The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-11-05
CHAPTER K.

CHAPTER K.
Philippa and Helen started, few
mornings later, for one of their Gus
tomary walks. The crystalline oc-
tober sunshine, in which every dis
tant tree and, seward, each slow
" travelling steamer. seemed to
gain q new elearness Of outline, lay
upoa the deep-plowed fields, the
believing brscken, and the red-gold
OF the bending trees, while the
west wind, which had strewn the
sea with whIte-fecked waves, brought
down the leaves TO form a carpet
tor their feet. and played strange
music along the wood-crested slope.
In the broken land through which
they made their way, Q land OF trees
and moorland, with here and there
cultivated patch, the yellow gorse
btiu glowed in unexpected corners;
queer, scentiess flowers made
Splashes OF color in the hedgerows;
4 rabbit scurried sometimes across
their path; q cock pheasant after a
moments amazed stare, lowered his
head and rushed for unnecessary
shelter. The longer they looked up
ward. the bluer seemed the sky.
The grass beneath their feet was
As green and soft as in springtime-
Driven by the wind, here and there
a white-winEed gull sailed over
their heads cloud OF them rested
upon a freshly turned little square
81 plowed land between two woods
A flight of pigeons, like torn leaves
tossed about by the wind, circled
and drifted above them. Philippa
seated herself upon the trunk OF a
fallen tree and gazed eontentedly
about her.
1T 1 had a looking-glass and a
few more hairpins, should be per-
fectly happy" she sighed. Il am
sure my hair must look awful"
Helen glanced at it admiringly-
Il decline to say the correct
thing" she declared. Il will only
remind you that there will be no
one here to look at It." ---
81 am not so sure" Philippe re-
pijed. these are the woods which
the special constables haunt by day
and by night. They gaze up every
tree trunk for a wireless installa-
ton, and they lie behind hedges
and watch for mysterious flashes"
"Are you suggesting that We may
meet Mr.. Lessingham Helen in
oufred. Iazily. 81 am perfectly GER
tain that he knows nothing OF the
equipment Of the ruelodramatic spy.
As to Zeppelins. don't you remen1-
Der he told US that he hated them
. and was terrified OF bombs"
. MY dear" PhiliPPa remon-
strated, "Mr. Lessingham does
nothing crude"
HAnd yet Helen began.
- hn a.
thing at the back of his head"
PhiIippa interrupted. Sometimes
think that he has-sometimes I be-
Iieve that Richard must have shown
him my picture. and he has come
over here to see il am really
Ike it."
HE does behave rather like that"
her companion admitted dryly.
Philippe turned and looked at
her.
'Helen.- she said severely, don't
be a cat"
IF were to express my opinion
OF your behavior" Helen went on,
picking up a pine cone and examin-
ing 1t. II might astoniSh you"
you have an evil mind" Philip
pa yRwned. producing her cigarette
case. What you really resent is
that Mr.. Lessingham sometimes
forEets to talk about Dick"
THE poor man doesn't get much
chance" Helen retorted, watching
the blue smoke from her cigarette
and leaning back with an air OF
content whatever do you and he
md to talk about. PhilIppa?"
Iiterature-English and Ger
man.. Phflippa murmured demure-
". ~Mr Lessinghsm is remarkably
well read. and he knows more about
our English poets than any man
have met for years"
II forgot that you enjoyed that
sort OF thing"
once more, don't be cat" Phil
ippA enjoined. III you want me
to confess il, will own up AT once.
You know what a simple little
thing am. admire Mr.. Leasing
ham exceedingly, and fnd him a
most interesting companion"
You mean" her friend observed
dryly, "the Baron Maderstrom."
Philippe looked around and
frowned.
You are most indiscreet, Helen"
Ghe declared. 81 have learned
something OF the science OF espIon-
AhE AdAEAgs duA i can assure you
that all spoken or written words
are dangerous. There is a thor
oughly British squirrel in that tree
overhead, and ! am sure he heard"
Il suppose the sunshine has got
into your head" Helen groaned.
IF you mean that ] am finding il
a relief TO talk nonsense. you are
right" Philippa assented. las a
matter OF fact. l am feeling most
depressed. Henry telephoned from
somewhere or other before break
fast this morning to say that he
should probably be home tonight or
tomorrow. They must have landed
somewhere down the coast"
"You are a most uniutiful wife"
Helen pronounced severely. Il am
sure Henry is a delightful person,
even IL he Is . little irresponsible,
and II is almost pathetic to remem-
Der how much you were in love
with him q year or two ago"
Some OF the Hghtness vanished
from Philippa's face.
THAT was before the war" She
aGhsd.
II stnI think Henry Is a dear.
uhnogh I don't altogether under