New Britain herald., 1920-07-12

would not lose my Seit-COntfol no matter what happened, and I had pre- pared myself for almost any evcntu- ality, But sometimes it is the long hacking which K more effectual in breaking a stick than a sharp blow. When [ had gone to Dicky's room. after his last demand. and had found the cum links he had lost, I was in no scraphic mood 10 listen to the abrupt words he flung at me as I turned to leave the room:
 Whats this 1 hear about Dad get ting you a stateroom all to yourself v
 of course. the words were perfectly natural and inoffenslve. Hut the tone made me subtly feel that Dicky con Sidercd my fathers action as a slight to the rest Of the party. However. I tried to make my voice sound matter of fact as replied:
 Your hearing is perfectly correct. Father did get me one. That leaves your mother one. and Major Grant land secured one for Mrs. Durkee.'
 Dicky looked at me queerly. Wees. SO Two understood he said dryly. and I wondered with q terrified little aualm whether he. too. suspected that the young officer had obtained the drawing room for me. and that he had passed 1t on to Mrs. Durkee only upon my refusal Of it. My father and my mother-ln-law had both surmised the truth. and the fact that they had done SO had troubled me with it's hint that Major Grantiand's feeling toward me had not escaped their notice. It was bad enough to he troubled and remorseful myself over the young of- ficer's attitude without it's being a matter of comment to others.
 "wh1e Ed-ith-"
 To Dicky's jealousy. unreasoninE because of my own conduct and that of Major Grantland himself had long been used. and prepared myself for some cutting little speech con corning the young military man. But to my surprise it was something far different which was the theme ot Dicky's next speech.
 "Of course you're going to invite Rita Brown to share it.
 The implication which his words carried. that there was no other course possible. nettied me so I for got for the instant that the thing he had proposed was the very course upon which had myself decided.
 "of course will do no such thing" ! rctortcd.
 "The devil you won't." Dicky's eyes flashed wrRthfuily. Do you mean to tell mo that you're going to travel in state while Edith and Leila arc crowded in with Rita?''
 Madgc Mimicks DiclSy.
 He had paused pefceptibly between tho syiiabies of E.dith's name. and had finished it hurried1y because. was sure. he was afraid that changing the order of his mention of the two sis tera might attract my attention. If was the most unimportant trifie, and might well have been an accident, but had noticed similar trifies before. and. woman like. I at once jumped to the most mnddcning solution of his request or rather demand.
 He was far more solicitous Of Edith Fairfax's comfort than of mine. He could not bear that she should be in- Far rather would he condemn me to the society of girl whom he knew detested.
 felt rising in me a primitive Der serk impulse to vent my rage upon things generally. beginning with the snecrinR. handsome countenance of my husband. controlled this inn pulse. though fl might have been bet ter for both .Dicky and me if l had given vent to the wild anger that shook me instead of eonfning the tor rent under the ice with which I was able to coat it.
 "You will please pardon me-" I said In my most frigid manner. ''T had not realized how very much the comfort of Edith and Leila count cd with you. shall. of course. ae- cede to your wishes and invite Miss Brown to share my statcroom. much as I detest her.
 I had purposely mimicked his hesi- tation over Edith's name. and knew by Dicky's exclamation and his sud den movement toward me that I had scored savaEe1y. But I went out of the room. ignoring the fact that his eNciamatory utterance of my name had seemed n protest of misunder- stood motives. not of anger.