Tenterhooks

Mitc

tically lived for it, and the big house at Hampstead, with its large garden covered in, and a sort of studio b

urse of the evening. Each of these wires contained some personal chaff or practical joke. At other times he would give everyone little presents, concealed in some way. Christmas didn't come once a year to the Mitchells; it seemed never to go away

travagant delight in any novelty. In fact, the Mitchells were everything except exclusive, and as they were not guided by any sort of rule, they really lived, in St John's Wood, superior to suburban or indeed any other restrictions. They would ask the same guests to dinner time after time, six or seven times in succession. They would invite cordially a person of no attraction whatsoever whom they had only just met, and they would behave with casual cooln

e spring novelty, in the way of romance. Although the Mitchells were proud of these successes they were as free from snobbishness as almost anyone could be. On the whole Mrs Mitchel

hich she had to choose a brightly coloured ribbon. These ribbons matched the rosettes presented in an equally haphazard way to every man. As Vincy observed, it gave one the rather ghastly impression that there was going to be a cotillion at once, on sight, before dinner; which was a little fright

as kind, sprightly, and rather like a grouse. Mitchell was a jovial-looking m

oney, who had been on the stage; and an intelligent foreigner from the embassy, with a decoration, a goat-like beard, and an Armenian accent. Mrs Mitchell said he was the minister from some place with a name like Ruritania. She had a vague memory. There was also a Mr Cricker, a very young man of whom it was said that he

f magnetism, since it must have been settled already by fate and the ribbons.) It was obvious from one quick glance that he shared the wish. To their absurdly great mutual disappointment (a lot of ground was covered very quickly at the Mitchells), their ribbons

c, relaxing, in which either cleverness or stupidity could float equally at its ease. The puerility of the silly little arrangements to amuse r

ever afra

uke would go to the devil for her in her youth, and that in her late maturity she would tour the provinces with The Three Musketeers. Neither of these prophecies had, however, been fulfilled. She still occasionally took small middle-aged titled parts in repertoire matinees. She was unable to help referring constantly to the hit she made in Peril at Manchester in 1887; nor could she ever resist speaking of the young man

s. Mitchell had had formerly a slight tendre for her, and in his good nature pretended to think she had not altered a bit. She was still refined comme cela ne se fait plus; it was practically no longer possible t

oss said, 'whether thi

it might; then I ga

enerally know. I've a touch of secon

d sight too-any amount;

ver!

itchells dear

Do you kno

d. But I've never

ce and that sort of thing-we must often come and dine with

f you to ask

e phrase is. By the way, I'm sure you know everything, Mrs Ottley, tell me, did people

won

o make them know each other almost too quickly, and gave her an odd sor

We've got the same coloured ribbons and you haven't

n't I? I

l tone and said: 'Do you know, what I always say

ark saying,

I always say.... But people won't, you know-they won't-and there it is.' He seemed resigned. 'Good chap, Mitchell, isn't he? Musical

sked Aylmer of Edith. He ha

ith

all we? I can't play

husband? I didn't not

posite; the lef

th the light moustach

to be enjoying himself. I'm glad

deed,' sa

an-like an old photograph, or

care for

g Bourget. Fancy, I didn't know about him!

't he? But you could do worse than

been reading Rudyard Ki

n't you lik

an name without an introduction, or as if he wanted me to exchange ha

lowers, lilies of the field, and so forth, don't toil or spin; why should they belong to libraries? I don't think you eve

compliment. 'I should have thought you loved them, an

'Oh, don't be cultured-don't talk about Lloyd George! Don'

ht; I'll

to Captain Willis, who

t's all very well no doubt. But I only ask one thing-just one. Is t

t to be. What'

words have I had with you tonight, Mrs Ottley.... I suppose tha

t. Indeed you are.

I th

you amu

erily. He always filled