The Washington times., 1922-04-02
CHAPTER TX. (Continued) }

SAA<AA A6N IN. \NOuSAAUCoI
T Re was a man growing elderly,
of medium height. Rather
sparse brown hair, abundant
ly streaked with gray, produced the
illusion Of an elevated brow. Two
hard brown eyes, underhung by
pockets Of dry skin, looked upon
her with the unblinking stare of
certain reptiles. The fine, disdain.
ful nose; the sunken, compressed,
clean-shaven mouth framed by two
deep folds; the chin made promi-
nent by the drawn skin that looked
harsh-all this contributed to make
an effect of intensity and ugly de-
termination.
He considered he" for a moment,
unsmiling, as II taking dispassionate
note Of her appearance and sur
roundings. AS without haste he
closed the door, she noticed with
surprising irrelevancy that he was
extraordinarily smart Excellent
evening clothes, nice silk-faced coat
and silver-topped ebony stick. That
was the one definite idea which
whirled in her brain, like a cork in
the middle of swirling water Now
he put down his things, sat down in
an armchair; he was looking at her
with an air of irony-looking at her
as II he analyZed and evaluated her.
This perfect self-possession. instead
of disturbing her more, forced her
into activity. In whisper that was
suddenly hoarse she said:
"Geoff!"
YES" said the man.
"You!" said Mrs. Caldecot, dis
tractedly pushing back her hair.
"Yes, I, Godfrey Caldecot. What
about it, Claire?"
But what?" said Mrs. Caldecot.
"After all these years."
After all these years, Clarrie, as
you say. It does me- good to see
the old place again, to say nothing
Of the old girl. Well, now, say
you're pleased, instead of looking
as surprised as cod that's been a
week on the fishmonger's slab"
WELL" said Mrs. Caldecot, who
found her self-possession returning,
"I'm rather surprised"
"Why, my dear Carrie" said Cal.
decot, as he leaned forward, play.
ing with his monocle cord until the
glass fell out of his eye. "Oh, curse
thtc thfn1 al 60
Well, I've worn it for thirty years.
What were we talking about? Oh,
yes, you were surprised. I'm sure
don't know why. Regrettable mis-
understandings caused the course OF
true love to run awry. Might hap.
pen to anybody. Happens to lots
Of people, doesn't it? Still, don't
see why you should get such shock
because your loving husband re-
turns from abroad"
What do you want?" said Mrs.
Caldecot as her faculties returned
and she made ready for some sort
Of struggle.
What do I want, my dear? Oh.
how can you ask? How can you
turn such bitter face to Darby
after long years returning to his
Joan, and only waiting for the fat.
ted calf. I'm afraid that's mixed
mythology, Clarrie, but you won't
mind, will you? I've come back out
OF natural affection, of course"
What do you want?"
You've become very blunt, my
dear. l want to have a chat with
you. I've had the devil of a long
walt, too. Seems to me you dawdle
over your dinner longer than In the
old days, eh? Well, as middle age
creeps upon us suppose we get
greedy. Been waiting for you for
an hour. Nearly burst in ten min.
utes ago, but you were telephoning
and l thought I'd better keep out.
Tact, my dear, you know, tact"
Then, as IL her husband was de-
liberately trying to provoke her
into an unsuarded interruption, he
nrS ta swn 4. l..