The Brother of Daphne

k steps on the steep, uncarpeted sta

in," s

girl in a lilac dres

awfully la-O-o

sn't her

looking at one anoth

. Larel?" s

nt. Won't you sit down?

sm

w," sh

told

l he has,

peal of

eared,"

r. It cost three and ninepence in the King's Road. Local col

, she took he

u were awfu

England, to study, I understood. He always drew rather well. Then one spring morning I struck him in Piccadilly, by the railings of the Gre

," said I. He

ther nice, that. Pity there aren't more. Why d

begged them to," said I. "

d at me crit

are." He stepped back and half closed his eyes. "Yes, that'll d

d, George. Come

was a child there yesterday, playing in the Park, with eyes-I've only seen their like once before. That was in Op

lov

iled

d to the driver. "Go to Richmo

put his head o

ear that ha

sly for three hours. And all the time I sat still upon the throne, and George painted. About his work he sai

across the studio, and turned it round. A girl's picture. A girl in a flowered dress and a shady hat, her slight shining legs crossed at the knee

like the dress. She looks rather lovely, as

e lau

l right,"

and began deliberately to scrape out all the work he ha

chap," he sa

the nostril. It denotes the force of

ent on r

imply. Half way through my third sitting

er?" said I. "So

Just talk. Don't mind how I answer. I'm goin

the roof of my mouth, but I talked on. And all the time George alternately bent his brows upon me, and hung himself at the canvas, uttering strang

e portrait. Then I turned to Geo

going to make

said. "And now gi

finished. Such a fine, brave face. Not a bit pretty-just beautiful. Dark hair

o. And now-pleasedly I

you a cigar

lighted i

ursday, isn't

what I was

is, because last n

his morning all the cocks were two hours fast. I know. But

e cloud of smoke and

now," she said gravely, "and Au

the Tube. But then I'm not a pickpocket, and you are smoking. Besides, your

s,

picture a little, and

quick to

as they are. I believe I could say them. But th

been better," she said, resuming her seat in the dept

deeper: but the braces I b

ing. "Seriously, where is Mr.

re last autumn with ears such as he has never beheld outside

ll you Thu

hirts. Nobody recognized us. George had a cigar in his mouth, and his exact words were, 'Wottabow

's forgotte

ry, he's proba

ently afraid to

dn't very well overlook

e wiped out

my hea

u the truth, I don't know that I'm very angry with him. I shall pretend to be, of course. B

I like these ci

hat is it about our cigarettes

ything about cigarettes, real

rt. You are a connoisseurs (very good indeed). These cigarettes are actually straight from th

But tell me, why is

like it myself: it's so nourishing. Besides, it goes so well with a blue sui

flectively settling her frock. "Whit

your eggs-I mean eyes. I know.

you wer

ger play for safety in dress. They have begun to dare. And con

hes have to

ve, while contrasts are active. We're

ase. I was in the Row at half-past

e the others are on the bank looking for a place to ti

az

g boots. You see, yo

t belie

a mirror in the room. The room is mirrorless. Very well, then. Either I must use the patent-leather of your little

's engaged. Sha

short for Bolingbroke. Meanwhile, may

a whole palm

in order. I have freq

iscuits hav

sister's awfully proud of

ar made-up ties,"

. Mischievously she regard

wful silenc

ys are goi

in a minute. Just to show you. These

gravely un

all hands with delight, and gave way

hall simply have to have an e

ve nothing o

able focussing, I managed to locate the environs of my collar i

feet. And people loved to look at her and hear the music of her laughing. Only, it was no good going on Thursday, because that was early-closing day in her realm, an

nd stopped. Cautiously I pee

e girl. "Here

to me. Hurriedly I glance

le recess, which was curtained off.

he whipped beh

l right?" I

es

second. Quick, lass

id, thrusting it b

I, kissing the

nto the room. "Thank heaven,"

mean?" I s

t was you. I was a fool to worry. But, you know, I suddenly

e been awful,"

orge, "it woul

heard smothered lau

id, "how did you kn

and clapped m

d. "I'm sorry, old

g at my watch. George took off his coat, a

late last ni

asp

you've only just

e had br

hat and turne

you going?"

