Evening star., 1925-02-18
Continued from Yesterdays Star)

SdSeu upon some very important ex-
periments for the government, and all
the members of his household have to
conform to certain regulations. Their
letters must be censored, and they
must not leave the grounds, which
are, however, extremely delightful
and extensive. 1t isn't much of
hardship, really"
"Oh, no." said Jane in her best
schoolgirl manner.
And there the interview ended.
They made the journey to Luttrell
Marches by car, but, after the man
ner of Mrs Gilpin's post -chaise, it did
not pick them up at the door. An or
binary taxi conveyed them to Victoria
Station, and it was in the station
yard that they and their luggage were
picked up by the Rolls-Royce with
the Carr-Magnus crest upon the door.
The mist was thinner, and as they
came clear of London, the sun came
out The day warmed into beauty,
and the green growth of the coun
tryside seemed to be expanding before
their eyes So many long hedges run
ming into a blur, so many miles of
road all slipping past. Jane fell fast
asleep, and did not know how long
she slept.
1t was late in the afternoon that
they came into the marsh country
great fiat stretches of it, set with
pOSSy IuSSOChS anu scStcu DS
straight lanes of water Purple
brown and green it stretched for
miles. To the right bumped line of
upland, but to the left and as far as
the eye could see in front nothing but
marsh. Then the road rose a little;
the ground was firmer and carried
black pine or two.
They came to a three cross way and
turned sharply to the right. The
ground rose more and more. They
climbed a steep hill, Zigzagging be-
tween banked-up hedges to make the
rise, and came out upon a bare up
land Ahead of them one saw a high
stone wall pierced by iron gates. Inc
car stopped. Mr.. Ember leaned out,
and after a pause the gates swung
inward
For a mile the drive lay through
fiat waste of springing bracken,
with here and there a group of wind
driven trees, then a second gate
through high fencing topped with
wire. An avenue of trees led up to
the house, huge gray pile set
against a sky full of little racing
clouds.
Jane felt stiff and bewildered with
the long drive. She followed Mr.
Ember up a flight of granite steps
and came into the great hall or Lut-
trell Marches with its panelled walls
ana udfh Oiu poi IL ats " A'oih 80 o.
ten Luttrells.
Exactly opposite the entrance rose
the stairway which was the pride of
the house Its beautiful proportions,
the grapes and vine leaves OF It's Ia
nous carvings, were lighted from pc
meath by the red glow of huge open
fire, and from above by the last Word
in electric lighting.
Ember walked straight across the
hall and up the stair, and Jane fol-
lowed him.
She thought she knew exactly how
a puppy must feel when, blinking
from the warmth and straw OF ms
basket he comes for the first time
into the ordered solemnity of his new
masters house.
And then she looked up and saw
the portrait.
1t hung on the paneling at the top
of the stair where the long CORRIDORS
ran off to right and left, and 1t took
James breath away-the portrait OF
Lady Heritage.
Amory had painted more than
beautiful woman standing on mar
BILE terrace: he had painted woman
Mercury. The hands held an ivory
rod, diamond wings rose from the
cloudy hair. Under the bright wings
the eyes looked out, look 1ar-darh'
splendid, hungry eyes.
THE earth belongs to her, and she
despises it." was James thought
She stood staring at the portrait.
Nineteen fifteen, Henry had said-the
year when other women posed with
folded linen hiding their hair and the
red cross worn like blazon she
could think of several famous beau
ties who had been painted thus. But
this woman wore her diamond wings,
though even as she wore them, Fate
had done it's worst to her, for an
thony Luttrell was n name with
other names in list of missing, and
no man knew his grave.
A sharp clang of metal upon metal
startled Jane She looked quickly to
her right and saw that a steel gate
completely barred the entrance to the
corridor on that side. 1t had just
closed behind a curious white -draped
figure.
"Ah, Jeffrey" said voice-a deep,
rather husky volce-and the HS SuIe
came forward
Jane saw that it was a womap
wearing a long white linen overall,
and a curious linen headdress, which |
she was undoing and pushing back
as she walked. She pulled 1t Off as
she came up to them. saying: It's so
hot in there / can hardly breathe, !
but too fascinating to leave. You're
early Is this Miss Molloy?"
She put out her hand to Jane, and |
Jane, with her mind full Of the por-
trait, looked open-eyed at its origi- |
nal.
Afterwards she tried to formulate |
her sensations, but at the time she |
received just that emotional shock |
which most people experienced when |
they first met Raymond Heritage.
Beautiful--but there are SO many |
beautiful women. Charming? No;
there was rather something that re-
PEELED, antagonized. In her presence
Jane felt untidy, shabby, gauche.
Lady Heritage unbuttoned her ,
overall and slipped it off. She wore
plain white knitted skirt and jersey.
Her fingers were bare even of the
wedding ring which Jane looked for
and missed. Her black hair was a
little ruffled, and above the temples,
where Amory had painted diamond
wings, there were streaks Of gray.
Bewilderment came down on Jane
like a thick mist, which clung about
her during the brief interchange of
sentences which followed and went
with her to her room.
1t was queer room, with a round
ed wall set with three windows and
to right and left irregular of line,
with a jutting corner here and
blunted angle there. 1t faced west,
for the sun shone level in her eyes
Crossing to the window, as most
people do when they come into a
strange room, she looked out and
caught her breath with amazement.
The sea-why, it seemed to lie just /
beneath the windows!
They had driven up from the land |
ward side, and this was her first hint !
that the sea was so near.
There was a wide gravel terrace, a |