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

Chris. After all. why not? He's
not fifty. and II l must have step.
father, he's rather a dear"
Rodbourne did not reply until they
reached the park. for they were
crossing Hyde Park Corner, und ha
enclosed in one hand the slim fore
arm.
Why not?" he said little later
as he pictured the smart though
rather stout clubman whom every
body called Chris. which was q
tribute to his amiability. But hS
said no more, for this talk of mar
rage ) embarrassed him. They
passed Stanhope Gate before they
spoke again, and Patricia felt awk-
ward because she could think OF no
chatter.
AS they went on Rodbourne was
telling himself, She's adorable. I
don't think I'd like to have her DIFF
ferent." In that moment he liked
her imperfect clothes. her modest
gaze, her hesitations. Opposite Aid
ford House he was thinking of a
way to put it. He became agitated
as they approached Marble Arch,
for he didn't want to be blunt. Just
as he was going to speak he OBJ
served set OF two couples upon q
bench. close embraced and quite
careless OF each other. He thought,
81 can't say 1t here. It SCENE 80
undignified." Then Patricia did the
silly thing that girls do out of ner.
vousness. She glanced sideways at
the couples and remarked:
Don't they look happy"
Very" said Rodbourne In q cold
tone. How could she say such q
thing? How could she notice them?
She saw them, yes. she couldn't
help that, but she needn't let on. It
was almost vulgar. He rather dis
liked her as he left her at the housa
and they made no other appoint.
ment.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Neale, busy Is
she was considering Chris, had
noticed what was going on. She
would nave said nothing about II,
being wise enough to let her daugh
ter do her own mating, II her friend
Mrs. Falling hal not opened the
subject.
Il like your new friend. Mr. Rod.
bourne" said Mrs. Failing, who
though very heavy in body was very
Minnie In mind when II came to
these things.
YES" said Mrs. Neale, hes
rather nice. We've only known him
a couple Of months"
Patricia seems to get on with
him SO very WE'LL" said Mrs. Falling.
But l shan't give them a grand
piano. Too expensive"
Mrs. Neale laughed. Babe. you
burn me up" having recently
learned this expression from an
American peeress. That's all your
imagination"
mot at all. Every time I've been
here he's been here; he's been seen
with Patricia at the Independent
Arts Show and he lunched her yes.
terday"
"Millicent, your intelligence de-
partment is wonderful"
81 can seewhat's before my nose
said Mrs. Falling. But why do you
deny It? Want him yourself? All
right. all right; I'm not trying to be
rude. know you're not a Mormon"
You've got 1t wrong. Milly. There
are no female Mormons"
"Oh, aren't there!" said Mrs.
Falling. But that's not what I'm
talking about; l mean to say.
wouldn't he do?"
oh" said Mrs. Neale. rive got
nothing against him. He's quite
brilliant and hear they offered him
the Harbor Offico a month Ago"
HE wouldn't take It," said Mrs.
Falling, because IL he had he'd
have oeen stuck in a minor Office
and the party would have thought
they'd given him enough. He would
have taken It II Tommy Doom had
decided to take a peerage, because
that would have cleared Mr. Rod
bourne's way to the Cabinet Only
something happened that's too long
to tell you. Tommy Doon's staying
in the Commons and the Harbor
Office wasn't worth while"
'MillIceat. you really amaze me
with the things you know Can you