Patricia Brent, Spinster
ugh strongly disapproving of her deplorable flippancy, Miss Brent decided that her n
collection of notables introduced into England by William of Normandy. To Miss Brent, William the Conqueror was what The Mayf
, or knew about, his ducal master; but it was sufficiently important to gain for him
who earned her living as the secretary of an unknown member of parliament. She foresaw complications, fierce opposition, possibly an attempt to break off the engagement. To defeat this Geoffrey Brent was to be disinterred and
ted to know about the Bowens, and she strongly disapproved of what she termed "hole-in-the-corner engagements." The marriage of a Brent to a Bowen was to her an alliance, carryi
cted her. Her mind once made up, to change it would have appeared to Miss Brent an unpardonable sign of
he transferred to "The Mayfair Hotel" for one night, she prepared an announcement of the eng
. It would impress the people at the newspaper office, and it w
of Mr. Arthur Bonsor, Miss Brent was being whirled in a taxi first
ricia with wandering attention,
nnounced Lady M
of violet eyes that were smiling a greetin
was endeavouring to recall wher
the families met," a
ant smile so characteristic of her. She
ng her eyes upon a dark man in khaki, with smouldering eye
when a rush of callers swept Miss Brent and
r houses, both town and country, into convalescent homes for soldiers; but she was surpris
s of what is best," he remarked
ooked up int
ually she got her own way as she always does. Now the official
ed Miss Brent
nette at the other side of the room. "She is too
naries then?" enq
hor," responded Elton with a disarming smile. "Shehen war broke out someone had suggested that she should use her tact and knowledge of human nature in treating cases that defied the army M.O.'s. "A tyrant
ldren of his own brain, admirably controlled and conducted by his wife. He seldom appeared, keeping to the one place free from the flood o
udied each patient's needs, and decided whether he required diversion or quiet: if di
emselves. All misdemeanours were reported to and judged by a committee of five elected by ballot from among the patients. Their decisions were refer
uccess. She had not come to Grosvenor Square to hear about hostels, or the cu
Peter?" she enq
n replied as he to
?" Miss Brent wa
f a man who found nothing unusual either
y?" was the
Elton, beginning to e
live here?" dema
, Pe
rent n
soldiers, you
's tone was in itself an accusation a
stands," was Elt
sharply at him. For a
upon his arm. Her question arose, not from any interest she
y final medical board, a
was feeling some annoyance with this
ondered if the next question w
nd of the family?" was Mi
n bo
soldier in hospital blue, a rugged litt
are you?" said El
t was in marked contrast to the even tone of co
, sir," replied Uncle. "Sort o
iss Brent, an act that seem
wounded?" asked Miss
buttocks, mum," r
face showed no sign. She turned to Uncle and regarded him
tin'," added Uncle, interpreting Miss Br
tty brunette to whom Elton had bowed joined the group. "I've been giving you t
hat Uncle's wound was the standing j
k you," said Uncle cheerf
irl addressed herself to Mi
Uncle or to me?
up her piquante little face in thought she added, "
challenged
n't 'ear 'er," was Unc
love to him, and as for Goddy," she turned and regarded Elton with a quizzical e
uttered thought, What would Little Milstead think of such conversation? She was brough
Uncle has the guilelessness of the dove, whilst Godfrey has all the wisdom of the serpent
nfused, Peggy," said Elton.
the brunette, "he's going
nued to stare, whilst Uncle wi
on't she
some topping chocolates, a new kind. They're priceles
iss Brent of Elton, disapp
Bristowe," r
their ancestry so far back as to make William
e of himself at the conflicting emotions depicted upon Miss Brent's face; but Lady
h, Goddy," she cried,
n wiping her finger and thumb daintily upon a ridiculously small p
n one side like a bird, and her who
n of furniture polish,"
as she whisked over to w
on to Miss Brent. "I fear she trades upo
essed, she stalked away. Elton watched her in surprise, unconscious that his casual r
rtue at the helm," he mu
ll had landed her in the very midst of an ultra-fast set. She was unaware that Godfre
on one occasion when he had just confided to the vicar that all intro
e with which he habitually clothed himself, it was in the presence of eit
iative public at the Futility Theatre, Elton had replied, "A woman's legs are to me what they are to God," which had silen
e subject of her call; but without success. She was always surrounded either by arriving or departing g
shaken hands, thanked her for coming, hoped she would come again soon, and Miss Brent was walking downstairs her mission unaccomplis
upon her typewriter that "pigs are