Patricia Brent, Spinster

ary to go upstairs to put on her hat and co

he was perfectly well aware of the fact that it wanted still a quart

g in her voice and appearance that prompted Mrs. Bonsor to smile her artificial smile

a girl at the steering-wheel. Patricia turned in the opposite direction from that in which the car stood, making her way towards Sloane Street to get h

a fair-haired girl smil

-I

n't you?" sa

ink you've ma

icia Brent,

icia, smiling, "

u up to Galvin House. Don't delay o

med nothing else to be done. As she did so, the fair-haired girl laughed brightly. "It's awful

pon her and turning to Tanagra with

ng to see you two out of the mess

tiffened. "Did he-d

suddenly to avoid a crawling taxi that had swung

n, how d

and explain him to your aunt. It's all over London that I've got measles, and there will be

ed Patricia un

or me. When he asked me to lunch with him to-day and said it was important, I had to give some reasonable

ghed in spit

anything except tha

" interrupted

story to this girl who was so trustful that everything was al

talk to you," said Patricia,

and sit down for five minutes." She pulled up the car near

thout telling you the whole story. What you will think of me after

ad come to know Bowen and the upshot of the meeting. Lady Tanagra listened with

k of me?" demanded Patric

isten carefully. First of all you must call me Tan or Tanagra, and I must call you Patricia or Pat, or whatever you like. Secondly, as it would take too long to find out if we've got any friends in common, you went to the V.A.

icia. "Don't you see how horribly awkward

ll I can do is to explain how you and he came to know each other; and now we had better be getting on as your aunt will not be p

"that's simply getting us

schievously; "it's much better that they should meet at the Quad

to be quite sure that she was not dreaming. Everything seemed to be happening with such rapidity that her brain refused to keep pace with ev

me what you propose do

pieces," was the response. "All y

with a magnificent sweep. Gustave, who had been on the

Miss Wangle and Mrs. Mosscrop-Smythe were address

iss Wangle, who having instantly recognised Lady Tanagra, retired with Mrs. Mosscrop-Smythe a few yards, where

s met," said Lady Tanagra, "and so I insisted

ou are qui

d at the thought that Patricia was to become Lady Peter Bowen. As the aunt of Lady Peter Bowen, Miss Brent saw that her own social position would be considerably improved. She saw hers

of their existence; yet everyone fell an instant victim. A compound of earnestness, def

er interest. "Tanagra is so sensible," outraged parenthood would exclaim; "Tan's such a sport. She'll understand," cried rebellious youth. People not only asked Lady Tanagra

ixture of laughter and seriousness, w

ent," she cried; "but in particular for myself." Lady Tanagra

re it's not his fault it's mine," she proceeded illogically. "You won't be hard on us, will you?" She

ne of her lips widened. Patricia recognise

greatly puzzled,"

you would be very cross, especially with me. Now," she continued, without givi

ssively, and gave Miss Br

ra with just a tinge of suspici

it is?" she en

rry you off to a quiet p

sliked Calvin House and the inq

tinued Lady Tanagra as they moved towards the door. "I would not let him come here as

ith decision. "I do not like boarding-houses. They are

hed Miss Brent seat herself beside Lady Tanagra, whilst she herself entered the tonneau of the car. As the

o earth. She pinched herself until it hurt. What had happened? She felt like someone present at her

dy Tanagra was indeed a solution. Patricia and Miss Brent were merely lay-figures. It must be wonderful to be able to m

to Bowen's suite. As they entered Bowen sprang up from a writing-table. Patricia noticed that there was no

Bowen explaining to Miss Brent. "I rang up Patricia t

ey lie" (it was not quite innocent enough to be ca

et to to "play themselves in," as L

a murmured to herself, "they'

n Miss Brent's cup from her. "I must explain all

s eye, and saw in it a

the V.A.D. at St. George's Crescent. I am on the committee and, by a happy chance," Lady Tana

t nodded

very hard, and that it was not necessarily patriotic to ov

Brent nodde

e and have tea with me, and we became friends. Finally, one day when we were enjoying a quiet talk here in the loun

thing?" enquir

reacherous manner she must do the same." Lady Tanagra's

eneath the gaze of the others. She felt as a

elative?" Miss Brent rapped out the question

fault," bro

ed upon him. Miss Brent suspicious, Lad

I ask?" enquir

et between Patricia and m

in Miss Brent's voice that Patricia rec

nds out everything; but I on

already discovered the fact fo

aide must hear her start of surprise); but I wanted to wait until we could go to you together and confess.

s Brent was thinking, thinking as a judg

ld, does she kno

ly Lady Tanagra rushed in as if fear

ly announced, the family would take up all Patricia's time, and he would see nothing of her. Oh! Peter's ve

rence. As he looked up Patricia's eyes fell. What was happening to her? She was getting further into the net woven by her own folly. Lady Tanagra was getting them out of the

as to be deferred. She shook hands with Lady Tanagr

fidence, your sole surviving relative," and with that she went, having refused Lady T

prits regarded each other. All felt that they had come under the ban

n it now up to the

g down kissed her lightly on the cheek. Patricia looked up, and Bowen saw that her eyes wer

dy Tanagra said. When Patricia reached Galvin House, having refused to allow B

ed back her hair and began to brush it for the n