The Washington times., 1922-03-19

that one seldom understood why
lovers should select each other.
No, she didn't like her, box she
didn't dislike her. Patricia had be-
come to her sort OF natural fact
which leaves one neutral. Bob
loved this girl. Well, there was
nothing more to say about It; he
did. Mrs. Caldecot's emotions had
by that time grown a little vague.
She was no longer capable OF feel.
ing very intensely; some time
would have to elapse before the
strained chords of her emotions could
again be made to vibrate. Besides,
Patricia helped because she did not
have the drilled courage OF the
older woman; she went upstairs,
and did not come down again until
nearly dinner time, pleading a head
ache. Mrs. Headcorn said she must
on no account be disturbed. bat
went up with remedies three times
in four hours. and once with tea.
II was probab bly, the mood OF cour.
age which brought Mrs. Caldecot
down so early. As she dressed she
shrank from the idea that once
again she must meet Bob, try TO be
pleasant. try to be easy. Again she
was tempted to miss dinner, but
she told herself that II wasn't fair
to May. Patricia seemed so upset;
perhaps she wouldn't come down,
and 1t would bHrather hard on Nav
II two OF her visitors abstained, for
she WAS giving a little dinner that
evening and two people were com.
ing In. mo" thought Mrs. Calds-
cot, 1T won't do. I've got to PLAY
the game" To demonstrate to her.
self that she was not going to
shirk, Mrs. Caldecot was ready at
twenty to eight. Finding Rodbourne
in the armchair by the fire, she did
not perceptibly hesitate, but went
straight up to the hearth and sat
down, asking him evenly II there
was any-news.
Nothing MUCH" said Rodbourne
awkwardly.
Mrs. Caidecot hesitated. She
wanted to be normal, but this was
very difficult. So she pressed him:
, mo gossip"
"Oh. the usual sort OF thing" he
replied ungraciously as he realized
her effort. They say Chale is go
ing to resign, but as you know
they've been saying, that for the
last three months.
Yes" said Mrs. Csldecot, but II
might be true this time. And you
know. it's just possible that 1t might
be worth your while"
my dear Claire" replied Rod
bourne in the cool tone which he
employed to her when she did not
agree with him, you know quite
well that Chale is only playing for
the Cabinet, and If | run myself
into the Hsrtor Unice III get stuck
there until the next general cleo
ticn, and who's to know whatll hap
pen in the mix up? might lose
my seat"
"Oh, don't be so silly. Bob" said
Mrs. Caldecot, for a moment forget
ting what had happened and resum-
ing her old role. 81 know II was
prevented you taking the Under
Secretaryship before, but times
have changed. You know quite
well that only a week ago Fitzwatet
Ingham told Arabelia, who told
me"-
And you told me-" said Rod
bourne savagely, land told me
every day that If only I'd be a dunn
my for few months they'd give
me a sugar stick like a nice little
boy"
NO" said Mrs. Caldecot with an
air OF superiority, you only have to
be dummy until Doom takes peer-
age"
He won't"
my dear boy, he will"
What makes you think so?"
1.-THE Liberal candidate in his d.
vision is retiring. So all the NAL
contents will vote Labor, just to
get Doom out, and Doom will GO
down He knows what is coming
as well as we do; so he'll take 4
peerage to avoid It,"
oh" said Rodbourne thought.
fully. there might be something in
that" Then, as always in such dis.
cussions. he smiled and said, you're
not so useless after all"
Mrs. Caldecot did not reply, for
this brought her back to the world
OF the day. so different from the
world Of the day before. She wanted
TO say. What's the use? ] cant
help you now" But It was so dread
IN! and she did not want her voice
to tremble. So Rodbourne went on
looking at her, disturbed now as
her silence recalled to him the new
situation. He felt clumsy; besides,
now that she sat before him under
the rose.shaded light. she looked
different Very beautiful He did
not know what pains she had taken
over herself during the last half
hour; he old not realize that she
had expended artifice on the rose OF
her cheeks. on the ordering of her
hair, on bringing out with touch
of blue the mellow fullness of he,
eyelids, which now, like family
crumpled crepe de chine, made two
mauve zones OF flesh. upon whose
moist and, scented warmth he want