The Reason Why

been talk of his going to Canada, and much chaff upon that subject-so ridiculous, Tancred emigrating! But of a prospective bride the most gossip-loving busybody

be over. She had thought his silence since had only been sulking! But who was the creature? "Countess Shulski." Was it a Polish or Hungarian name? "Daughter of the late Maurice Grey." Which Grey was that? "Niece of

hough she had never been really sure of him. It was a mercy her conduct had always been of such an immaculate

lunch at Glastonbury House. There she might hear all the details;

Duke and Lady Ethelrida, Constance Radcliffe, and two men: an elderly politician, and anoth

ooner seated t

f him just now, though I as one of his best friends have been urging him

he wore on a long black ribbon into his whimsical old blue eye. "But Tristram's a

late, while she gave an answer qui

guide Lord Tancred! And what is the charm

n a quiet way and seems a capital fellow-but Ethelrida and I have never met the niece. Of course, no one has been in t

wn bride! Have you not even heard what she is like

da from the other side of the table-there had been a pause-"an

e time she had asked her to this, her birthday party, when they had met at Cowes in August, and now she was faced with the problem how to put her off, since Tristram and his bride would be coming. She saw the glint in the light hazel eyes as she described the fiancé and her kind heart at once made her determine to turn the conversation. After all, it was perfectly n

bout her rival, in order to lay her plans; and the moment Ethelrida was engaged with the po

e had only talked of Canada-and not a word of a lady then. It was a bolt from the blue. "And when I telephoned to the old boy this morning," he sai

Laura. "Tristram is off to

in the deuce of a hurry a

, poor darling boy!" she said sympathet

ever do anything for money. I thought you knew him awfully well," he added,

out and then laughed. "But you m

'd not have been so silent about it all otherwise. The Canada affair was probably because s

ve her wild! Her little pink and white face with its carefully arranged childish

en!" she said. "Tristram coul

the blundering cousin continued, now with malice prepense. "He's h

ut of this quarter. Finally luncheon came to an end, and the three ladies went up to Ethelrida's s

d cooed. "I am going back to Hampshire to-morrow, but at the end of t

dgeworths, have had to throw us over-his father being dead. It will be rather a family sort of collection, and not so amusi

cred! Tristram and I are such dear friends, poor darling boy! I must write and t

t a change in her level voice while her thoughts ran: "It is very plucky of Laura; or, she has some plan! In any case I can't

prospective happiness in having a daughter-in-law, and "dear

ntry to-morrow that her list, which she enclosed, was made up for her November party, but if he would like any one else for his bride to meet, he was t

ceived about these wishes

ust as she was finishing, and

two understood each other so well, they often seemed to begin in th

still insists upon coming to the shoot. She can't do anything there, and they may a

go and leave our cards to-day on the Countess Shulski, and another of min

xtremely intelligent. We ought not to be so prejudiced, perhaps, just because he is a foreigner, and in the City

I daresay you are right, and one ought not t

ughter's smoothly brushed

carriage, in London), to Park Lane, and was handing her cards to her

a fairly tall man, and distinguished looking. He came forw

ousseaux and feminine business, but he was so delighted to

tfitchet, Mr. Markrute," she said, "on the 2nd of November. Tristram say

niece will be delighted at you

liberty of having the book, which I told you about, rebound-it was in such a tattered condit

e," Lady Ethelrida said, a little stiffly. "Bring it to the shoot. It will interest me to see it but you must not give it to me."

ut she shall take the book-and

d clever, and his wife gentle and sweet. Mirko could not have a nicer home, it seemed. Their little girl was away at her grandmother's for the next six weeks, they said, but would be enc

He saw her and her small bag into a taxi. She was going back to her uncle's, a

n I was returning by. There is plenty of time so I will go and have tea with you at Neville Street. It wil

ooked a wonderfully handsome foreign gentleman; his manner to women was always courteous and gallant. Z

ant of which, a handsome young man, caught the most fleeting glimpse of them-hardly

mself, "she went to Paris yesterd

and sat moodily down in his favorite chair-a