Kathleen

f the brass andirons. As soon as he entered, Blair felt the comely atmosphere of a charming and well-ordered home. Books lined the walls; a French window opened on to the lawn at the far end

riend of Joe's is always welcome here, and particularly when he's an antiquar

and made some

mingled annoyance and amusement. I have not seen the woman myself: my rheumatism has kept me pretty close to the fire this damp weather; but by all accounts the creature is very extraordinary. Well, well, you are not intere

larly interested in your account of St. Philip's Church, and I made up my mind that I ought to see it. You see, we

ismiss the ladies and have a good crack. There are some really startling things to be learned about Wolverhampton in Anglo-Saxon times. You know the town lay along

"I walked out the

your perspicacity. You may recall that in my

was it not?" queri

entioned in the Ang

in 924, didn't he?" ask

erican efficiency! I do wish that our young men had the same zeal. I am happy to say, however, that I am expecting a

time to ponder, for at this mome

rom Oxford. We are great cronies already. M

grotesque appellation "flapper" fled from his mind. Her thick, dark hair was drawn smoothly across her head and piled at the back in a heavenly coil. Her clear gray eyes, under rich brown brows, were cool, laughing, and self-possessed. She was that most

lish reticence, hesitated to put out his hand

, and murmured,

ll us what that crazy Joe has been up to. Did Mr.

can destroy a man! In his agony he saw Mrs. Kent and Kathleen s

n?" he stammered. "

re was only one sensible thing, the reference to yourself. Her other rema

ain Blair felt Kathlee

n up soccer?" said a clear voice, every syllable of which seemed so preci

rds, Lady Margaret Hall, one of the women's colleges at

he said desperately. "I think he-er-something was sa

ung girls didn't send telegrams about their le

e wired for us to send Fred down to her. Of course she has sent wires to Fred before, as a joke; but she must have

ian. "He must be a fine fellow.

in a kind of stupor Blair realized that somet

r. Carter," ann

seize a chair next to Kathleen. He saw Falstaff's burly figure enter, habited as the conventional "black beetle" of the church, and in the sharpened state of his wits noticed

r. Kent, "this is Mr

hook hand

se of his hard-won informa

he said. "I have heard Joe speak of

d worried, but t

!" he said. "

no idea what mad schemes might lurk beneath Carter's episco

So few 'varsity men ever get here. But it's certainly a blessin

ted in the subje

o laid up with his lumbago. He'd love to walk you out

said Blair. "A kind of p

amazement. "Antiquities, you know,

w I wish I could see them

ely to go out with Fred. He loves a good long walk,

have inherited that

n among Scotties

ch?" said Blair, feveris

Heavens, no! I thought you were talking about

e to meet him

ing on the stairs, and a grizzled Skye terrier trotted into

ng. But just then supper was announced. As they passed into the dining-room, the American thought he noti