Double Harness

Sloane Street for a month before settling at Milldean for the autumn. The gathering was of Grantley's friends, one of the sets with whom he had spent much of his time in ba

young bride-might set her thinking, and encourage or discourage her according to the conclusions she came to about them. She and Raymore would bear scrutiny well as things went. There was a very steady and affectionate friendship between them; they lived comfortably together, and had brought up their children-a boy and a girl-successfully and without friction. Raymore-a t

and got through a lot of money. When Fanshaw was making plenty, and Christine had plenty to spend, things went smoothly enough. In bad times there was trouble, each thinking that retrenchment could best be practised by the other and in regard to

r and towards the outside world; almost aggressively affectionate in public. "Trying to humbug everybody," Tom Courtland used to say; but that was too sweeping a view. Their excessive amiability was the result of their frequent quarrels-or rather tiffs, since quarrel is perhaps an over-vigorous word. T

d them rather, but was generally affable and agreeable when nothing occurred to upset her. Tom Courtland grew more depressed, heavy, and dreary every day. A

e, Walter Dudley Blake, a favourite of hers and of many other people's, known as a climber of mountains and a shooter of rare game in his energetic days; suspected of enjoying life somewhat to excess and with ri

of a bulk of fair average merit. Perhaps there might have been an ideal union-just to counter-balance the Courtlands at the other extreme. If such were desirable, let it be hoped that the Imasons themselves would supply it. In regard to one point, she decided, the com

om Christine Fansh

What are you thinki

sual way. You might pass her over once; but if y

s have kept your atte

ance. "And I was wondering what she thought of us all, what we all

estions, don't they

swers, I should think. And do

t really at a

yes say something d

im, since she was not very easy herself to please. He was glad she app

ly as bad as continually discussing the Arian heresy, as old Johnson says. Bu

ut Sibylla. I shall have to

rth having; and I'm only lear

t frame of mind for a husband. I

you know me u

ught a

ell," she said. "Y

d, since it seems to hint at something rare and out of

aid with a laugh which politely waived any claim

up the key of the

read your Blu

the conversation had soon turned from Sibylla to Grantley himself, or at least had dealt with Sibylla purely

is loud voice-a voice that had a way of stopping ot

as Cr?sus, Fanshaw!"

! Christine and I were disc

ed Christine in her delicate tones, generally

then threw out your Bu

from my back, and made an ab

anshaw insisted rather heatedly. "What

ristine, watching the gradual flushing of h

d slightly, and spoke with an affected air. "We should retrench in

uggested Blake, ch

are beautifu

p-pointed emphasis. "You should rea

ded by another husband. That

own," smiled Mrs. Selford

row," Tom Courtland whisper

e nature of things be final," Fanshaw insisted.

hristine interrupted. "At that

aw," laughed Blake. "And if any of you can't

ld manage them as well as they manage that--" He took a great gulp of champa

Sibylla with a k

ing you, Mrs. Imason? Not

d in on her

intain Mrs. Ima

I think that's mine, Blake, thank

This was Lady Harriet's first contribut

a tale unfold

ch could be discussed with more or less good-nature, or quarrelled over with more or less acerbity, and those which were in another category. The moment the Courtlands were in question, a constraint arose. Tom Courtland himself broke the si

accusation of Christine's extravagance. Selford victimised young Blake with the story of a picture which he had just picked up; he declared it was by a famous Dutch master, an

blooming and happy, a

, old boy.

oice and spoke wi

t stand it any longer! I'd sooner take any risk. Oh, I shall b

y gave

said. "That sort of thin

than what I've gone through. At any rate I get a

tting aw

them about that. I told Harriet she made the house in

-and who

d warily befor

a Bol

d his brows an

ensi

a mixture of rue

tly," he said, drumming his fingers on the cloth. "By heaven, if I'd

ley n

. I could have gone straight. She's

d chap. They'l

rantley. I don't want to make an exhibition of

judicial. Christine Fanshaw attracted her most, first by her dainty prettiness, also by the perfection of her clothes (a thing Sibylla much admired), most by her friendly air and the piquant suffusion of sarcastic humour that she had. She seemed to treat even her own grievances in this semi-serious way-one of them certainly, if her husband were one. Such a manner and such a way of regarding things are often most attractive to the people who would find it hardest to acquire the like for themselves;

elf cosily by her. "I'm rather tired of all these women, except Kate R

u? I'm s

a great deal-and I'm representative." She laughed gaily. "John and I are quite representative. I like John really, you know; he's a good m

presentative?"

ut something, not about nothing, like the Selfords-though I don't know that that is quite so representative, after all." She paused a moment, and resumed less gaily, w

a good

are whether he liked me or not; when I-when I-well, when I didn't care, as I said

bylla pressed the littl

We're very lucky. Loo

ke other people appreciate their own goo

ke are two of the most sought-after of men, and you've married one of them

ylla sat by silent; she was still very ignorant of all the life they talked about. She knew that Christine's charges carried innuendoes from the way Blake met them, but she did not know what the innuendoes were. But she was

n love with-to give, oh, your whole heart and so

necessity o

eps you a bache

le ruefully, or at least as though he were

to marry yet," she pleaded, and

wed the Courtlands downstairs, Raymore accompanying them and giving the men cigars while their wives put their cloaks on. Grantley asked for a cab, which was some little while in coming;

in the brougham as we go to my mo

nds smoke; but as a matter of fact

cted-I said

riet, but you m

ce. His wife was still very quiet, yet Raymore and Grantley exchanged apprehensive looks; the lull be

going ho

just

are you

the

t cl

?" Grantley call

; there'll be

demanded Lady

en't made up my mind. I'm o

even the cabman, who heard the outburst and leant down from his high seat, trying to see. It was like some physical affliction, an utter loss of self-c

d all her neck. "Pretty clubs you go to hard on midn

nd through his arm. Tom Courtland stood motio

swept down the steps. She moved grandly. She came to the door of he

driving with th

my l

carried; it had stout ivory sticks and a large knob of ivory at the end. She dashed the knob against the w

touched his hat, and join

eyes and bowed shoulders, Tom Courtland went down the

more turned

ened to-night-when yo

it mean?"

the answer in their faces. They knew where Tom Courtland ha

ld stand a sav

ion of a ruin inevi