The Washington times., 1922-05-21
CHAPTER v.

Mrs. Dorice, looking absurdly
young and quite bewilderingly
pretty, chattering to him viva
ciously while she dispensed tea.
A passing frown shadowed her
good humor at Lees entrance. and
she performed the necessary intro
duction with a rather impatient
note in her voice. The Interrupt
tion was not welcome. Mrs.
Dorice's elation at this mans per.
sistent attentions was growing;
nevertheless the character Of those
attentions left her just shade
puzzled. In her heart OF hearts
she was bound to admit that she
was not really very certain what
they might be leading to.
Obviously Mr.. Smithers found
pleasure in her society, liked visit
ing her and taking her about. But
his manner to her was never any
thing hut that Of a greatly older
man enjoying the society Of much
younger and very pretty woman.
Not by the greatest stretch OF her
imagination could she construe his
attitude into that OF a man inclin-
ing toward amorousness. And she
was puzzled. At the same time.
more and more sure of her ability
to bring things. in due course, to
a satisfactory climax.
Mr.. Smithers was a very desir-
able parti. He appeared to enjoy
a large measure OF power. as we'll
as a more than usually large for.
tune. He had not been in England
any length OF time. yet he was al
ready received by a good many of
the people who mattered. The
house that he had purchased was
furnished with a luxurious good
taste; he did not entertain largely
as yet, but he was lavish, thought
full. observant, and the machinery
Of his household seemed to run
upon oiled wheels.
Another woman might have hesi-
tated before accepting his atten
tions. his flowers and his dinners
and lunches and theatres. But Mrs.
Dorice had no scrrples in this re-
spect: besides which. she declared
later to Lee. II was quite evident
that he was persisting In deepening
the intimacy with some serious end
in view. Added to which he in
variably included Terry In the
amusements he offered.
AS she gave him her hand Lee
regarded him closely, her direct
gaze resting steadily upon him.
She saw a man Of medium height,
who looked shorter by reason Of
the pronounced stoop Of his some.
what thin shoulders. In his face
was the yellowish pallor Of old age.
his hands were ivory white. big and
well shaped. They shook a good
deal and he moved rather stiff!y
with the aid of a long. gold-topped
cane His hair was snow white
and very abundant, brushed straight
back from his forehead and worn a
little longer than was perhaps usual.
His brows were very bushy and
very black, but his close-trimmed.
thickpointed beard was as white
as his hair He wore very slightly
smoked and heavily gold-rimmed
pincenez, from behind which pair
of deceptively mild blue eyes looked
forth.
He had a habit of blinking when
speaking or when especially inter
ested. He spoke with a slight hest
fancy that was at moments almost
a stammer, and his voice was a
little harsh. Later I learned that
the mild eyes could fash very
fiercely should an order be dis
even the smallest matter.
She learned, too, that he was
irascible. irritable, fidgety and more
than a little dictatorial. At the
same time he was decidedly likable.
She decided that almost as soon as
she found herself seated in the
chair he had pulled forward for her
on This first afternoon OF their
meeting.
He had an Old World charm Of
hhhhCl, a EldCCIul, hdil-utlCl thtldl
courtesy in speaking to all women
that was refreshing and rather de.
lightful. She found herself talking
TO him easily, as to an equal, and
without restraint. She observed
with relief that he was a gentleman.
and noted with still greater relief
that there was no maudlin leaning
toward sentimentality in his attl
tude to her stepmother.
He was interesting to talk to.
more interesting than any person
she had ever yet met beneath her
stepmother's roof. He excused his
ignorance OF strictly topical affairs
through his having been out Of Eng
land for a considerable number OF
years. but assured her that he was
rapidly making up for lost time.