Father Stafford

tlemen Acted

d he therefore was a sharer in the perturbation of mind that evidently afflicted some of his companions, in spite of their decorous behavior. But contentment was not wanting in some hearts. Morewood was happy in the pursuit of his art and in arguments with Stafford; and Bob Territon had found refuge in an energetic attempt to organize and train a Manor team to do battle with the village cricket club, headed as it had been for thirty years past by the Rector. Moreover, Stafford himself still seemed tranquil. It would have been difficult for most men to fail to understand their true position in such a case more fully than he, in spite of his usual penetration of vision, had succeeded in doing. But he was now in a strange country, and the landmarks of feeling whereby the experienced traveler on such paths can learn and note, even if he cannot check, his descent, were to Stafford unmeaning and empty of warning. Of course, he knew he liked Claudia's society; he found her talk at once a change, a rest, and a stimulus; he h

was not his friend, and Ayre did not understand, or, if truth be told, appreciate the almost reverential attitude which Eugene, usually so very dev

y will be, before the little witch grows o

the grouse alone, and wait patiently for the partridges at Millstead. After all, he had shot grouse and most other things f

to look round for some suitable occupation. When this momentous but invisible event accomplished itself, Sir Roderick was outwardly engaged in the innocent and aimless pursuit of knocking the billiard balls about and listening absently to a discourse from Morewood on the essential truths which he (Morewood) had grasped and presented alone of modern artists. The theme

on the discourse, "do you think it's fair

in th

was in love before without knowing it,-they say women

ose, since you in

stian feeling. Some one oug

you'd l

y, and I never take liberties. You do cons

tranger! If he ought to be told

t you se

got. But isn't he better

ight have conceded the point.

ely. They're always together, and-well, it's plain what's likely enough to happen. If it does, what will be said? W

y benevolent," sa

man has so

a humbug

at I am. You w

N

a very intere

wo

is is all nons

r non

f being happy in a reasonable way?

re sho

! I say, Morewood, do you think he'd

would. No one

u let hi

ue was doubtful. A certain auditor of the conversation, perceiving

I'll let him see it if Lane a

gh on Lane,

tion of any kind won

problems. He'll never get on in the world nowadays unless he can do t

t is needless to inquire, though we may have suspicions

to submit to you, my dear

few days, and had a dim idea that he deserved it, which deprived him of the

of him Morewood did, and the conclusion we

nctively assuming hi

a bad case. W

uppose I do. I haven't

ference overdone, but

n that picture. I am clear about it; Morewood

tter leav

known him all your life, and you'll

ng me, I think you had

te. Why do y

will be a sh

n in his head about not marrying, and about it

him happier t

chair, and said: "How do y

ow. How sho

think it

r question?" a

expressionless face. "But it's o

you give the same answer you gave ju

ng feeling of his own, to give Stafford every chance? It is not fair to a ma

is he to throw away his own happine

did not

his own judgment," he said quietly. "It would distress him immensely, but we should

Roderick. Then, when the painter was looking

d say not

suppose. I hope I'm an interesti

Ayre composedly. "Why w

s!" groan

od ret

minutes to sit to me.

ing else, and let that t

me, isn't it?"

d of yourself f

a b

l like showing it. For an outsider, like yourself, it's really a deuced clever lit

long when he heard Stafford come in, and became conscious that he had caught sight of the picture. He did not look

s my

see i

did

n," and he looked up. Stafford

he

w day

on't believe that-on yo

, it

-just as it

had no right to take

you think I care about that? B

you know. It was

, ind

sked Morewood, in a r

n't understand. It is

t's stuff! It's only

ked at him i

my room, Morewood, and give me t

f together. What's the harm, aga

hecking himself, "Hold your peace

e was discoursing to Claudia and appeared entirely oblivious of the occurrence which he had precipitated. Eug

," Eugene said. "Why ar

ton in September, and we're going to ha

not meet again

se I shall w

ve had a pleasant time, I hope?

Lord Rickmansworth is to be there a day or two,

dington st

r party will break up," Kate went on. "

y n

, it would be h

other is not th

n you will

not ask her to c

ford goes soon, and

Miss Bernard's presumable o

e said, "but really at times your m

arrel. I am quite awa

t's

unity for

it's no use, and not very dignified, to squabble. We haven

row me over?" aske

been perfectly ready to fulfill my engagement. But you don't make it easy for me. Unle

onsider an engagement as

such a view in

rdly wonder if, after your conduct, they are no

r proposed a

duct with

o that-but there, I was just going to scratch back like a

iples," added

tions from them. And now this conve

was to walk straigh

his absence, had been reinforced

to-morrow," Eu

. "We must go, too-we have

hy

ecisively; "we can't go for a week. T

udia, "I'm not

"And where do you

eally wish you would. The whole county's coming, and it will be too much for

ane. She'll tell

ay till the birds. And as Lane says I ain't to have any birds

ands; "Sir Roderick Ayre at a rustic cric

ow," said Morewood. Ayre and Eugene

tafford?"

rk, I suppose. He

dia decisively. "Who is going to play t

still in the shade,"

n! But you must play, all the sa

ked Eugene. "Mayn't I do

net and the racquets, and Claudi

ay go and sit on Kate's

be revenged on you. I want, t

no one else-say Kate, for i

t about

t abo

es

, Mr. Lane? Is it

er

lly mustn't do it, Mr. Lane, or I

ate. Stafford's go

was entirely guilel

But he's looking muc

ho had been spending the interval in extracting

was he?" he

ooked

! I'll give you five

d Morewood;