, 1921-09-17

her seat, -shot a QUICK Etanc
down the length OF her tabl
and at the arrangement OF her guests
and tried to learn II her lord an
master approved But he vas listen
Ing to something Lady Arbuthnoi
who sat on his right. was saying
and, being a man. failed to catch he
meaning. and only smiled unconcern
edly and eheerfully back at her Blu
the wife of the Austrian Minister
who was her very dearest friend. saw
and appreciated. and ave her a quicl
little smile over her fan. which sal,
that the table was perfect. the peopi,
most interesting. and that she coult
possess her soul in peace So Mrs
Trevelyan pulled at the tips of hei
gloves and smiled upon her guests
Mrs. Treveiyan was not used to ques-
tioninE her powers. but this dinner
had been almost impromptu. and she
had beer in doubt. II was quite un-
necessary. for her dinner carried with
II the added virtue of being the last
of the season. an encore To all thai
had gone before special number
by request on the social programme.
1t was not one of many other stretch
ing on for weeks, for the summers
change and leisure began on the NOR
row. and there was nothing hanging
over her guests that they must go
on TO later. They knew that their
luggage stood ready locked and strap
ped at home: they could look before
them 10 the whole summers pleasure.
and they were relaxed and ready TO
be pleased. and broke simultaneously
into a low murmur of talk and
laughter. The windows OF the dining
room stood open from the floor, and
f-arn fhA ffr~ f~1rdan that fNrrnTrndad
the house, even in the great mass of
stucco and brick OF eneircling Lon
don. came the odor OF flowers and OF
fresh turf. "A soft summer-night
wind moved the candles under their
red shades; and gently as though
they rose from afar. and 20 only
from across the top of the high wall
before the house. came the rumble
OF the onnibuses passing farther into
the suburbs, and the occasional quick
of a hanson over the smooth
asphalt. 1t was a most delightful
choice OF people. gathered at short
notice and to do honor to no n in
particular. but TO give each a chance
TO say good-by before he or n met
the yacht at Southampton or took the
train TO Homburg. They all
knew each other very well; and IL
was Al 6htol Va thC Sf0hAAA5s .
one Of the two Americans
Miss Egerton. the girl who
was to marry Lord Arbuthnot. whose
mother sat on Trevelyan's right. or
young Gordon. the explorer, who had
Just come-out OF Africa. Miss Eyer
ton was q most strikingly beautiful
girl, with a strong. fine face. and an
earnest, interested way when she
spoke. which the English found most
attractive. In appearance she had
variously likened by Trevelyan.
who was painting her portrait. TO a
druidess. a vestal virgin, and q Greek
goddess; and Lady Arbuthnot's
friends. who thought to please the
girl. assured her that no n would
ever suppose her to be an American
their ideas of the American young
woman having been gathered from
those who pick out tunes with one
finger on the pianos in the public par
lors of the Metropole. Miss Egerton
was said to be intensely Interested l n
her lovers career, and was as am
bilious for his success in the House
rs he was himself. They were both
very much in love. and showed it to
others as little as people of their
do. The others at the table
were General Sir Henry Kent: Phil
lips, the novelist: the Austrian Min
and his young wife: and Trevel-
an, who painted portraits for large
sums OF money and figure ~piecessfor
art; and some simply fashionable
smart people who were good listen
ere. and who were rather disap-
that the American explorer
was no more sunburned than other
young men who had stayed at home.
and who had gone in for tennis or
yachting.
The worst of Gordon was that he
made it next to impossible for one to
him he had been back in
and London only two
unless Cairo and Shepherds
Hotel r civilization, and he had
been asked everywhere, and for the
FIRST week had gone everywhere. But
his hostess looked for him.
to present another and not so recent
a lion, he was generally found either
.umbly carrying an ice to some
neglected dowager. Of talking big
game or international yachting or
10 a circle OF younger sons In
the smoking-room, just as though
hundred attractive and dis
people were not waiting to
ding the speeches they had prepared
on Africa at him, in the drawing
room above. He had suddenly dis
appeared during the second week of
stay in London. which was also
the last week of the London season,
and managers of lecture tours and
and l~ion-hunters, and even
friends who cared for him for him
self. had failed to find him at his
lodgings. Thevelyan. who had known
him when he was a travelling CORE
and artist for one of tho
great weeklies, had found him at the
club the night before. and had asked
him to his wife's impromptu dinner.
from which he had at first begged OF.
but, on learning who was to be there,
had changed his mind and accepted
The dinner was we'll on its way
towards its end, and the women had
begun to talk across the table. AMI
to exchange bankers addresses. and
to say BE sure and look us up in
Paris" and when do you expect to
sail from Cowes?"