Evening star., 1914-12-27


Mary nodded doubtfully. "Yes, and that
is one thing I didn't understand" she re-
piled. II am quite sure Sybil could have
come if she had liked. There are two maids
up there wanting to help her pack, and
everything was nearly finished hours ago."
"Tell me what she said exactly Jerrnyn
asked.
"She said she would be down in about
half an hour. The Duchess was up there
with her. Is it very horrid of me, Jermyn,
not to like the Duchess? l suppose she is
very grand lady; but she frightens me-
II am afraid our likes and our dislikes,"
Jermyn replied, @are rather beyond our con-
troll"
aHere comes MIR. Smith, Mary ex-
claimed.
Smith was in motoring attire. He removed
his goggles and took off his glove. II couldn't
leave the neighborhood," he explained,
without looking in once more to say good
by. 1 am exceedingly sorry, Sir Jermyn,
that should have blundered in upon you
at such an unfortunate time. | am off now
to Lincoln today, and up to Durham tomor-
row. There's nothing more l can do, eh?'
Nothing, Jermyn assured him. THANK
you all the same. l am much obliged to you
for attending the inquest. 1t was rather hard
luck on you to have to stay in the neighbor-
hood an extra day when you have so little
time to spare on this side"
"A matter of no consequence at all"
Smith declared, absolutely of no conse-
quence To tell you the truth, the affair
interested me professionally. l have never
seen anything of the sort over here"
He fell into step and strolled along with
them. Jermyn turned to Mary.
3Mary, don't you think he suggested,
@that if you went and told Sybil | was very
4 L - tof%r
she left for the station, that you might hurry
her up?"
aIIl try the child promised. @Ill do
my best, anyway"
SHE tripped across the lawn. Smith nod
~ ded appzovingly as he watched her.
"Nice child, that" he remarked. @NIiss
Cluley's sister, eh?"
Terrnyn assented Smith was still watch
ing Mary on her way to the house.
Il must say" Smith continued, "that the
manner in which Miss Cluely gave her evil
dence today was something wonderful. Not
a tremor, not an indiscreet word; not
syllable too much, not syllable too little;
Just the right amount of agitation. 1t was
triumph A very clever young actress, l
imagine, Miss Cluley. l only regret that
1 never happen to have seen her on the
stage"
Jermyn's tone became shade colder. II
do not connect Miss Cluley's proficiency on
the stage he said, with her department
today Today she was simply a charming
and we'll bred young woman, forced into
very unpleasant and painful situation. She
told the truth simply-she could do no more
nor less.
@Quite so,' Smith agreed dryly. "Why,
that's all right. By the by, Sir Jermyn," he
continued, glancing round, @as we are here
quite by ourselves for moment or two, l
must confess that l have felt just little
curious about those trihes we collected from
the floor feel sort of right to mention
the matter, you know, because it was
through me that they we're collected, wasn't
it? Miss Cluley was SO certain in her evil
dence that there had been no disagreement
of any sort between her and Lord Lakenham.
Was Miss Cluley, by any chance, wearing a
white or ivory satin gown last night?'
Il do not remember the color of her
gown Jermyn replied stiffiy.
"Silly of me to mention it, perhaps
Smith declared, swinging his spectacless
slightly between his fingers. "As criminal
lawyer, however, l must say that the pro-