, 1924-03-26

unique" he remarked. "You do not.
b~y-thebye, attend them yourself"
"You must remember that I have
had very few opportunities SO far"
she observed. Besides, Cynthia has
tastes which I do not share"
"As. for instance"
"She goes to the National Sporting
club. She once Travelled, I know, over
a hundred miles to go to a bull fight"
"On the WHOLE" Francis said, II
am glad that you do not share her
tastes.'
"You know herr" Margaret inquired.
"Indifferently WELL" Francis replied.
II knew her when she was a child,
and we seem to come together every
now and then at long intervals. AS a
debutante she was charming. Lately
It seems to me that she has got into
the wrong set"
"What do you call the wrong set?"
He hesitated for a moment.
"Please don't think l am laying
down the law he said. II have q
out so little, the last few years, that
I ought not, perhaps, to criticize.
Lady Cynthia, however. seems to me
to belong to the extreme section of
the younger generation, the section
usual, whose taste in art and living Is
distorted and bizarre. You know
what l mean, don't you-black draw
ing-rooms, futurist wallpapers, opium
dens and a cocaine boxl It's to some
extent affectatiOn, of course. but it's a
folly that claims Its victims"
h studied him for a moment at
tentively. His leanness was the lean
ness Of muscular strength and condi-
tion. his face was full of vigor and
determination.
you at least have escaped the alb
normal" she remarked. 81 am not
quite sure how the entertainments at
the Walled House would appeal to
you. but If my father should invite
you there, l should advise you not to
CO."
why not?" he asked.
She hesitated for a moment.
81 really don't know why 1 should
trouble to give you advice" she said.
AS a matter of fact, 1 don't care
whether you go or not. In any case,
you are scarcely likely to be asked"
II am not sure that ! agree with
you." he protested. "Your father
seems to have taken quite a fancy to
me-"
"And your" she murmured.
"Well, l like the way he bought that
horse" Francis admitted. "And 1 am
beginning to realize that there may be
something in the theory which he ad-
vanced when he invited me to accom-
pany him here this evening-that
there is a certain %piquancy In ones in
tercourse with an enemy, which friend
ship lacks. There may be complexi-
ties In his character which as yet l
have not appreciated"
The curtain had gone up and the last
act of the opera had commenced. She
leaned back in her chair. Without a
word or even a gesture, he understood
that a curtain had been let down be-
tween them. He Obeyed her unspoken
wish and relapsed into silence. Her
very absorption, after all, was a hope
u biSh. one Nouiu HdVe hin DpllPNe
that she felt nothing, that she was liv-
ing outside all the passion and senti-
ment Of life. Yet she was absorbed In
h music. . Sir Timothy came
back and seated himself silently. It
was not until the tumult Of applause
which broke out after the great sons
of the French ouvrier that a word
passed between them.
Not another word was spoken until
the curtain fell. Francis fingered for
a over the arrangement of her
cloak. Sir Timothy was already out
side, talking to some acquaintances.
1T has been a great pleasure to see
you like this Unexpectedly" he said. a
little wistfully.
II canno Imagine why" she an
swered, with an undernote of trouble
In her tone. Remember the advice
I gave you before. No good can come
of In friendship between my father
and you"
There is this much Of good in 1t, Mt
any rate" he answered. as he held
open the door for her. ut might give
me the chance of seeing you some
times"
"That is not a matter worth consld-
ering," she replied.
81 find 1t very much worth consider
Ing" he whispered. losing his head for
n as they stood close together
In the dim light of the box. and a sud
den sense Of the sweetness of her
thrilled his pulses. There isn't nny.
thing In the world I want so much as
to see you oftener-to have my
chance"
There was n momentary glow In her
eyes. Her lips quIvered. The few
words which he saw framed there
he fancled OF reproof-remained un-
spoken. Sir Timothy was waiting for
them at the entrance.
Il have been asking Mrs. Hilditch's