The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-07-23

snreWd look. But instantly her man.
ner changed and softened. "Oh,
don't be unkind to me-be kind to
me just this once!" she faltered,
with unmistakable signs of tears.
Victoria, rooted to the landing saw
from Quentin's face that he was
embarrassed, but he gave no sign
OF nervousness; he was completely
master of the situation.
II don't know what you can have
to say to me, my dear" he said, in
the kindly masculine look and tone
and manner that Victoria-that all
women-loved. Listen, you're get
ting yourself all wrought up" he
added. And he put hand on her
shoulder. ''Come into the library
with me minute" he suggested.
They left the hall together.
When they were gone Victoria de-
scended the remaining stairs and
began her thanks and farewells. Al
most Immediately the other chill
dren, Betsey, the nurse were with
her, and within five minutes of her
having first glimpsed that tableau
in the lower hall she and Quentin
were on their way home. But it
had left its mark, she had to speak
OF it,. the passionate young voice,
"How can you be so horribly I'M
kind to mel" was ringing in her
ears and coloring the languid scent
ed spring twilight with romance.
Quentin, who was the pretty girl
at the very end-the one in lavender
linen?"
"Oh, that was Mrs. Billy McGrew.
Josephine McGrew - she's a nice
kid. But nutty!"
"She's affectionate, / gather?"
Quentin laughed, guiltily, giving
his wife sidewise, shrewd smile.
"a little"
Victoria said nothing, but her
heart was lightened again. It was
all so silly!
How'd you know that?" Quentin
presently asked, chuckling.
II was on the stairs when she was
talking to you in the hall, got the
balcony scene"
Caught with the goods, eh?"
Quentin asked.
"Red-handed." Victoria laughed
in relief.
"Poor little Jo," the man said,
after peaceful silence. She's aim
less, she's not very happy with Nc
Grew-he has nothing but money,
apparently. She'll get out, some
day; she'll quit him cold. She
wanted to say good-by to me
they're going to Biarritz, they have
place there-and she had to tell
me that it was all over, and we
would always be friends and all
thati"
what was all over?"
''Well, exactly. Nothing!"
He laughed heartily, engineering
the car through the complicated
turnings of DAILY City, and Victoria
was silent for a while.
Victoria laughed, her fears all laid
to rest.
The five children were uproarious
in the nursery at supper time; their
long sleeps in the car coming home
had refreshed them, and they were
full of life and mischief.
The nursery was full of noises
and thumps; the chi1dren's laughter
ringing high above every other
sound. Mollie brought Dicky to his
father. There's one that'll take all
the loving you want to give him."
she said, and Quentin sat holding
the quieter twin, loving the serious
exploratory glance that Dicky &C.
casionally sent over his shoulder, as
one who would be sure that these
big arms, these big knees were quite
safe.
81 thought a girl was always gen.
tier than a boy" Quentin said
II knew you'd break that, Kenty!"
he interrupted himself. "You jerk
it, and then Susan jerks it; why
don't you wait until you want to
use it?"
There's nothing gentle about SUI
san," Vicky said, the broken cord
already mended. Bobs, the other
twin, having finished his entire din
ner with scrupulous attention and
thoroughness, now came to climb
up beside Dicky. Gwen was ami
matedly demanding if Daddy would
like to see her new dress for dane
ing school.
Somehow I never thought I'd
hear you talking about dancing
school, Gwen" Quentin said, his
arms full of nightgowned small
boys, but his forehead held up for
Ovens suddenly affectionate kiss.
''Oh, but you know I limp, Dad
dy?" the little girl reminded him
animatedly. e.
II kin limp!" Susan shouted with
the usual accent on the personal
pronoun. And she gave an exag-
gerated imitation of a cripple's gait
to Ovens immense delight. "She
walks just as if it hurt her, Moth
er!" exclaimed Gwen.
After a while, Quentin, with the