The Awkward Age

his wife was prompt. "She's c

e simpl

mething bet

many such sounds on his part to represent a spir

nt on, "but I haven't felt sure. Don't

ne or two more than his share, he had once or twice, at fancy-balls, been thought striking in a dress copied from one of Holbein's English portraits. But when once some such meaning as that had been put into him it took a long time to put another, a longer time than even his extreme exposure or anybody's study of the problem had yet made possible. If anything particular had finally been expected from him it might have been a summary or an explanation of the things he had always not said; but there was something in him that had long since pacified all impatience, drugged

woman and the man

I didn't know she even particul

t one of those calculations that ARE subtle enough to put off the scent a woman who has but half a nose." Mrs. Brookenham as she spoke appeared to attest by the pretty star-g

that he'll marry her?" Brooken

his wife murmure

should she want to see him here?" Edward p

of that. "Do you mean if she

er husband said. "Has

ed all over by Aggi

okenham c

e always known there has. And now i

e's the a

men could tell you. Pet

ean in o

ll you. She's no older than any one el

n the case had dropped. You might have felt you got a little nearer to hi

s such a grand idea of duty

whe

h our home life. She's

appeared for a m

n-and her cra

a craze f

Nanda's to be wit

lf, "but you didn't say anything about

is he will be by dinn

does he g

-Western. They'll

s statement in the dry light of experience.

be others-lots. The mor

s silent a little. "Perhap

"however Harold plays h

ss ass. What I meant was how he com

by being invited. She

Very good-natured." He had another short reflexion, after which he continued: "If they do

send-afte

it sa

far, to run over the page. "I don'

ten doesn't prevent one's be

produce. "Well, my dear Edward, what do you want me to do? Whatev

e-that's my point. I

gain. "Perhaps you weren't the sam

to make me one-as I've a shar

tated. "From whom do

. They, I take it, are not quite so cordial to him, since

nham. "Are you very su

he now duskier ugliness. He reverted in this attitude, with a complete unconsciousness of making for irritation, to an issue they might be supposed to have dropped. "He'll have a lovely d

he put it as if she co

peak t

Haro

ttle with his hands in his pockets, after which, with a complete concealment

heaven. We grace

fellows, as you

Baggers and Mary Pinthorpe

," suggested Brookenham, w

xiety. "But I don't know what dinner it is," she bethought herself; "it may be the one tha

Brookenham faced about. "Would you mind fi

ean who's

tter. But whether Mi

find out by

seemed disappointed at hi

don't w

the prettiness of her brown bent head. "It

too, but they were a couple who could, even face to face and unlike the augurs behind the altar, think the

mon

Mitchy

husband, but, turning away, he fa

. I'm sure I don't want them to come down on us! But that's the advantage," she a

ing in Brookenham's mind to match; so that, scarcely pausing in t

from Mitchy I dare say he

ed as if with a still d

t." Even this observation, however, failed to rouse in her husband a response, and, as she had quite fo

what Edward supposed. "Oh Van

n a sovereign

after another turn, "I think

have other than a comic effect. "And of course then it will

stop that

uesting him immediately to tell us? That wo

en wait

ared she already saw. "I want him to be kin

ng him from making debts. I dare say one needn't trouble a

im in my childhood I see him now, and I see now that I saw then even how awfully

r husban

oment. "I see now I must ha

companio

"It will be a sort of 'poetic justice.' He sees the reasons for himself and we mustn't prevent it." She tur

money," said Brookenha

eel as if I wished he would-which is too dreadful.

ly REALLY. He has to try to. But it won't make any di

e just the same." She saw it steadily a

ety, put it before himself. "And will he

oveliest expression. "No, not really either. But it won'

you or like me?" Edward clearly found h

a flash of solemnity-"mamma WAS wonderful. There have been times when I've always felt her still with us, but Mr. Longdon ma

husband intelligently asked. "I se

t that was only last week. He'

t does V

gs. He has taken the

d boy-t

e other way too. Mr. Longdo

ll, if he likes Van and doesn't l

oon enough if you f

e to feel, my dear!" Edward

But he IS as loyal to me

hings. "Every Jenny has her Jockey!" Yet perhaps-remarkably enough-ther

have been the loser. Not that she cared. He

at the idea and then meet it.

ng out. "It's time for her at

ou know, I thou

at you thought.

emed unwilling to concede the point. "Y

ed as she turned to meet the opening of the door and the appearance of the butler, whose announcement-"Lord Pe