The Splendid Folly

t of the afternoon's proceedings-the major portion of them, that is. Certain details were not included in the veracio

nt," replied Max, smiling. "Such chances are rare in this twentieth century of ours, and Miss Quentin always kindly

g-must not be taken seriously. He had only been amusing himself with her-just as he had amused himself by chatting in th

the Rector was saying-"unless it's hopeles

ll be some surviving re

k any discrepancies," p

on, "do

ling back-there was something infectious about Stair's geniality. "I'm a

e did, she thought scornfully, it was only in keeping with that calm arrogance of his by which he allocated

winkling humorously a

in the regulation starch," he said, "I don't think I shoul

ith pleasure," r

for understanding. The half-sad, half-bitter mouth smiled faintly, the smile accentuating that u

tortured herself with questioning as to why-if all that had passed meant nothing to him-he had chosen to stay. Once she hid her burning face in her hands as the memory of those kisses rushed over her afre

f terms with themselves and each other. Errington was speaking as she entered the room, but he stopped abruptly,

dging your word during

hat you'll sing to

don't think I want

e, regarding her the while with quizzical eyes-"e

fiantly. How dared he-oh, how d

erious enough for that,"

smile flickered

ill sing?"

if you

and as they went in t

adventure-rat

aken a great liking to each other. It would have been a difficult subject indeed who did not feel attracted by Alan Stair; he was so unconventionally frank and sincere, brimming

f England clergy, as a whole, were as human as you are, you would have fewer offshoots from your Established Church. I

looked up i

a member of our C

embarrassed, as though he ha

o," he replied evasively. "I have

caught some little foreign turns of speech. Severa

encountered more than once when conversing with him-always should she chance to touch on an

e there's a dash of foreign blood in my veins,

a cloak and wandered restlessly out into the moonlit garden. She felt that it would be an utter impossibility to sit still, waiting until the me

-room open, and Max Errington step across the thr

er-to say nothing of a sore throat," he said

ed with a perverse desir

thank you," she replied stif

d composedly. "But I'm quite sure

ection of the house, and, rather to her own surprise, she

taking up her foot in his hand, deliber

sole, dank with dew. "Go up and put on a pair

e found herself m

hoosing the songs they wanted her to sing, while Joan was laughingly protes

Di," she added, as she se

a non of a good accompanist. Diana, accustomed to the trained perfection of Olga Lermontof, found herself considerably handicapped, and her rendering of the

e was a singer destined to make her mark. The slight surprise which he had evinced on first learning that she was a pupil of the great Baroni vanished instantly. No master could be better

i," she said at the conc

t manage the

nd crossed the r

is, if Miss Quentin permits? It is hard lines to be suddenly cal

t gladly. "Then please do. I feel as if I were comm

t the far end of the ro

better audience

id Errington, turning

and shook a little as she fidgeted restlessly with a sheet of music. It almos

wn hand over h

play for you,"

ission to accompany her as a token of forgiveness. She met his glance, wavered a moment, then bent her head in silence, and each of

hat had been impossible before. And through it all she was acutely conscious of Max Errington's proximity-knew instinctively that the passion of the song was shaking him equally with herself. It was as though some int

he last note trembled into silence, and D

more," she said,

N

conic negative, but his ey

s fell on their ears and

I realise now that we've been entertaining genius unawares all this time. Joan, my dear, he

y. "I think I was born with a humdrum nature

Di," begged Stair. But

tly. Turning abruptly to Errington s

o, and, after a pause, the three grave notes with which Ra

undation. The Rachmaninoff was followed by Chopin, Tchaikowsky, Debussy, and others of the modern school, and when finally he dropped his hands

ist, Mr. Errington. It seems to

one la

ment, I'm afraid, Joan," c

with confusion, and r

t of leaving, reassure

ged compliments, Miss Stair. I entirely decline to see any

ding the latter's hand an instant longer than

peace

ic was broken, and Diana felt her

ourage born of the near neighbourhood of the Rector and Joan, and a few minu

into her life. It was as though he had been forced thither by a resistless fate which there wa

moods, the temperamental heat and ice which he had meted out to her. It seemed as if he were fighting against the attraction she had for him, prepared to

Could it be-was it conceivable, that he was already married? And at the thought Diana hid hot cheeks against her pillow, living over aga

he dropped into an uneasy slumber, vaguely

e occupants of Red Gables had suddenly