The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-19
CONTINUED from Front Pase)

typical Hildafsh style tore the nail
out, so that she was precipitated
nose forward onto the floor. As
she picked herself up she remarked.
"Drat!"
Don't say drat," said Booker.
Persons ofIfashion don't say drat.
They say damn"
"Ow!' Mrs. Booker! couldn't"
well, wait until you've seen
more of the world. Hilda," said
Booker loftily. THAT is, II you
stick to good houses. Of course.
Nowadays, a woman isn't a real
lady unless she can have a word
with a taxi-driver. And, believe
me, the higher the society the hot.
ter the talk"
"Mrs. Booker! You don't really
mean it?'
"Of course i mean it The way
you talk one might think they
weren't flesh and blood. Why don't
you keep your eyes open? Then
you'd learn a bit. I've been in SER
vice for thirty-three years, and l
tell you this: When anybody has
more than a thousand pounds a
year If it's he, and three hundred
year If it's a she, they're worth
watching"
"Watching?" repeated Hilda, cir
cular-eyed.
Eyes, IL one wants to know
what's going on. Take this house,
for instance. If I liked to say any
thing-but, there, I never was one
to make mischief"
Hilda stared at Booker for a mo-
ment, understanding only by de.
grees that there was something to
understand. Then at last she re-
marked: 81 don't see what you
mean, Mrs. Booker"
No, you don't seem to have kept
your eyes open, though you hook
as though you did. What's Mr..
Rodbourne doing here?"
Visiting"
"Ar! Who's he visiting? Who's
the LADY,"
you don't mean that the miss
sis"-gasped Hilda."
You make me tired replied
Booker. Whats that Mrs. Calde-
cot doing here? Visiting?"
Il suppose she u.s." said Hilda,
bewildered.
well, there you are" said
Booker, conclusively. You'll never
be fit for service except in the
suburbs. She's fine woman, Mrs.
Caldecot. Getting a bit long in
the tooth perhaps, but still there's
many a good tune played on an old
fiddle. they say. | say Mr.. Rod
bournes too young for her"
DO you mean they're going TO
get married?' said Hilda
Not likely. In fashionable so
ciety marriage is what they call a
peas-alley. Beside, she's married
1t doesn't worry her, her husband
being on long leave, in a manner
of speaking, But. Of course. she
feels dull. So did Mr.. Rodbourne
feel dull till she came along"
But how did you find out. Mrs.
Booker"
Find out?" said Booker, con.
temptuously. "Of course, I didn't
find out. In fashionable society
nothing's found out; it's only
known. But when a lady and a
gentleman have just been staying
with some friends in the Isle Of
Wight, and they're both staying
here with Mrs. Headcorn. and Mrs.
Frederick heard them say at din
ner that they'd be meeting again
next week at a third place-well,
you put two and two together. In
fashionable society, when you put
two and two together It makes
one. Don't you take on, Hilda;
they're only human. They're just
like you and me, only we've got
TO pretend a bit. because we've got
q different set OF fashions"
do you think that Mrs. Caldecot
As going to be divorced" said
Hilda.
she get a divorced" said Booker.
scornfully. The boot would be on
the other leg, though I expect Mr..
Caldecot's been busy, too, all the
years he's been away. Besides. IL
wouldn't be any good her getting .
divorce. It's too late"
What's too late. Mrs. Booker"
"She couldn't get Mr.. Rodbourne
II she was divorced ten times over.
Not now. Haven't you seen him
with Miss Neale? He's sweet On
her. OF course, he doesn't know 1t
yet; men never do until it's too late.
But he is. Mr.. Frederick says you
only have to notice the way he asks
her to have some sailed almonds"
"Lor'!" said Hilda. What will
Mrs. Caldecot say when she finds
out?"
"Oh, Hilda, you make me tired.
Don't you think she knows? II she
81 a. 81 l,,'t