The Winslow mail., 1923-03-02

GeOrglna stared at her in amaze
ment, wondering if she had heard
Alright And Georgina was guiltily
conscious that a similar thought had
crept, unbidden, into her own mind.
Lady Erythea's eyes, meeting her
gaze, became stony.
81 was referring, Of course" she
said, with some sternness, ito the duty
| good women owe themselves in re-
forming young men of that type. In
a girl, fiightiness is abhOrrent to me
absolutely abhorrent. Hussies are my
especial aversion" She smiled and
laid hand on Georgina's shoulder.
81 don't know why l speak of them
| Nor can l understand, my dear, how
such a mistaken impression of you
could have reached us, before we
knew you.
For" she added, rising, 81 have
formed my opinion of you, Aimee, and
my Judgment is never mistaken. The
woman does not live who could de-
| ceive me- Aimee, my dear, you are
| free to follow any occupation you
| choose-until ten o'clock"
Georgina made her way upstairs
and sank into the most luxurious arm
chair in her bedroom.
"How perfectly lovely it would be
| here" she sighed, ''if only things were
proper and regular. But they aren't y
Georgina, gazing before her, fell
into a day-dream. Presently, the
sound of the carriage passing beneath
| her window reused her with start,
and hastily donning a wrap she ran
downstairs.
"Sit next me-. Aimee" said Lady
Erythea, settling herself comfortably
in the carriage. alexander, you will
take the other seat. 1 dislike having
anyone Immediately opposite me-"
For two hours, at least, all troubles
were to be left behind. AS the car
riage bowled through the sunlit park
Georgina, lying back against the cush-
ions, under the benign gaze of Alex
ander, felt inexpressibly soothed.
When the carriage returned to Jer-
vaulX, Georgina fell rather than de-
scended from it. Almost in state
of collapse, she preserved some sort
of outward composure and retreated
to her bedroom as hunted fox goes
to earth.
The collision with the motorcycle
on the Syderford road opened new
horizons of terror for GeOrgina. 1t
seemed to her like the climax of
nightmare What in the world was
Aimee doing? Who was the man-it
was evidently a man, though Georgina
had seen little of him except his
boots-that was with her. What was
happening to the wretched girl?
''It's too awful" said Georgina hys-
terically, "and I'm responsible. l
think 1 shall go mad!''
Later in the afternoon, in the nat
ural course of things, she found her
self alone with Alexander in the gar
dens. She looked at him with timid,
righteousness, kindness, wisdom.
Georgina felt she could keep things to
herself no longer.
81 am afraid that narrow escape
this morning has upset you, Aimee"
he said sympathetically.
"Yes-I was rather upset. But l
am better now. Don't let us talk of it.
C-Cousin Alexander, there is some
thing l want to ask you," she said
suddenly. 81 should like your-your
guidance Imagine that somebody
who was dear to me-somebOdy one
loved very much-had got into diff
culties, and was in danger of expos
ure. And punishment. That it was
in ones power to save them. Suppos-
ing that it would help, would it be
very wrong to tell "a fib?'
Alexander regarded her wonder
ingly.
LET us give things their proper
names" he said. "You mean a lie.
You know the answer A lie is in all
cases not only inadmissible, but I'M
thinkabe"
"N-not even little one?" said
Georgina family. 81 don't mean for
ones own benefit, of course, but to
shield the other"
There is only one answer" he said
sternly. "That other must make a
clean breast Of it. and bear his own
punishment-or bers. No matter how
bitter it may be. Whoever INDUCES
in such shielding is equally guilty"
Georgina felt utterly chilled.
'Is not that little hardY' she said.
"The hard way is the way of the
transgressor," said Alexander with
some grimness; there is authority for
that. And yet the friend-I think you
said a friend-may give all aid and
succor to the sinner even to the ex-
treme sacrifice of himself. But de-
ceit, even the shadow of it. must by
no means enter into the matter. You
are asking me what you know per-
fectly WELL But why talk of unpIeas-
| ant things" he continued, 'tell me