Tenterhooks

al Inv

with deference and solicitude of Bruce's rheumatism, entreating him to do the cure thoroughly, and suggesting that they should call the little girl Matilda, after a rich and sainted-though still living-aunt of Edith's. It might be an advantage to the child's future (in every sense) to have a godmother so wealthy and so religious. It appeared from the detailed description that the new daughter had, as a matter of course (and at tw

agon, and horrified at Edith's choice of a name,

a I would rather she

graph form, and as she was, at Knightsbridge, unable to he

r mother-in-law to make no objection. The elder Mrs Ott

y name,' objected Edi

ather have called h

ne, or Ysolyn-som

. But what does it really matter? I shouldn't hold out on a point like this. One gets used to a nam

that she kept to her own point, though not aggressively. When Bruce returned after

led his si

so much of at her age; make her, perhaps, egotistical and vain. But it was not Archie's way to show these fears openly. He did not weep loudly or throw things about as many boys might have d

ovely dream las

How sweet of yo

as all right. Very nice

I was i

delightful. W

s a woman's f

And father. Nurse, too. It was a

illy t

wasn't. She was in th

ta

rough obstinacy, and Dilly by accident. However the child herself was a success. She was four years old w

at he was not to leave the Foreign Office before he was fifty. One afternoon Edith was talking to the telephone in a voice of agonised entreaty that

.... Do I want any number? Yes, I do want any number, of

chie in

have your lon

h, don't keep on asking me if I've got them!... No, they haven't answered.... Are you 6375?... Oh-wrong number-sorry.... 6375

have your lon

. Edith rang off.

Sandow exerciser has done for me! You laughed

sionally hitting himself on the left arm with the right fist

ul!' sai

d on me is something I have just done which I couldn't have done befor

ave you

est that your awful Aunt Matilda sent you for you

es

he room to the other. Now I've lifted it from your room

s; no doubt it's capital.... Er-you know I've had all the thing

I didn't know there

and a couple of salvers,' sa

d said: 'Edith, I have some news

our office, that you're always being offended with

nk they've done? They'

they?

at it was a verbal invitation. Mitchell said to me, just like th

r and said, 'Mother, can I

her head a

al invitation, do you think?' I said, 'Well, Mitchell, as a matter of fact I don't believe we have got anything on. Yes, old boy, we shall be delighted.' I accepted, you see. I accepted str

cause you and Mitchell have known each other

et bygones be bygones.

ac

....Par

ng very well, and his

e a litany, 'can I have your long

t fasten laced boots with a buttonho

er,' said Bruce. 'All very jolly-musical crambo-t

ur long buttonhook. I want

k I shall wear my salmon-coloured dress with the sort of mayon

got it.... I can so

d to flag; he had one of his sudden reaction

that thing in y

a ba

oks very nice without it. What

ix-and-eleve

It really does seem rather a pity, the very firs

ock, and eight o'clock I suppose means-well

emory is unerring, dear

ou ever n

s-I thin

Hamilton Place.

she wore, as long as she had put on her best dress. It seemed a pity she had not got a new one, but this couldn't be helped, as there was now no time. Edith agreed that she knew of no really suitable place where she could buy a new evening dr

desirable, magnificent town mansion, they saw that a large dinner-party was

hell did himself so well as this.'... The butler had never

a mistake for once in my life. I admit it. Of course, it's really Hamilton Ga

he bankruptcy of an old friend and collea

house, and was standing alone in despair in the dark when, fortunately the porter, who had been out to post a letter, ran back, and turned up the light again.... 'I shouldn't have tho

they don't live at a private idiot

the Mitchells did not l

Edith, and she ask

s lived at Hamilton T

ully late for the first time. But be perfectly at you

se can

f nothing ha

pened,' said Edith; 'it will make them laug

will have f

y find them at

e has its ups and downs.... Well! I'm rather glad, after a

tisfaction to you to know that a friend and colleague of yo

fe. The Mitchells lived here all right, but they were out. The parlour

ad a curious presentiment that something was go

Mitchells'? There do

it would be a failure. Wasn't it odd? I often think I'm a pessimist, and yet look

ut I won't, because now you must take me to the