The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
PAGE 6

be rather nice,, don't you think?"
 He stared, divided between the feeling of being intensely shocked and immensely at txacted. 'You also?" he asked.
 She laughed. "But of course, we have a bathing house on the island" - "Gutv' said Theobald. "If you bathe I bathe also. Otherwise, I don't care to waste any time"
 Theobald Auld swim, but he was not an expert. He could not dive; and watched with envy while Evadne, Ra and Varley gave demonstration, diving to the pure white bottom to pick up coins. He was astonished at the way in which the huge Niklaus was allowed to pick up the pretty little girls by their middies and drop them into deep water, whence they emerged laughing, splashing and enjoying themselves
 They were called from their pastime and sent to dress all too soon. When they met later, in the shade, cool, refreshed and ravenously- hungry, he cried from his very heart
 q believe there is no pleasure in life greater than swim on hot day!
 Evadne's kindling eye approved the sen Ement with ardor.
 The ambassadors daughters looked con- temptuous. But they were in a minority. Throughout dejeneur the talk was of swim ming and boating.
 'tIf father really does let me go to Ox- ford, as he says he will, I believe shall be in my college eight, Carley thinks so," said Ra with satisfaction.
 There was an awkward little silence, and bo oroon offoruard raprovad har con for indiscretion. She herself, with unfailing tact, saw to it that such moments were rare.
 The meal over, she attended personally to the ambassadorial comfort, settling the old gentleman with his pipe and his coffee on an easy chair in the shade, and drawing off the noisy youngsters that he might sleep the sleep of the just after feeding to reple ton. In the deep quiet he awakened pres ently to find only Von Reulenz within sight,
 .'Hallo How goes it?" he asked drow- silly
 Excellent. Theobald is making the run ming. Doing more in twenty minutes than you in six months. Rosmer is clever"
 q had not understood, nor had I fore seen," observed the ambassador slowly, 'sthat the young woman is so much of per sonage. She might influence man pro- foundly-even the destiny of people. She is of a virile race and I-I own it to you, Fritz, I would rather have her as my friend than as my enemy'
 "Well, if the English tutor doesn't mur- der Theobald, think you'll get your wish all right. Evidently there is no one in the field; but poor Varley is pretty far gone"
 "No Englishman' observed his chief with the air of one making an incontrovert- ible statement, "so much as knows the meaning of the word love- That is. re- served for us Norderners. Look at the Eng fish! No domesticity! No parental au- thority! Emancipated women. Race sui c.de!'
 q shouldn't belittie 'em if I were you," said Von Rculenz sorely, ''since they were strong enough to beat us.
 On the day following the picnic, Theo- bald, as in duty bound, called at the Water Gate, but found nobody at home. Leaving his card, he returned to Veros crestfallen. His vexation increased when, after dinner that night, Rastitch led him forth upon the terrace and pointed out the white sail of returning boat informing him that the royal family had made a long days excursion, starting early that morn ing, to the gorge of Karna
 He thought they might have invited him to join them. How dull for that beautiful Evadne to be always en famille, But per haps the tutor was enough for her Ras- titch eyeing the prince warily, saw jeal- ousy in the set of his fine jaw, and the gleam of his eye, and smiled, we'll satisfied.