The Irish standard., 1915-03-27
he handed Ethel the letter. "By hand,

he handed Ethel the letter. "By hand,
MISS
Ethel took the letter quite uncon-
sciously and opened it.
"Who is it from?" asked Mrs. Chi
chester.
'A1r. Brent" replied Ethel indiffer-
emily.
"Brent?" cried Alaric. What on
earth does he write to you for?"
He wants me to do something for
him." And she tore the letter up into
the smallest pieces and placed them in
a receptacle on the desk.
Come, Alaric." And Mrs. Chiches-
ter left the room after admonishing
Peg that an hour would be sufficient to
sit up.
LET US be honest with each other,
Ethel" said Peg when the two girls
were left alone. Peg went right over
to her and looked at her compassion
ately.
what do you mean?" said Ethel,
with sudden contraction of her
breath.
"You like Mr.. Brent, don't YEP
So the moment had come. The little
spy had been watching her. Well, she
would fight this common little Irish
nobody to the bitter end. All the an
ger in her nature surged uppermost as
Ethel answered Peg, but she kept her
voice under control.
Certainly l like Mr.. Brent. He is a
very old friend of the familyv'
Hes got wife"
"He has!'
"An' baby"
"Yes-and baby" Ethel was not
going to betray herself. She would
just wait to see what course this crea-
ture was going to take with her.
They were now seated together, Eth
ell holding her little white poodle. ut
which Peg pointed contemptuously.
Peg went on:
"Of course I've never seen the wife
or the baby because he never seems
to have them with him when he calls
here. But I've often heard Alaric ask
afther them"
"Well?' asked Ethel coldly.
'1s it usual for English husbands
with babies to kiss other womcn's
hands?" And Peg looked swiftly ut
her cousin.
Ethel checked an outburst and said
quite calmly:
1T is very old and very respect
ed custom"
'"The divil doubt it but it's old. I'm
not so sure about the respect. Why
doesn't he kiss me aunt's hand as
well?"
Ethel could not control herself much
longer. 1t was becoming unbearable.
AS she crossed the room she snid with
as little heat rs possible:
"You don't understand"
"Well. but I'm thryin' to-" persisted
Peg. "That's why watch We all the
time"
Ethel turned. She was now Mt bay.
"You watch me?"
"Aren't We me model?"
"It's contemplate" cried Ethel.
Sure only saw the old an re-
spected custom by accident-whcn I
came in through there month ago
nm once since when l came in ngain
by accidental few days aftherward
couldn't help seem it both times
An, as for bein' contemplate, I'm no
so sure the custom doesn't deserve all
the contempt"
Ethel was now thoroughly aroused.
II suppose it is too much to expect
that child of the common people
should understand the customs of de-
cent people"
"Nlcbbe 1t is" replied Peg. but I
don't see why the common people
should have all the decency an the
aristocracy none"
ut is impossible to talk to you. l
was foolish to have stayed here. You
don't understand. You never could
understand
Peg interrupted: "Why, never saw
We excited bcfore-not n bit Of color in
yer checks till now-cxcept twice! W
look just MS We did when Mr.. Brent
followed that old an respected Gus
tom on yer hand" cried Peg. Tho
young girls eyes were ablaze. How
wildly she remembered the evcntfu
scene that confronted her when she
first arrived Mt the Chichester home
days before!
Ethel answered this time, excitedly
and Indignantly, giving full and free
vent to her just anger:
"Be good enough never to speak to
me again as long rs you're in this
house. If had my way you'd leave
1t this moment. AS it is-as it is"-
Her voice rose almost to a scream
Her rage was unbridled.
What more she might have said was
checked by the door opening and Jar
Wis showing in Jerry.
Jerry walked chccrfully and smiling
ly into the room and was amazed t.
find the two young ladies' glazing q,
each other and apparently in the midst
OF n conflict.
All power Of speech left him as he
stood looking in amazement at the
c0mbatants.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Tempis Of Friendship.
II CAME over to ask Mrs. Chiches
ters permission for you tw'
young ladies to go to dance to
night. It's Just across from her,
at the Assembly rooms," said Jerry.