The Custom of the Country

uch possibilities of tension were curtailed, after dinner,

ed only of Undine and Ralph, with Mrs. Fairford and her attendant friend. Undine vaguely wondered why the grave and grey-haired Mr. Bowen formed so invariable a part of that lady's train; bu

efore, and she had the delicious sense of being "in all the papers," and of focussing countless glances of interest and curiosity as she swept through the theatre in Mrs. Fairford's wake. Their stalls were near the stage, and progress thither was slow enough to permit of prolonged enjoy

Harriet Ray. "They're here to see me with him-they hate it, but they couldn't keep away!" She turned and lifted a smile of possessorship to Ralph. Mrs. Fairford seemed also struck by the p

incts in human nature. The murdered are as much give

eneral interest she was exciting, was at last repaid for the disappointment of her evening at the opera. It was characteristic of her that she remembered her failures as keenly as her triumphs, and that the passionate desire to obliterate, to "get even" with them, was always among the latent incentives of her conduct. Now at last she was having what she wanted-she was in conscious possession of the "real thing"; and through her other, diffused, sensations Ralph's adoration gave her such a last refinement of pleasure as might have come to some warrior Queen

She's going to ca

elf out-she's never been

t presently asked: "Who'

e." Undine fluttered and beamed as the brilliant Popple made his way a

what we're all of us wondering." He leaned over to give Marvell's hand the ironic grasp of celibacy. "Well, you've left us lamenting: he ha

. "I guess he isn't going to treat me any differen

lling, you know. Hadn't

wfully to get you i

That would be

y dear fellow; I daresay you'll be invited to some of the sittings-that's for Miss Spragg to

erly to Marvell. "Do you suppose there

r child-he WOULD 'do'

k, his asking

's painted your cousin,

rt' portrait's

urning on him, in the next entr'acte, a deliberately averted shoulder. The result of this was to bring her, for the first time, in more direct relation to her other neighbour. As she turned he turned too, showing her, above a shining shirt-fr

ce; but her movement made her opera-glass slip to the

he said with a slight smile, a

visible, and the dread of letting Marvell see it made her continue to turn her ravaged face to her other neighbour. The round black eyes set prominently in the latter

? Don't you want m

his seat, and was making his way toward the aisle; and this assertion of independence, whic

l write." Her neighbour continued to gaze at her, forming his

red; and as she made no answer he added: "Afr

"I can't explain. I promise to see yo

he affected to study it. "Anything to oblige, of course. That's alwa

m him. "I promise. I-I

me up in the morning at

-nine-g

r her reply, turned to study Mrs. Van Degen's box through his opera-glass. Clare, as if aware of the scrutiny fixed on h

with the red face tal

? Never saw him before. But I think you'

asn't she,

and Mrs. Van Degen paused for the fraction of a secon

ink she'd have introduc

shrugged. "Shall

his wife's box for a moment, caught th

aw him in old Harmon Driscoll's office the day of the Eubaw Mine meeting. This chap's his secretary, or somet

th the Driscolls you'd better cultivate him! That's the kind of acquaint

back and make his acquaintance." He held out his

by the presence of a muffled figure which revealed itself, throu

looded the room with light. The idea of a mother's sitting up for her daughter was so foreign

ecatingly to lift the cloak f

old father I HAD to. I wa

this hour? You'll be as white as a sheet t

rs. Heeny, a few hours earlier, had so lovingly raised. But the rose caught in a mesh of hair, and

white as a sheet now!

e matter,

broke awa

into her pale cheeks; and as Mrs. Spragg shrank back, she added more mildly, in the tone of a

. "I'm so sorry, Undie. I guess it was

r whom, ordinarily, no radiance was too strong; and Mrs. Spra

and her slippers and dressing-gown brought to her. Mrs. Spragg visibly yearned

ore you go to bed?" she suggested at l

or you right her

l answered: "No. I don't w

ience and a swift unformulated fear. "I'm going, Undie." She wavered. "Di

e." Undine rose to her feet and went on with her undressing, tossing

ouch, and laying them on the lounge, without daring to raise her eyes to her daughter. It was not till she he

ad tired," the girl grumbled, pr

ring all her scattered impulses into a passiona

anybody-I mean at th

WANT

exasperated face close to her mother's twitching features. The two women examined each other a