The Holly chieftain., 1914-01-30
vN FLETCHER ROBINSON

grass land. to a semi-circle of forest
that swept away in dark shadings of
fir and oak. From the long obiong
| Of the main buildings were thrust
back two wings. fanked on the nearer
side by chapel
From the back of the house to the
edge Of the sea cliffs, a distance of
some quarter of a mile, ran an ir-
regular avenue Of FRS with clipped
yew walks and laurel-edged flower
gardens on either hand.
A dozen men sweeping the paths
and telegraph boy on a pony mount
ing the hill towards me showed as
black pigmies against the drifts of
snow.
My bachelor host was absent when
l was ushered into the great central
hall where the house-party were met
together for their tea. l am by ma
ture shy Of strangers. taken In large
doses. and It was with relief that /
recognized Jack Talman, the grizzled
cynic OF an Academician, sitting in
corner seat we" out of reach Of
draughts and female conversation.
Hello. Phillips" he welcomed me-
And what financial gale brings you
here?"
What do you mean?"
Don't put on frills with me. I've
come to paint old Stems picture, II
he will give me the fifteen hundred
that I'm asking for 1t. Lord Tommy
Retford yonder is here to unload
some of his old furniture-you know
Tommy's rooms In Piccadilly. don't
you? Furnished by a dealer in Bond
street. and rs per cent. commission to
Tommy on everything he can sell out
OF them. That's Mrs Talbot Slingsly
talking to him. Pretty woman, got
into trouble, in New York, was cut by
all America, and captured Slingsly
and London society at one blow.
Scandal never does cross the Atlantic
somehow-all the dirty linen gets
washed in the herring-pond. That's
old Lord Blame by the fire; very re.
spectacle, and lends money on the
sly. Private gentleman will make
advances on note of hand'-you know.
Fine woman. Mrs. Billy Blades-that's
she on the sofa. She's been making
desperate love to Steen. but no go.
The gay old dogs too clever for her.
That long chaps her husband. Watch
him prowling round, looking to see II
ne can pouch silver ashtray or
something, l expect. By Jove, Phil
lips, but it's as good as play, amt
it,"
"And this is London society?" ex-
claimed.
NO" he cackled. shaking with
vast amusement. ''No, man: no.
It's the Smart Set. that advertised,
criticized, glorious, needy brigade of
rogues and vagabonds-the Smart Set
Bless 'em all. say 1: they're the best
of company, but it's as well to lock
up your valuables before you be-
come too intimate with them"
l finished of my tea while old Tai
man sucked at his cigarette in great
entertainment
You'd like to see the house." he
commenced again. Come along, I'll
show you round-I want a walk be-
fore dinner"
1t was a most interesting ramble.
We passed from room to room admir-
ing the carved oak. the splendid pic
lures. the Sheraton furniture. the
cabinets of old china. the armour, and
the tapestry. For the manor was
filled with the heirlcoms Of the de
Launes. from whom Baron Steen
rented 1t. And though the present
peer. broken-down old drunkard,
was living in little villa at East.
bourne on eight hundred pounds
year. the family had been great and
glorious one: finding mention on
many page in English history.
At the end Of the great dining-room,
set in the blackjack wainscot above
the fire. was the portrait of boy. It
was Reynolds. and worthy effort
Of that master hand. The lad could
have been no more than fifteen years
of age, but In his eyes was that
grave. distracted expression that
usually comes with the painful wis
dom Of later years. In more closely
examining the picture. I noticed that
large portion Of 1t at the bottom
right-hand corner had been re.
paired or painted out. called Tai
mans attention to this misfortune,
asking II he knew the cause.
They painted out the WOLF" he
said. "and with good enough reason,
too"
"A WOLFF" I said.
III old de Laune were to hear
me gossiping about 1t he'd kick
me out Of the place-he would nv