Evening star., 1922-11-19

backed Lady Bulstrode.
| IT think" said, that one cabinet
minister in the family Is quite
enough"
Ample" agreed Lady Bulstrode.
hastily. But, after all, there are
plenty q other openings in life for
an energetic and honest young man..
| "Yes," I said, "and I've found mine.
So long as my nine hundred pounds
a year lasts, I'm quite content to go
| on tramping around the world. espe-
cially II editors will pay me for scrib-
bling about it. Mine is a useless life.
I've never had any illusions on the
point. II had. George would have
shattered them long ago"
George" she returned, "is too seri-
Gus to live. tried to get him up
here for few days and he said
things were 80 bad at Westminster
that he couldn't be spared. Those
were his actual words"
| I nodded.
| 'They would be. There's no bally
mock mpdesty about George! WING is
here, by the wayT
| We'll, there's no one at the present
moment except Alan's two children
| and old Mrs. Fawsett. 1 have got a
regular smart house party coming for
you tomorrow, though She looked
at me mischievously. There's Mish
Faversham and her mother'-she be-
gan to tick them of on her fingers
"a good-looking girl. lots of money;
her father Is the big contractor.
Faversham & Kent, you know. Then
there are the Gordons-the X. c. and
his wife. And the McCullochs from
Innestair-another pretty girl there.
And Raymond Sturgis. and old Lord
Pembrey. I shall want you to play
host, Guy"
| groaned.
"Oh, 1t will do you good" she went
on ruthlessly. you shall have Miss
Faversham on one side and the Nc
Culloch girl on the ether"
A SUDDEN tap at the door inter-
n rupted her. I looked up. and for
one radiant, binding moment
thought I'd gone mad.
!! Standing in the doorway was As
tarte. She was dressed In plain
black evening frock, and the plaits of
brown hair no longer hung down her
back But / knew her-knew her as
instantly and surely as l should know
the sun or the stars.
So did Rufus. With one loud yell
Of Joy, he leaped to his feet and
hurled himself upon her in wild and
4 al
Bless my SOUL" remarked Lady
Bulstrode.
Rufus ! said with a tremendous
effort, control yourself"
Astarte picked him up in her arms
and with a couple of pats soothed
him into something like sanity. She
was plainly as amazed as 1 was.
When she spoke, however, 1t was in
her usual calm manner.
I'm SO sorry" she said. Il thought
you were alone"
my dear Grace" said Lady Bull
strode, tanning herself gently, do
all dogs take to you like that?'
Astarte put Rufus down with a
little laugh.
"Only well-bred ones" she said.o
well let me introduce you both.
This is Guy Heathcote. Grace. I've
often talked to you about him. Guy,
this is my friend. Miss Grace Con-
way"
bowed.
II don't know how to apologize for
Rufus" said. Il can only think you
must be some one he knows
It expect am." she answered with
delightful frankness. Then, turning
to Lady Bulstrode, she adde. Il came
to bring you your change. Here 1t Is
-four pound ten"
She smiled-that dear, merry smile
I kned so well-and the next moment
she had gone. I took a deep, steady
ing breath.
"Who is that beautiful thing?"
asked.
That" said Lady Bulstrode with
some pride, "is my governess.'
Your governess!" repeated.
What does she teach you?"
Lady Bulstrode chuckled.
! well. when say my governess I
is supposed to be looking after Alan's
children. though, as a matter Of fact.
she looks after me just as much. l
don't know what 1 should do without
Grace. She is the daughter of the
only man I ever loved-poor Jack
Conway"
"What-the explorer" I said.
She nodded.
when he fell down that stupid
cliff and killed himself he left Grace
absolutely unprovided for. 1t was
just like poor Jack-a dear. delightful
man, but quite hopeless about any
thing to do with money. 1 don't sup
pose he'd ever thought what would
happen to Grace If he died. He took
her away from school when she was
about sixteen, and for the last three
years before he was killed they'd been
wandering about the world together
in that absurd little ship Of his. just
as If shed been a boy"
"Ah" said thoughtfully.
"You see," went on Lady Bulstrode,
"all Jacks income, such as 1t was.
died with him, and there was nothing
left for Grace except the copyright
of his books. And SO I persuaded her
to come to me and help me look after
Alan's children. I mean to marry her
to the first nice rich man who's got
the sense to appreciate her. I've got
one in my minds eye now"
II shouldn't think 1t would be din
cult to fall in love with her." I re-
marked casually, unless one has a
rooted objection to girls being sum
burned"
Lady Bulstrode laughed