Scarlet and Hyssop

, and whisky-and-soda to iced coffee-had just been brought out when the two returned to the lawn, and Mildred Brereton's guests had

e there rows of men parading slowly up the female line, like sightseers at an exhibition, with teacups slipping and gliding over the saucers, and buns being jerked from their plates by neighbouring elbows. Instead, every one flocked to the tables, seized what he wanted, and retired into corners to eat it.

to me to think that my little girl will be taken away so soon. But that is what every mother has to go through. Dear me! it seems only yesterday that she came

t," said Anthony. "She c

say that! You have not

ll the afternoon, but I co

I say it? But, anyhow, it i

said Anthony with a bluntness th

a little perseverance. It is a rare thing, you know, to come and see and conquer, like Julius C?sar, or whoever it was. Dear Maud perhaps scarcely k

e face flushed; for the moment it was li

for perseverance, why, there's nothing I would not do,

thony! I am convinced of it," she said. "And bear that in mind when you speak to Maud. Also bear in mind that there is no ma

ingly had been briefer, but

ask her again. You have everything on your side and everybody-except, perhaps, the girl. But e

r he had been Lady Ardingly's partner, and had had the misfortune to

carelessness you have lost us the rubber, a mistake which one intelligent glance at your hand would have avoided. Come, ther

returned. "Croquet, for instance," she added. "I hear you are a great

d her only reason for refusing Anthony an opportunity all the afternoon was that she really had not the slightest idea whether she should say yes or no. She did not, as she had told her mother, love him; she did not, either, dislike him. He was merely quite indifferent to her, as, indeed, all men were. Men, in fact, as far as she thought about them at all, seemed to her to be unattractive people; she could not conceive what a girl should want with one permanently in the house. They were for ever either putting tobacco or brandy into their mouths or letting inane remarks out, and they stared at her in an uncomfortable and incomprehensible manner. On the other hand, she knew perfectly well that it was the natural thing fo

Maud had seen her again only two days ago for the first time since her marriage, and had found quite a different person. Kitty had become a woman, radiantly happy, with an absorbing interest in life which seemed quite to have eclipsed the loves of earlier days. She still liked horses, dogs, great open country, Maud herself; but all these things which had been the firs

come down with us when I had counted on a nice quiet empty carriage all to ourselves. He didn't want him, nor did I; but that is so like Arthur, to do good

l, Kitty," said the o

must say good-

lau

d; "you will be away ten minutes. Wo

e's looking. There!" and she waved a

t her with gr

understand th

lous as you before. By the way, Maud-oh, that's why you look careworn. Is it tru

t is important

quite miserable; there's always that little ghost in the corner. Can we afford

slightest ide

y la

he said; "you must know.

e wants to. And he has been s

rned qui

so; if not-well, if not, you will be a very foolish person, but still say so. He has a mother, I know that, but really his mother m

ely," sa

more are you. As for beauty, you've got enough for two, and he's got money enough for three-baby, as well, do you see? Oh yes, I am indelicate, I know, but it's

to talk to

lank indifference about Arthur before I married him. My mother-and I bless her for it-absolutely obliged me to accept him. So will yours do if she has any sense, a

ply on her heel

o many unhappy marriag

w what else to say. 'You can't write about happy marriages,' so an

silent

very much, Kitty,"

s were really dear days. But one can't always remain a girl, Maud. It is merciful

ans al

. Mo

ush and the downcast eye which she had thought Anth

fact of a man?" sh

of a newly-married woman

," she said. "But there is a

ost piteously. "Why does everybo

ty rigorously. "I and your mother, becaus

further intimate conversation would next mome

is a shock. But it no longer aches. There is Mr. Anthony; let him a

t forget it

on her friend. But it is certain that she would sooner have bitten it very hard-so that it hurt, in fact-could she have foreseen in how opposite a direction to that intended her words had inclined her. As it was, she

f it, and regretted the necessity, for, to do him justice, he had tried many other lures that afternoon. "I hear it is qui

a little as she looked at him. Of the adventitious advantage she took mo

id. "A promise is a pr

hard on me," o

Surel

your mot

ought a

think so," she said, "si

m, and threaded a dusky lane set

"In one thing, anyhow, she ag

ould easily judge him, as if he had been an actor on a stage. Outwardly, with the tongue she could say

d. "Maud, they were

h a sudden interest

ok his

. "It has stuck in my memory. Because

ite unconsciously she began to know what La

come here with you. I thought I should laugh at

do not accept my devotion. What I do not understand

me to answer y

pone your

eas

on the tents where dinner was laid began to shimmer with white linen and gleam with silver. Jack was back from his golf, and Mrs. Brereton from an extremely short walk (for she had been recommended plenty of exercise), a few people had left to dine in town, but more people arrived from town to dine here, and Andrew Brereton, having succeeded in wresting four shillings and sixpence from the reluctant Mr. Maxwell, felt that he had earned his dinner. And as night became deeper, the animation of the party grew louder and their laughter more frequent; the moon and the stars everlastingly set in heaven were to them but the whitewash of the ceiling of the rooms where they dined, the trees and

aid. "I have declared no trumps. Nobody doubles! That

long ago gone to bed, but the other four still played on, in silence for the most part. Occasionally the dummy rose, and refreshed his inner self with something from a side-table, and from time to time the note of a cigarette would sound crisply, as it were, on the soft air of the night. At last a strang

aid Lady Ardingly. "We should have saved it i

ak round her neck

owing a little c

een following the

"Why what is happening?

w much is it, Jack? Never mind, tell m

s pencil-case b

xactly, Lady Ard

g a little behind, his hands in his pockets, smiling to himself. Mildr

wenty-four!" said Lady Ardingl

ing," sai

as they parted at the foot of the stairs. "A charming Sun

and, in that hour of low vitality which comes with the dawn, n