iss Cicester, you would have crawled about the room, muttering

e said that my housekeeper'd b

n," s

was b

ube had stuck,

r the truth, and

w what w

e me. Would you dece

ed. They can't understand

"You mean, Margery-

ther a fancy to you-

deprecatin

I said carelessly.

d George. "Wh

d coolly. "You k

fool!" said George heatedl

urse. Is s

said George.

due here? I mean to say, supposing y

o'cloc

singly. "It must have

he arm. "Has she been

id come here. Now I come to think, she was somethin

nds with a cry. I stop

d excitedly. "W

se a van had just gone up the street.

said George. "Wh

I thought she was a model. I just sa

iterally

ter?" said I. "

" he cried, with the air o

es,"

d before I could stop him, rushed out of the studio. I put my he

you going

look. Then: "To wire

ind my lady a

wire you an ap

he said. "Poor Mr.

de and regarded her. "N

id severely. "Bu

uite a fancy t

g a red lip and tryi

ou're going to have your show. Kindly ascend

ugh," she said, settling hers

little a

you forgot all about the sitting, and that, by the way, when you got here, you met a man going out, and

et anyone lik

you've taken rather a fancy-- Here he is. Yes, queen

Mr. Larel, will you ever forgive me? I'm most awfully sorry. D'you know I quite forgot. I supp

wire so precipitately, and wondering how the deuce he could explain its arrival without revealing the true state of affairs. Apparently in the end he decided for the mome

ly, "there was a man here when I

mean him?" he said, p

. It wasn't him. At least," she added, leaning forward

e. "He was here five minutes ago, an

w was clean-shave

ith a shaking finger. "Isn't th

argery. "For the m

ach other's portraits for a week-" "Oh!" cried Margery. "And the fir

office all right?" sa

d Margery. "Did

er. "Then you were

d I. Margery broke

us darkly. "Yo

aid I. "To say nothing of ask

o," sai

pied by your full and abject apology, and two by the arranging of our next sittin

Margery's sittings-to-b

now, old chap," said I,

ows that I am her

aid I, "there'll

urned and ran back to the studio.

mischief..

and opened her mouth. Then she changed h

u can't ride with the herring

me. Neither would she

said I desperately

if you do happen to be in St. James

showed me the wire.

ol of servant misunderstood hasty instructions and refused you admission anothe

anced at the clock an

e off," I

d at Berry. The latter's eyes were a

ter with you?"

flesh is creeping. Now then. H

l be the las

t she's leaving

t him shar

ean, 'She'" I

known

," said I.

ly, "you do seem suspiciously keen abo

aze with a steady smile, her chin propped on

of being a minute late, a

nothing but the truth. It really was, The

ll me-" B

n't,"

my brother-in-law. "H

" I said, "

"We've only just fini

he object of affording him an opportunity, if possible, of perpetua

of felony," said Jonah. "Have y

." This was the truth. George was going

e wronging Bo

ou, dear

id Berry. "Never mind. Some d

ause you can't find an artist sufficiently da

be rude," Ber

d to th

lunch, old chap,

away my appe

you know w

ed the

," sai

said I,

e to put in

from George, saying that he had had my picture framed and was

cried Jil

e it awfully,

your fate?" s

like it," sai

to bury-I mean, ha

" said Berry. "We can easily

Daphne, "we'll have

and. "I don't want to be

upon hi

ie between us, yet from the east wall of the library, just above the type-writer, I shall smile down upon you

face with his hands. "Where is the Indian Club?" he added brokenly, "I don't mean the on

ah. "Where were the w

"They were worth

blaze is,"

r," said Jonah,

the trick-cycle ready, dear

hall. Yes, it had come. In the charge of two messenger-boys and a taxi, carefully shroud

no ashes?

pon a chair by the side of a window. I took

id Jonah. "Where's

erry. "James has gone fo

It was really a speak

I picked up the receiver. "Is that s

ry's

s," s

s that

t

the most awful th

" I said

u have g

es

u guessed I'v

very sympatheti

ear,

ow what I've

tearf

?" I sai