Evening star., 1923-10-21

tits the prettiest evening in all the
world, and I'm that high up I can see
clear over the great green hedges into
the wee green gardens. ! doubt IL
it'll smell any better in heaven!"
II doubt IL it'll smell half as sweet"
he said. IF we go slow we'll miss
our dinner"
"Ah, let's miss our dinner!" she
begged. Did we not eat all those
little fat quail and those great fat
peaches for our lunch? I'd rather sup
on the lights thatll be coming out be-
hind the windowpanes while we pass.
and the stars thatll slip through the
sky while we're not looking. and the
smell of gilly-fiowers and lavender
warm against the walls. Maybe IL we
go slow. we might have a slip of new
moon for dessert-maybe II we go
slower than that. the horses will
know what It's all about, and let you
hold one of my hands"
4 ND so the horses did, and so he
\ did, and it was long past dinner
when the duke and his duchess drove
through the gates of Gray Courts. and
swept up to the door where grooms
and buffers and housekeepers and
maids and men enough TO start re-
public came sedately to greet them.
The duke stood them off with a ges-
ture and held out both hands to help
his duchess down and she laid her
finger-tips in his and reached the
threshold high on her toes.
This" said the duke with a pride
that made his former arrogance seem
humility. "is her grace"
He swung her through the carved
doors in the great stone hall with the
tagged floor and the two fireplaces.
She looked smaller than a child and
brighter than a candle. The dun-col-
ored hound blinked twice, and rose
slowly, in his huge grace. and strolled
to where she stood cleaning. thrust
ing his great head beneath her hand.
"Oh. the wonder he is" she cried.
What will l call himr'
His names Merlin," the duke told
her. He knows witch as well as
the one he was named for Layton,
where are my sisters?"
Their ladyships have retired to
their rooms. your grace"
Good: replied his grace distinct
ly. Where are my sons?"
Their lordships drove over this
afternoon for dinner and theatricals
at the Marquis of Dene's, your grace. !"
tBetter!" said his grace. Then
snail we 60 to our room, Biddy?
We've not eaten; send some claret
and fruit and cold fowl-what else.
Biddy?"
Some little cakes stuffed full with
raisins, IL therere any about" sug-
gested her grace hopefully.
Cakes" commanded the Duke of
Bolingham in voice that would have
raised cakes from the stone flags.
will you have a maid, Biddy?"
TWhatever for?" inquired Biddy
with candid interest. I've still the
use OF all ten Of my fingers, and you d
be there to help IL L broke one,
wouldn't your"
Yes" said the duke. his arm clos
ing fast about her. mo maid. Is the
room ready. Layton?"
"Qutte ready, your grace" Layton
seized the great black dressing case
and the little snakeskin jewel case
that Biddy had pounced on in Bond
street that morning, and James swung
up the huge pigskin bags of his
grace ,and Potter appeared from
somewhere with fruit and wine. and
Durkin appeared from nowhere with
silver basket of small cakes and a
very young gentleman called Tun-
bridge appeared with candles that
were larger than he. The duke and
the duchess followed this procession
up the dark splendor of the stairs,
with Merlin padding superbly behind
his witch. When they reached the
landing the procession swung to the
right.
Here" called Bolingham. (which
room?"
The damask room, your grace"
mo-" said his grace. NO" He
did not raise his voice, but his fingers
crushed down desperately on the light
ones lying in his. Wen use the
blue room."
The agitated voice of the house.
keeper cried, "Oh, your grace, it's
not ready!"
Make it ready-nowers, candles,
linen. Be quick"
Z X
EEET ran. hands few, while the
l. duke and his duchess stood wait
ing in the room in which a king had
slept and a prince had died. and which
for a hundred years had stood empty
Of life, save when some awed visitor
tiptoed across the threshold, marvel
ing at its more than royal beauty
it's walls stretched with velvet blue
and deep as night, its painted beams,
it's hooded fireplace, its great bed
around which the velvet curtains
swept, brave with their golden Tudor
roses; quick hands now brought other
roses, wine-red in silver bowls. to
sweeten the air, and sticks OF wood
to light fire to warm It, for even
August turned chilly in that magnifi-
cence: they spread a gay feast before
the flames and fine linen on the
bed: they brought high candelabra
wrought of silver, moro Of them and
more of them, until the shadows
wavered and danced, and the new
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