The Twelfth Hour

decorated, gilded, carved, and curved bed she was immedia

hted), and began immediately and systematically to tell her fortune by cards. She did this regularly every morning. It was a preliminary to her day's campaign, when Everett came in with the tea and letters, d

-'heart-breaking that I can't get back to you for another week. Tobacco Trust was beaten by a sho

!-'an extraordinary bargain. It will just go in the corner of--'" She

seven.' Well, I can't help it. Let her

Of late I have been enamoured of sorrow. But for your wonderful "Bureau de Consultation Sentimentale," where should we poor sentimentalists be! Agatha has been simply brutal to me lately. I can find no

day. Everything is rather rotten. I have

same? I found out that the wretch instead of being ill, the other day, had taken that awful Lucy Winter to a picture-gallery. What a girl! All red hair and eye-glasses. Let me see you soon. Yo

so marvellously like you that you really ought to see it.'" Felicity smiled. "Steady! Rather a nice handwriting. 'Sincerely yours, Bertie Wilton.' Very promising. 'P.S. I have left a long space between the lines so that you should read between them.' Everett, I'll wear my tailor-made dress this morning and for lunch. The mauve tea-gown at four.

through the telephone, which was fixe

at?... I said screen, not scream.... We have heaps more than we want already.... Oh! and ever so many people are coming this afternoon..

urite dish, made of chestnuts and cream, repeatedly proffered, with empressement and a sort of

live on nothing but oranges. Pretty rotten

that Madame Patti had been warmly greeted by all the village of Craig-y-nos,

ee HER before I go back," said Sav

lways spoke of money as change)-"to run up to Wales and hear her sing, and then come back the same evening? It doesn't really matte

ricks girls can be!" He shook hands with her with intense se

arrangements, and Savil

gown, was conversing pathetically with Jasmyn Vere, one of th

lain, muscular, middle-aged widow who drove him to distraction by her temper and her flirtations. Felicity only stood it at all

he said. "By mistake, Agat

se a note with "Stanhope Gate" and a

re

r B

diot, but a good old sort. Mind you fetch me in time for

ur

at

handed

nvelope and sent a note meant for me to Captain Henderson. She only roared with laugh

did

. I said that I would wipe out the past and begin afresh if she promised

she say,

prac.' So it's all over.

two minutes, she would come round all right;

at. In our last interview I said I was coming to

said Felicity angrily. "

hers, and said I need not w

am," said Felicity. "Have yo

only sent her a little t

orse-shoe-by

ong friendship. Then I suggested we shoul

nket back, and she didn't re

right, dear

u going to s

aturday evening. But just think! She has actual

understo

n forgive su

straying to the clock. "Certainly,

t can Agatha see in Bob? And there is Vera Ogilvie-really pretty and charming-worrying herself about that dull Captain Henderson, who makes love to every woman he sees, and doesn'

t, intelligent face. And confidences about others do pall after a time. The reaction from Jasmyn made her perhaps more encouraging than she was aw

by that?" she said, looking

night! I haven't the time-I tell you frankly-to be a

ed upon you as one of the unemployed.

o doesn't face it and admit it at once. I care for you really, though I haven't known you-very long

lton? He's really very handsome-and particularly

w he's handsome-and, no doubt,

at got to

he might be here-wit

his bu

aciously answer

nd recollect that I'm not a housemai

not o

u of such bank-holiday manners,"

ike it I'm sorry, but really you deserve it! You may drive people mad

as losing his head. It

etically. He then made the terrible mistake of trying to kiss her. She slid away lik

it was very wrong. I couldn't help it. You need

n't go

tock a

iced-water," said Felicit

ady Ch

rval Felicity stroked up her hair and loo

ater was brough

st out

ly. I think it unspeakable. You're of course very young, so you shal

tood

you are accustomed to invertebrate admirers who spoil you.

isn't inve

t I have no kind of doubt. But you see, h

eave in a ver

e was sure she would never see Wilton again. Why was

re that night she thought that she was a little in