Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-03-09

Georgina stood up.
"You are out of your Senses" she
said dazedly; 81 won't listen to an
other word Think how fearful it
would be If Alex-if Mr. Lambe knew.
He"
"Aha-Alexander! Yes. Is he as
owlish as his photograph? What did
you say to him, Georgina?"
"I-I-hardly anything. He todd me
all about his missionary work in Man
churia He"
"Where was that?'
"In the rose garden" Georgina
broke off suddenly.
'.Did he squeeze your handY
Georgina was speechless with indig-
nation.
you were thinking about him when
you stood at the Window" said Al
NEE, with the air of a prosecuting
counsel. "You were being sentimen-
tai. saw your face. 1t had that
gooey look"
"Aimee," said Georgina, fairly reused
at last, "how dare you! l am going
straight to Lady Erythea, and you can
talk to herl l have done"
mo, no! I'm sorry, Georgie," said
Aimee soothingly. 81 couldn't help
pulling your serene leg, l won't say
a word against your cousin Alexan-
der"
"He is a gentleman, at any rate"
said Georgina, rather spitefully ''he
is a person one can respect"
81 am sure he is."
"Well, what are we going to do?"
"The thing for you to do said All
NEE, SIS to go on respecting Alexan-
der And for him TO go on respecting
you. Think how awful it would be
If it came out now. Alexander" said
Aimee, with a pathetic little break in
REF voice, sis good He doesn't get
into scrapes. He isn't in horrible
trouble like me-and nobody to help
me. l didn't think" she added with
a gulp, that you'd go back on me,
Georgie!"
Il won't and can't" said Georgiua
mournfully, land you know it," But
she softened visibly. "You haven't
told me where you've come from, and
what you've been doing! I've been
frightfully worried about you"
Aimee regarded her thoughtfully. 1t
was clear that Georgina already had
all she could bear This was no time
to tell her about Billy.
you needn't worry about me. I'm
staying at little place nearby. I'm
quite all right, and I've got some
money. We simply must keep it up
for few days-father is leaving
Scroope Towers soon, and then I'll
show you how we can smooth it ali
over"
But don't you see how impossible
it is! Your father will come here to
Nee you before he goes. And he-he'll
expect you to write to him!"
"How bright you are tonight,
George. You think of everything"
said Aimee briskly. She sat down at
the writing table by the wall, selected
sheet of the Jervaulx note-paper
with the Lambe arms-three 1eeces
argent on a field vert-and with an
immensely serious face began to write
rapidly, pausing occasionally for
thought. Georgina watched in fasci-
mated horror.
"Listen!' said Aimee, blotting the
sheet and reading it aloud with much
satisfaction.
My Dearest Daddy: arrived here safe
", and already I'm quite one of the fam
lily. Aunt Erythea likes me much better
than she thought she would: she is very
nice and kind, and I have a lovely bed
room. I am enjoying myself very much
at JervaulX. (That's all perfectly true.)
Cousin Alexander is awfully interesting,
and 1 like hearing him talk about Man
churia. He is a gentleman, and one feels
he is really good and that makes me
respect him.
I'm awfully sorry 1 made such fuss
about coming here but 1 never thought
should have such lovely time as I'm
having. So you needn't worry about me.
because I'm going to be quite happy
Your loving daughter,
AIMEE.
P. SIN case you thought of coming
over to see me soon, l ought to mention
that the whole place is simply devastated
with mumps. OF course it's quite all
right 1Or me- because I've nau tHeIn.
Georgina emitted moan.
"a very proper letter. said Aimee,
affixing a stamp to the envelope, with
a determined thump. zone should
always consider ones parents, and
spare them pain. And that postscript
is a touch of genius; the only thing
in the universe Dad is afraid of is
mumps. He hasn't had them, and he
says they are a formidable affiiction
to the aged, and very undignified.
And it's quite true; I saw five children
at Stanhoe with mumps this after
noon l should hate to tell fib.
Unless" she added, wrinkling her
smooth brow, 'it became absolutely