
only because you're English
3Oh, but IN not Miss Carteret insisted lmpulslvely
3Nly mothers parents English; but Il
Here she checked in undsguised dsmay. But her
companion wasn't looking didn't, indeed, need to
ook such is the of ripe in the knowledge
of humanity.
GO on my dear Tell me alias well now as later.
You WILL anyway, in the end-and if you don't I'll
engage to find you out for myself. By the way your
name would be useful"
"Lid-" Miss Carteret announced incoherenty, stop
ping abruptlyas though halfchokedb the monosyabe
3How very odd' commented Mrs. Beggarstaf with
straight face. Miss Lid! Almost bizarre Beg
garstaff. But that's my fault: married it with
my hearing unimpared. But Lid! l never
@My isn't Ld' the girl interrupted Indignantly.
Il never said Something tickling my throat.
My is Lucy Carteret.'
"Sorry misunderstood glad Lucy Carteret's
much prettier and -ah-human. The Maryland Car
terets, hopee'
ooh, no. said the girl hastily.
@Too bad: it's good family. Let me see-there are
no Carterets worth mentioning in New York. Virginia
branch, perhaps?'
2Oh, no.
The terated denial less bold than its original;
Miss Carteret beginning to be sorry she hadn't
waited for later welas that she had thought
1t necessary, not to say romantic to adopt pseudonym
to fit the initials on her luggage.
@Then you can't be anybody Mrs. Beggarstaff as
serted yipOrously 3'TOo bad Unless possibvr she