Evening star., 1923-07-21

Margaret asked her presently,
when Lady Torrington had passed on.
Il eloped with your father" Lady
Cynthia confessed, smiling across at
Sir Timothy. I'VE went for a little
drive together and I had most anus
ing time. The only trouble was, as
have been complaining to that tiresome
woman, he brought he home again"
But where did you go to-" Margaret
persisted.
ut was an errand of charity" Sir
Timothy declared.
1T sounds very mysterious" Francis
observed. rs that all we are to be
told?"
II am afraid" Sir Timothy COM
planned. that very few people sympa-
thize with my hobbies or my prosecution
OF them. That is why such little Incl
dents as last nights generally remain
undisclosed. Ii you really wished to
know what happened" he went on. after
d moments pause, 81 will tell you. AS
you know, | have a great many friends
amongst the boxing fraternity, and |
happened to hear of a man down in
the East End who has made himself a
terror to the whole community in which
he lives. | took Peter Fields, my gym
naSium instructor, down to the East
End last night, and Peter Fields-dealt
with him."
There was a fight?" Margaret ex-
claimed. with a little shudder.
There was fight" Sir Timothy
repeated. "if you can call it such
Fields gave him some part of the pun
ishment he deserved"
And you were there. Cynthia?'
II left Lady Cynthia in the car"
Sir Timothy explained SHE most i'm
properly brfbed my chauffeur to lend
her his coat and hat and followed me-"
You actually saw the fight, them"
Francis asked
Il did" Lady Cynthia admitted. .T
saw it from the beginning to the end"
Margaret looked across the table
curiously. 1t seemed to her that her
friend had turned little paler.
Did You like it?" she asked simply.
Lady Cynthia was silent for a mo-
ment. She glanced at Sir Timothy
he, too, was waiting for her answer
with evident interest.
Il was thrilled" she acknowledged
That was the pleasurable part of it,
/ have been so used to looking on ar
SHOWS that bored me, listening to con-
versations that wearied me, attempt
ing sensations which were repel,ent
that l just welcomed feeling, when il
came-feeling of any sort. l was ex-
cited. forgot everything else. l was
SO fascinated that 1 could not look
away. But if you ask me whether l
liked it, and I have to answer truth
fully. hated it. felt nothing of the
sort at the time, but when l tried to
sleep l found myself shivering. 1t was
Justice. I know, but it was ugly"
She watched Sir Timothy, as she
made her confession, little visit
auily. He said nothing, but there was
sion. He smiled at her in an alto
gether unfamiliar way.
Il suppose" she said appealing to
him. that you are very disappointed
in me?"
'on the contrary" he answered, It
am delighted"
credulously.
~ do" he declared "Companionsh!p
50 far as it goes, but the fundamental
dlnerences between a mans outlook
and tastes and womans should
never be bridged over. l myself do not
wish TO learn 10 knit. / do not care
for the womenkind in whom am IN
terested TO appreciate and understand
fighting"
Margaret looked across the table in
dmaZement.
You are most surprising this morn
ing. father" she declared.
I am perhaps misunderstood" he
sighed. perhaps have acquired
reputation for greater callousness
than ! possess. Personally, l love
fghting. l was born a fighter, and
should find no happier way of ending
my life than fighting, but, to put il
bluntly, fighting is a mans job"
What about women going to see
Nights at the National Sporting Club?"
Lady Cynthia asked curiousIy.
1T is their own affair. but if you
ask my opinion l do not approve of
it., Sir Timothy replied. Il am in
different upon the subject. because
am indifferent upon the subject of the
generality of your sex" he added.
with smile, but L simply hold that
il is not taste which should be de-
Veloped in women, and If they do de-
velop it, it is at the expense of those
very qualities which make them most
attractive"
Lady Cynthia took a cigarette from
her case and leaned over to Francis
for a light.
The world is changing" she de-
clared. II cannot bear many more
shocks. I fancied that 1 had written
myself forever out of Sir Timothy's
good books because of my confession
just now"
He smiled across at her. His words
were words of courteous badinage,
but Lady Cynthia was conscious of a
Strange little sense of pleasure.
On the contrary" he assured her,
further into my heart"
1t seems to me, in a general sort
of way" Margaret observed, leaning
back in her chair, that you and my
iatner are becoming extraordinarily
friendly, Cynthia"
7 am hopefully in love with your
rather, Lady Cynthia confessed. TT
has been coming on for a long time.
l suspected it the first time I ever
i'c1 iiAAI. No" L am absolutely GER
tain"
It's quite new idea" Margaret re-
marked. Shall we like her in the
family. Francis?"
NO airs!" Lady Cynthia warned her.
You two are not properly engaged
yet 1t may devolve upon me to give
my consent"
I'm that case" Francis replied. "I
hope that we may at least count upon
your influence with Sir Timothy?"
~nt
urge my suit with him." Lady Cynthia
laughed. 'I am afraid he can't quite
make up his mind about me, and 1 am
so nice. l haven't firted nearly SO
much as people think, and my in
astincts are really quite domestic"
marked, as he made an unsuccessful
attempt to possess himself of the bill
which Francis had called for, sis be-
coming a little difficult"
Not really difficult" Lady Cynthia
objected, because the real decision
rests in your hands"
Just listen to the woman" Mar
garet exclaimed. DO you realize,
father, that Cynthia is making the
most brazen advances to you? And I
was going to ask her if she'd like to
come back to the Sanctuary with us
this evening"
Lady Cynthia was suddenly eager.
Margaret glanced across at her father
Sir Timothy seemed almost imper-
ceptibly TO Stiffen a little
Margaret has carte blanche at the
Sanctuary as regards her visitors" he
said. II am afraid that l shall be
busy over at the Walled House."
But you'd come and dine with us?"
Sir Timothy hesitated. An issue
which had been looming in his mind
for many hours seemed to be sudden
ly Joined.
please" Lady Cynthia begged.
Sir Timothy followed the exampfe