The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-19

object OF his passion. Indeed, that
afternoon, after chatter of playa,
golf and the latest book Of memoirs,
wasting an hour on the sweepings
OF ideas which make up London
conversation, he went away rather
irritated. Patricia had not said
much. Too busy, no doubt, but 1t
annoyed him. Only once had she
done anything personal. At some
thing he said, and IL wasn't bril-
liant, she had remained holding up
the sugar tongs, looking at him in
tently. Then she had blusbed, as
II at her own thought, and this had
moved him.
So It developed into an ordinary
courtship, into the usual vanquish-
ing OF social difficulties. Also,
somehow, he wasn't progress.
ing; It was as II his critical
sense OF Patricia's girlish imperfec-
tions held him back Seen like this
among London women, some OF
them so perfectly worked in white.
black and crimson, so assured with
their voices, so definitely placed
when uttering definite points OF
view, she seemed-provincial. She
was shy. and he hated her being
shy, though he would have hated
her bold.
Sometimes, when he thought Of
themselves married, he told himself
that would be all right. She
wouldn't be shy then and she'd
learn to wear her clothes. He'd put
that right, go to the dressmaker
with her and tell her the things to
say and help her TO behave. It was
very fascinating, that sort of day
dream, and he liked to picture him.
self going to her bedroom In the
morning, sitting OIL the bed and ex.
planning to her the contents Of the
newspaper. Only one detail inter
fered with that particular vision.
The occasional recurrence Of
rather similar scene, where the
head upon the pillow was black AMI
smooth instead Of curly brown.
He had not seen Mrs. Caldecot
again. A month had passed and
they had exchanged no letters
though often he had needed her,
had been puzzled to decide some
point where her instinct would have
been helpful. But he had main
tanned his offended mood. He had
been illtreated and he wasn't going
to take the first step. Now and
then his isolation almost over.
whelmed his pride. He needed a
woman, II only to hold a woman's
hand and gain a sort of lucidity
from the contact
He couldn't get that from Pa
tricia, though he did love her-love
her as a man does. as something to
own. When he talked politics to
her she always agreed with him:
of course, he wanted women TO
agree with him, but not so easily.
Rather than woman to agree with
he wanted a woman to convince.
Patricia didn't know anything OF
course. she would when they were
married; he'd educate her and
make quite a different woman Of
her. That was charming, and he
liked to dream of these limitations
He nearly repeated his proposal
that afternoon. He had taken her
to a matinee. and as neither was
dining out they had time to waste
and walked home through the park
The sun had not yet set, but the
twilight was falling like golden
gauze, cut up by the buds that shone
like jade on the sooty branches of
the trees. AS they went. the girl
excited by the play, talking disjoint.
eddy OF people they knew. Of the
actor who had played the comic
butler, whom Patricia would like to
take back to Wrayford. he was filed
with a sense OF her youth. with her
uniformed quality, and he delighted
in it. Some question, now their
familiarity was established. caused
Patricia to let out with a laugh a
little secret. II wasn't wonderful
that Mrs. Neale troubled so little
about her daughter. Mrs. Neale
wasn't exactly engaged. but she did
have leaning toward
mot Christ" asked Rodbourne.
laughing.
n