Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

to leave her alone with Lakenham. Even
when he had the light lit in the billiard
room and had offered to mark, an offer that
Lakenham promptly refused, he fingered on
one pretext or another.
al think III watch the game, he decided.
"They don't want me for bridge"
"Nly dear fellow" Lakenham replied,
chalking his cue, you'll be shockingly in
the way can't possibly say nice things to
Miss Cluley when you're around. 1t isn't
giving either of us a chance. Time enough
for you later on
Jermyn looked across at Sybil; but she
seemed for some reason to be avoiding his
eyes. He shrugged his shoulders slightly.
well" he said, Il shall be in the library
with the other people when you have fin
ished. Don't tire yourself, Sybil. You have
had plenty of running about today
81 am going to rest after every stroke,
she laughed, aand Lord Lakenham is going
to give me twenty in fifty; so don't think
our game ought to last very long.
"You won't expect me to hurry over it,"
Lakenham protested ardently.
Sybil was leaning with her back against
the billiard table. She waved her hand to
Jermyn. "H we are not out in half an hour"
she begged, 3come and rescue me-
II sha'nt allow you second longer" he
replied, smiling at her. @I'll go and see how
the bridge IS getting on.
HE left the room, closing the door behind
- him, and made his way to the library.
started rubber They had drawn a table
up to the open window, and had turned out
all the lights in the room except a couple of
standard lamps, which stood on each side
of the table. Jermyn threw himself into
low chair by Lucilles side. She was dummy
at the moment, and looked down at him with
a faint smile. Her hand rested on his
Miss C1uley seems to be overcoming her
aversion to Aynesworth," she murmured.
He was conscious of the affront of her
words; conscious too of a peculiar uneasi-
ness, which was not exactly jealousy, and
yet for which he could not wholly account.
he said calmly. "She may or may not APP
preciate Aynesworth' attentions. She at
least is considerate enough to remember that
he is my kinsrnan and her fellow guest.
think that she is quite right to try and con-
quer her antipathy to him."
Lucille smiled once more "You will make
a model husband, my dear Jerrnyn.'
II shall do my best, he answered. II do
not fancy that shall find it very trouble
some to be what you call model husband
to Sybil. You see, l happen to be very fond
of her."
The play of the hand had only just begun
Lucille rose abruptly to her feet. @Come
herei' she said, moving toward the open
window.
Jermyn obeyed her at once. They stepped
out on the avenue. The moon had not
yet risen, and coming directly from the
lighted room the deep violet twilight seemed
full of shadows. She stood with him behind
a little clump of syringa bushes. Jermyn
with the natural impressionability of an
artist always on the lookout for effects, could
scarcely fail to appreciate how striking a
picture she made with her white face, her
red lips and blazing eyes. She swayed a
little toward him.
"Jernyn, haven't you any pity at all?"
she whispered passionately. "f you go on
parading your affection for that little chit of
an actress before me, 1 shall say something
foolish. l shall give myself away. You
mustn't do it, Jermyn. Haven't you any
heart at ALP"
For moment he made no reply. He was
realizing the immense mistake he had made
when he had answered her letter of self
invitation in the affirmative and begged her
to come and play hostess at Annerley He
was man of the world enough to realize ex-
II, 1i1a too hot ,f