Evening star., 1936-09-27
September ~, 1896

We will not dwell in detail on the
agony of spirit endured by my nephew
Brancepeth in the days that followed
this poignant conversation. The spec
tacle of sensitive artist soul on the
rack is never a pleasant one. What
with brooding on his shattered ro-
nance and trying to paint Lord Brom-
borough's portrait and watching
Edwin Potter bleating round Muriel
and not being able to think of funny
animal for the movies, it is little won
der that before the end OF the
first week he had become an object to
excite the pity of the tender-hearted.
Phipps, the butler, was tender
hearted. He yearned to do something
to ameliorate the young mans lot.
The method that suggested itself to
him was to take bottle OF champagne
to the young mans room. So Phipps,
on the fifth night of Brancepeth's visit,
went to his room, and found him lying
on his bed in striped pajamas. staring
at the ceiling.
The day that was now drawing to
close had been particularly bad one
for Brancepeth. He had found
himself chafing beneath Lord Brom-
borough's moustache in spirit OF
sullen rebellion. Before the afternoon
sitting was over. he had become con-
scious of a vivid feeling of hatred for
the thing. He longed for the courage
to get at it with hatchet, after the
manner of pioneer in some wild coun-
try hewing a clearing in the surround
ing jungle. When Phipps found him,
his fists were clenched and he was
biting his lower lip.
Il have brought you little cham
payne, SIR" said Phipps. in his kindly
way. 1T occurred to me that you
might be in need of restorative"
Brancepeth was touched. That's
awfully good of you. am feeling
rather tagged. The weather, ! suppose.
A gentle smile played over the but
ler's face as he watched the young
man put away a couple quick. mo,
sir. l do not think it is the weather.
You may be quite frank with me. sir.
understand. 1t must be very wear
ing task. painting his lordship. Several
artists have had to give it up. There
was a young fellow here in the spring
= of last year who had to be removed
to the cottage hospital. His manner
had been strange and moody for some
days, and one night we found him on
ladder. in the nude, tearing away at
the ivy on the west wall. His lord
ships moustache had been too much
for him."
Brancepeth groaned. He knew just
how his brother artist must have felt.
The ironical thing" continued the
butler, lis that conditions would be
just as bad were the moustache nom
existent. have been in service at the
Hall for number of years. and / can
assure you that his lordship was fully
as hard on the eye when he was clean
shaven."
why. what was the matter?'
''He had face like fish, sir"
Something resembling an electric
shock shot through Brancepeth, caus-
ing him to quiver in every limb. "A
funny fish?" he asked.
''Yes. sir. Extremely droll."
There had never been a funny fish
on the screen. Funny mice. funny cats.
funny dogs - Brancepeth stared be-
fore him with glowing eyes.
''Yes, sir, when his lordship began
to grow a moustache. was relieved.
1t seemed to me that it must be a
change for the better. And so it was at
first. But now you know how
it is, sir l often find myself wish
ing those old, happy days were back
again. We never know when we are
we'll off, sir, do we?"
You would be glad to see the last
80 - 9pp