The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-07-28
Chapter 12 THE TEARS COME


 EEORGlE got back home to find her uncle, looking little yellow about the eyes, wrapped in an old dressing-gown, and sitting by fire which he had insisted on having lit in his study.
 In the morning he was always cold. but in the evening he declared that the place was hot house and that he could not breathe.
 There was drawing-room at The Hollies. but nobody ever used it. Mrs. Lovelock kept 1t clean and opened the windows periodically. but 1t always smelt musty and un. used. Like a grave" Georgie thought. though she had not the least idea what grave was like. '
 Sometimes she went into 1t. and looked around The furniture was oid.fashioned without being antique. and was evidently woman's choice, though Uncle Edward always swore that there had never been any wo- men in his life. Not if know it!"
 Georgie did not altogether believe him; she had vague idea that who O. ever had chosen that dra wing-room furniture with it's spindleieg chairs and aggravating china cabinet had once been very much in Edward Ban croft's life.
 Once she had ventured to fill some vases with flowers and pit them in the dra wing-room. but her uncle had found them and thrown them out.
 Why the devil do you want to make the place look like church yard?" he had demanded.
 Georgie thought 1t was like a churchyard anyway. but she had not transgressed again.
 She would have passed her uncle's door now. but he called to her.
 He was like that: if she went to see him unasked. as a rule he told her to get out. and if she avoided him. he wanted to know what he had done 10 be shunned like the plague
 Here you are. only come home yesterday from gadding about half over the world. and not word to say. Where have you been should like to know?"
 "Out for a walk"
 "Out for a walk! Out for a walk!" he echoed testify T didn't ask what you'd been doing. 1 asked where you'd been. Can't you give me a straight answer?"
 "l went to see Mrs. Spears"
 She waited a little anxiously for some reference to Nicholas Boyd, but her uncle had forgotten about his existence.
 You don't want to make friend of that woman" he said.
 You do." Georgie answered.
 What l do and what you do are two different things" he declared. "Or thev ought to be. Isn't there anyone else you can go and see. with. out wasting time with that woman?"
 Georgie said nothing: she had heard 1t all before and knew how very little it meant.
 "THIS house is as cold as ice" he \ went on: he kicked at the fire with his slippered foot. Why the devil Lovelock can't keep decent fires beats me. I pay enough for coal, Heaven knows"
 "'ll put some more on." Georgie said. but when she moved to do so he stopped her. a S"No. you needn't. I'm going out directly"
 ; "Haye you had any breakfast?"
 Breakfast" he glared at her again. Do look as if want any breakfast?" ss4s
 Georgie checked a smile. No" she said.
 Then don't ask idiotic questions" he snorted.
 He shiyered and sat down in.-the armchair.
 "What do you propose tc do with yourself now you're back?" he asked after moment. a The girl shook her head. "The same as before suppose. she said "And that isn't very much." she added trifie wistfully. s"I didn't expect you'd come back" !" he said gruffiy.
 Her eyes widened little.
 Didn't you want me to come back?" she asked quickly. , Didn't anybody want ter? She knew that even her mother had l'een --