The Yale expositor., 1919-10-23
CHAPTER xiv.

He went to his room, threw on his
coat, waistcoat, collar and tie, letting
them lie where they CHANGED to fall,
and then, having violently enveloped
himself In a black velvet dressing
gown, continued this action by lying
down with a vehemence that brought
a wheeze OF protest from his bed. His
repOse was only a momentary SEM
blance, however, for il lasted no long
er than the time II took him to groan
"Rifraffi" between his teeth. Then he
sat up, swung his feet to the floor, rose
and began to pace up and down the
large room.
He had just been consciously rude
70 his mother for the first time in his
life; for, with all his riding down. of
populace and riffraff, he had never be-
fore been either deliberately or Inn
pulsively disregardful Of her. But
now he had done a rough thing to her
and he did not repent; the rather he
was the more irritated with her. And
when he heard her presently go by his
door With light step, singing cheer
fully 10 herself as she went to her
room. he perceived that she had mis-
taken his intention altogether, or, in
deed, had failed to perceive that he
had any intention at all.
There came delicate, eager tap
ping nt his door, not done with u
knuclle but with the tip Of finger
nail, which was instantly clarified to
Georges minds eye as plainly as If he
saw il: the long and polished white
mooDcd pink shield on the end Of his
Aunt Fannys right forefinger. But
George was in no mood for human
communications, and even when things
went well he had little pleasure In
Fanny's society. Therefore II Is not
surprising that at the sound Of her
tapping, instead Of bidding her enter,
be Immediately crossed the room with
the intention Of locking the door to
keep her out.
Fanny was too eager and, opening
the door before he reached II, came
quickly In, and closed 1t behind her.
Her look was that of a person who
had just seen something extraordinary
or heard thrilling news.
"Now, what on earth do you want?"
her chilling nephew demanded.
George" she said hurriedly, 81 saw
what you did when you couldn't speak
20 them. was sitting with Mrs. John
SOD at her front window, across the
street. and i saw II ALL"
swell, what Of itr
"You did right" Fanny said with q
vebeuence not the less spirited be.
cause She suppressed her voice almost
to o whisper. "You did exactly
right! You're behaving splendidly
about the whole thing, and want to
tell you j know your father would
thsnk you II he could see what you're
doing"
MY Lordi" George broke out at her
"You make me dizzyl For heavens
sake quit the mysterious detective
business- at least do quit It around
mel Go and try 1t on somebody else
II you Ike; bat don't want to hear
til"
She began to tremble, regarding hin
with a fix ei gaze. "YOu don't care tC
hear. then" she said huskily. 'that
approve OF what you're doing1"
-Certab ly not Since haven't the
faintest 1 lea what you think I'm do
ing naturally i don't care whether
yOu approve Of II or not. All I'd like
n you please, is to be alone. I'm not
Giving a tea here, this afternoon. il
you'll permit me to mention it."
Fanny's gaze wavered; she begar
10 blink; then suddenly she sank into
. chair and wept silently. but with Q
serrible dcsolation.
-Oh, fur the Lords sake" hi
ssaned. what In the world is wrong
with your
~You're always picking on me-" she
qaavered wretchedly, her voice indfs
HEct with the wetness that dubbed In
10 Il from her tears. "You dO-yoJ
alwvys pick on mel You've alway:
dune it--always-ever since you were
q little boyi Whenever anything goes
wrong with you, you take IL out OF
mel You dol You always"
George flung 10 heaven a gesture Of
Despair; II seemed 10 him the las
ptysw that Fanny should have chosen
sAls particular time to come and So