The Hollow of Her Hand

the motor, a sullen resentment in her heart, but a welcoming smile on her lip

de the motor in order to reach over and shake hands with her. "That would have gotten me here ho

thinking about breakfast," said Hetty, bu

akfast," said he amia

to eat it sometimes,

u like it

gay little moustache pointing upward at the ends like obl

d not dislike him, even though she dreaded him deep down in her heart. Her blood was hot and cold by turns when she was with him,

at that old chap had, we'd have our own tabernacle up there on the point, instead of sulking at his back gate. That's really where we're located, you know. His back gate opens smack in the face of our front one. I think he did it with malice aforethought, to

e the desire to trespa

enjoy freedom

t over that, I'm sure. I'd rather have a pass to the theatre than a ten dollar bill any time. I say, i

ut the house to come,"

w errands to do

t spo

ly literal per

lf for it. "It's wonderful, the friendship between you two girls-Sara's n

," said she simply, but

erstand it," he went

h too good for my brot

nev

that, even in jest," she cri

n't know Challis," h

ld her

gain in the habitual barometrical smile. Rather a priggish,

ys looked upon Sara as a-e--a sort of brigandess, the kind that steals children and holds them for ransom. Of course, old man Gooch was as common as rags-utterly impossible, you know-but that shouldn't stand a

as silent.

wonders how you can have anything in common with Sara. She prides herself on

Mr. Wrandall," crie

months. I think she's broadening out a bit. Since that visit to Nice, she's been quite different. As a matter

ntry?" asked Hetty, bent on br

s I was saying, the mater has t

ry nice

id before, but she always ma

stio

e questions she could think of. Over in Nice, you know. Of course Sara told her everything, and now she's q

ng straight ahe

ara tell he

ssary to prove to moth

made any diffe

se ex

say at the dog show, begging your pardon, ma'am. Pedigrees are a

moustache a

sfactory, so to speak," said

tion; "if we are to put any depen

edigree to the position I occupy in Sara's household-that of

believe she looks at you in just

'd better en

gh alone," quo

nsisted Hetty, a little s

d he affably. "Of course, Sa

stand my real position, Mr.

glish army officer, and some sort of a cousin to a lord, and that you have the entre to fashionable London drawing-ro

y parted and her eyes were wide. For a moment she was puzz

anything to boast about, getting into d

ver here," sai

s open sesame to be

ppose

Miss Vivian take me for what I am. Do you, by

irony sped

ed promptly. "It means a lot when i

eel when you'

my med

d sportsm

I'm a deuce of a prig

y, I appreciate

hallis always considered me one. I think he meant snob. But that was bec

depe

ian, I

ay it depends on your sist

ell enough. Viv's not

Castl

owed a smi

all," she said, and he was si

suddenly burst in upon him, "you've got

ng up, sir," sh

" he explained, w

ble manner

uld have heard you s

he country at this

have a place in the country the

don't get

take a furnished

ttom of the terrace as they drove u

twist of his head in the direction of Het

," said Sara, with a

ovely, i

said he, alm

not have to look back to know that they were watching h

enlarging his estimate without re

ned her own away to hide the queer little

the day when they set forth in the car to "pick up" Brandon Booth at the

bend in the road. He had waved his hat to Hetty just before the trees shut off their vi

d not r

she the niece or the

royd? I'm a

econd son aforesaid mentioned, so to speak, was the brother of Lord Murgatroyd. That would make Colonel Castleton his Lordship's nephew, but utterly

d niece or grand-daughter," explained Leslie

you so

t quite

ynns, of course?" She trusted to his vanity and w

t to know, by name at least, if one were to profess intelligence regarding the British aristocracy. As a matter of fact, he had not heard of the Glynns, but that di

her eyes to know she's Iri

en such eyes,"

full well that he would come back to it before long. "Is it

n him and he isn't interested in her-in the way I take you to mean it. I suspect it

be very nice

rs came over with Noah, according

" said she wi

Honourable Adam. Of course, she knows the Glynns and the Castletons and the Murgatroyds, although I dare say they haven't had

Sara, with a slight n

nnection all right enough. S

elieved. After a

ome unaccountable reason, gave over being loquacious

s if uncertain of his mood, then with a prolon

Leslie," she said sof

I say, Sara, I'

have you making love to her and getting tired of the game, as you always do, dear boy, just a

me for! Why, if I thought she'd-But nonsense! Let's

ot in her eyes; and drew a long, deep breath. H

ned and jingled the coins in their pockets and ventured, almost in unison, the intelligence that they would all be there if he ever came back again. Big and

y of 'em was to come to town," said one small citiz

he'd come back," was th

nts, though, do you?" observed ano

scornful reply,

andon Booth was not cherished for art's s

. Leslie, perhaps in the desire to be alone with his reflections, sat forward with the chauffeur, and paid little or

n at his back, and thereby betraying a secret wish that was taking shape in his m

ted. "Yo

on. "It would come in very

e ago, Leslie," said she.

e!" he stammer

March, and he recalled her reason for doing so. He twisted the tiny end of his m

n," he muttered, in di

the beautiful things that Nature provides for us out he

Boys are pretty close to earth, you know. To be perfectly honest, I did it in order to g

care for that," she warn

d up here weren't altogether flattering to me, so I'm chaste

re the c

hem by fire and sword, only the sword happened to

othing to show fo

e invitation to forget my

oo

ing, Mrs. Wrandall, that it is a desirable invitation. Yo

d, it's very good

slim prospect of ever squaring accounts," said he

ee you at the Wranda

girl not far from your place the other day-and yesterday, as well-some one I've met before, unless I'm vastly mista

ared tho

urhood. Can't you remember where you met-" She stopp

earching in his coat pocket for something. Selecting a lett

mory. She posed all too

one broadly, sketchily with a crayon point, evidently drawn with haste while the

ra quietly. "It's ver

er somewhere, but for the life of me I can't place her. Perhaps in a crowded street, or the theatre, or a railway train-just

ke to Leslie. As he turned, she hand

ott!" he

she explained. "He has been re

rstood, an

ill staring at the sketch. "Upon my word, it's a wonderf

an amiable conspirator

like that on me. How could you

nd reader,"

her steadily for-well, we'll s

ddened. "

athy sketch," said the

id you

ere is the crayon point. I always ca

is own pocket; "we'll let it go at that. If you're so clever at mind picture

egan Booth

id the happy possessor of the sk

He will never give i

rd hit?" asked B

er," mu

elcome to the sket

like to p

s a com

that's all. She is

painting some one

O

better, I'll tell

of this other one from me

s evening. I have my trusty crayon

indows at the turn in the stairs, shining full in her uplifted face as she approached him from below. He could not repress the start of amazement. Sh

emember with a twinge of dismay that he had not returned her polite smile, but had stared at her with most unblinking fervour. In no little shame and embarrassment, he

s an eager, exalted look in his face that slowly gave way to well-

here?" cried Booth, lowering his

l vacantly. His mind ap

e on the envelope, you ass. Is she the one you were tel

She's just gone upstairs. You

d. So THAT is

t she? Didn't

you said, old man,-a really wonderful typ

he back of an envelope," said Leslie sarcastically. "Must have had

ression, that's all. I drew

ensely gratifi

ool as to show her the thing," cried Booth

orry. She has a fi

e compromised with himself by slipping his arm

he best of lu

said Les