, 1922-05-03
CHAPTER v.

| about two O'Clock the wind treame
mercifully in, hot and thick, but
| prophetic of rain, and Harriet, wan
J dering about to make windows fast,
encountered Linda, on the same err
rand. When the worst of the crack
ling ana flashing was over, the girl
glanced at her watch. Three O'Clock,
but she could sleep now. She sank
Iinda's alarm clock. hastily smoth-
cred, thrilled at even, and the small
girls rose with cheerful noise. to let
streams of hot sunshine upon her face.
Immediately after breakfast the
two small girls attacked their Satur-
day mornings work with a ~philosophic
vigor that rather touched their aunt.
Fred had hurried away after his hasty
meal; the boys were turned out into
the backyard, which Pip was expected
to rake while he watched his small
brother.
Harriet's heart ached deeply for
them all as she watched the Jersey
marshes from the car window a few
hours later. Josephine was to be a
s~tenographer when she finished high
school, and little Julia had expressed
an angelic ambition TO teach a kinder
garten class some day. Nina, at their
ages, had her pony, her finishing
school. her little silk stockings, and
her monogrammed ivory toilet set,
her trip to England and France and
Italy with her mother and brother
and grandmother.
Suppose that she, Harriet, was right
In suspecting that Wards feeling was
more than he passing gallantry of
n l~ight-hearted boyf 1t would be a
nine-days' wonder, his marriage at
twenty-five with his mothers secre-
tary, more than four years his senior.
But after that? After that there
would be nothing to IA or do. Young
Mr.. and Mrs. Ward Carter would es-
tablish themselves comfortably, and
the elder Carriers would visit them;
Isabelle absorbed as usual In her own
mysterious thoughts, and Richard
Carter
Harriet's thoughts, none too com
Portable up to this point, stopped here.
and she flushed. She would not enjoy
telling Richard. that she was to marry
his son. Those keen eyes would read
her through and through, and while
her father-in-law might love her. and
see her beauty and charm with all
the rest of the world, Harriet knew
that she must begin an actual cam
paign for his esteem on her wedding
day. The prospect had an unexpect-
ed piquancy. She had little fear Of
its outcome. She would make Ward
Carter a wife for whom his father
must come TO feel genuine gratitude
and devotion. There would be chill
dren, there would be hospitality and
music and a garden. And Ward
should seriously settle down to his
business. whatever 1t might be, and
show himself a worthy son Of his
clever father.
why not-why not?" Harriet asked
herself, as she reached Madame Car
ter's ~pretentious apartment house, and
was whisked upstairs. She was to
meet Nina here, and she glanced about
for the big limousine at the curb, as an
Indication that the old lady might be
ready to accompany them back to
STOW hidHuS. oul tiitlC was ho tai III
sight. The maids first statement was
that Miss Carter had gone home with
her brother, and then Madame Carter
came magnihcently Into the room.
"Well, our bird has fiowni" said the
old lady. Harriet could see that she
was pleased about something.
"Gone home with Ward?' Harriet
ooEa1 ATodonaa Cortor paxyar cbooL
hands with her; there was conscious
superiority in the little omission. She
sank into a chair, and Harriet sat
down.
ward and his friend, this Mr.. Blon-
dln," Madame Carter said. "A very
interesting most unusual a A
very good family, too-excellent old
family. Yes. Nina assured us that she
had to wait and go home with her
Daddy, but that" Madame Carter
gave Harriet a deeply significant smile
but that didn't seem to please
Somebody very much |" she added. $50
1 told Nina 1 thought Granny would be
able to make It all right with Daddy,
and off the young people went"
She rocked, with a benignly tri-
umphant expression, and a complacent
rustic of silken skirts. Harriet, be-
meath an automatic smile. hid a trou-
bled heart. Royal was losing no time.
Ward his innocent instrument, and his
fatuous old lady of course playing his
game for himi
Harriet saw that she was pleased
and fattered by an older mans appar-
emit admiration of Nina and that she
would further the girls first definite
affair in every way that lay In her
power. 1t was maddening; Il was ex-
~asperatlng beyond words. An honest
warning would nave merely battered
her with Its Implication Of her impor-
lance; ah, no, Isabelle and Harriet