The Dolores star., 1923-08-10
you ars talking rubbish I" sn. ex-

deared herself to me scarcely less than
to him. Her piety. her quiet devotion
the complete absence In her of all
slanginess'-all these speak eloquentIy
in her favor"
Lord Scroope gazed at her In bewil-
derment.
II really do not follow you. Erythea.
And / am greatly disappointed" said
Lord Scroope heavily, greatly disap-
pointed. l did not foresee this"
Il am not responsible, my dear
Anthony, for your lack of foresight"
said mis- sister-in-law, acidly A shadow
darkened the window. and she turned.
"But your daughter can answer for her
self"
Georgina stepped in through the
open window. followed by Mr.. Lambe.
Suddenly observing Lord Scroope she
halted and became rigid. Every scrap
Of color left her cheeks. Alexander
halted also. and slowly turned a deep
plum color.
"Slnce 1t Is fait accomplI," said
Lady Erythea to her brother-in-Iaw,
almost with touch of pleading. "be
amiable, Anthony, and bestow your
blessing on the happy pair"
She raised her ear-trumpet as though
to share in the benediction. Lord
Scroope looked at Georgina dumbly and
then stared at Lady Erythea.
what did you sayi" he asked diz-
lilly.
''The happy pairy' said Lady Fry
thea, loudly and irritably.
"Where Is my daughter?" exclaimed
Lord Scroope with CONSERVATION. "Ery-
thea, where Is my daughter?"
Lady Erythea started. She glanced
at Georgina's horror stricken face, and
then. with deep concern, moved to her
brother-in-law's side.
my dear Anthony" she said in a
low voice. come upstairs and lie down.
1t Will soon pass off. Do not be
alarmed, Aimee. Lean on my arm,
Anthony"
Lord Scroope shook himself free.
Are you in your senses, Erythea?
This is my niece by marriage-Geor-
gina Berners. What is she doing here?"
Yves gulped Alexander's fiancee.
I'm Georgina. I couldn't help it,"
She collapsed into an armchair and
burst into tears. Alexander stood over
her like large and protective dog; he
laid hand on her shoulder and glared
at the others with defiance.
Lady Erythea turned pale. 1t was
disconcerting to find two members Of
the Scroope family simultaneously
smitten with insanity.
"Where is Aimee?" insisted Lord
Scroope, turning upon her. where is
my daughter?"
Dad"
The disheveied parlor maid darted in
through the door. Aimee's cap was
awry. her face was pale, her eyes very
bright; the top of her apron heaved
tumultuously. She stopped short, as
Lady Erythea glared speechless at this
irruption.
Don't cry, George" said Aimee; at
wasn't your fault"
Have l been transported into Bed
lam?" asked Lord Scroope, dizzily "Or
are you rehearsing a charade? What
Is she doing in this costume?'
Lady Ery.hea struggled for breath.
siiS Shiu - par
lor maid, Snooks, whom l foolishly en-
gagged on your recommendation. She
has engaged herself again, however to
my chauffeur"
Lord Scroope looked at his sister-in-
law with commiseration.
This" he said, in the soothing tone
with which one would address a de-
lirious person, sis my daughter, Aimee.
l am rather glad to find her.in any
had done with her."
Lady Erythea's frame slowly stiff
ened. Her fingers clenched the ear
trumpet as though it were the handle
of a club. Her eyes were terrible. Be
fore the storm could break, Aimee in
tervened
ut wasn't Aunt's fault, Dad" she
said breathlessly, NOR Georgie's-nor
AleNanders. 1t was all nine And If
you all want to beat somebody, it had
better be me! I'm here to explain!"
Some explanation" said Lord
Scroope quietly, ''seems to be called
for"
Aimee, avoiding her aunt's eyes, ad-
dressed herself to the quivering ear
trumpet.
II didn't want to come here. Dad
made me. 1 was-frightened of you.
Anyway, didn't think Jervaulx would
suit me, and that you'd hate me- So
skipped the car at Burn Ash" said
Aimee, her speech pouring from her like
torrent, 'and made the chauffeur
bring Georgina on here. And 1 went
of on my own!
"Georgina arrived here, and you
took her for me. You insisted she was
me. And she didn't dare explain, for
fear of getting me into a row. That's
what George Is! She can't lie-she
can't even act-but she'd let you cut
her in pieces before she'd get me into
trouble!
81 got here the same night, and