The Summons

Su

ocial, economic, military, would come and great adaptations have to be made. But, meanwhile, to use the phrase which was soon to be familiar in half a million mouths, people carried on. The Brown coup

all back easily. Flat racing's no good fo

oved by the enthusiastic explosions of Miranda Brown to reveal some d

t dress," said Joan, "with the organ pla

t thrilling!"

upon these unusual arrang

ed his que

ymbolical

" said Miranda. "I suppose her ma

quite despondent over th

sked Jupp in

d never und

ooking up from his scientific re

talked racing all

th contempt. His eyes were fixed symp

elevate us, Joan, but, honestly, does

rable. Joan shot at him one annihilating

he meaning of words. They are ribald, uneducated

supplie

"She comes of the ancient Sc

her eyes danced and with a flash of sound white teeth she broke into honest laughter. She did

the Wednesday evening. Sir Chichester came into t

up in London by press of work and will only be

rd loo

o Esc

him?" asked

Hillyard. "Press of w

h the girls," s

lay would not hav

great many social engagements of the most desirable ki

m," said M

much indeed." The statement was

s charming,"

ooked from on

settle it, do

asked Sir

ous exhibitions of male jealou

address besides his club. Now, I will lay a nice five to one that n

point had its importance. The women did not appreciate the importance, b

with his club as his address. But it simply means that he

n Whitworth was the cause. She loved Joan; she was annoyed with Joan; she admired Joan; she was amused at Joan; and she h

ard, as they drove through the Park

. "She is beautiful, isn't she, with t

s," answere

self! She isn't dressed at all, is she?

would have got over it all by Goodwood. But no! Really I could sl

h some doubts as to the truth of his comment, moments now and ag

he was thorough then, too. I remember coming out of the Albert Hall on a Melba afternoon, when we could get nothing but a hanso

ped the side of the

fool." Lady Splay turned mena

n't," he

ast thing to

it," declared

u, if you had," rejoined Millicent

-comer to Rackham Park. She could not bear that he

s have yet come near her. No real troubles, no deep joys. Her parents even died when she was too

Hillyar

sn't got hold of them. She runs here. She runs there. She explores, she experiments. That's why she's dressed like a tramp and thinking out a book where the heroine

leaned back

nolia this morning? It burst into flower during the night. Jo

lyard remembered her glance when he had casually spoken of Harry Luttrell. Then she startled

dd for something great, and thinks that to be unusual is to be

ough into the paddock. Millie Splay looked rou

r Prince Hohenstiel-whatever his name is. She

me to Goodwood that year,

from his flat in London, or should have been lost in the post. Each evening when the party returned from the races his first question asked whether there was no telegram awaiting him. So regular

Mr. Hillyard,"

e summons hoped for, despaired of, made so often into a wh

o up to town this

es gathered

id Harold Jupp. "We hav

hichester suggested. Even Joan Whitworth descen

ammered Martin. "But I am afra

ay was p

etter see fir

the future like a rapier, was still standing st

id. "But I know al

closed nearer as he tore o

is cash-I mean trash. Little o

en sent that aftern

face should hold firm longest. Joan herself was the first to flee, and she was found rocking t

ted, and he went up several poin

er; and in the centre of the plain, by Bosham water, the spire of Chichester Cathedral piercing the golden air. Paddock and lawn and the stands were filled until about two in the afternoon. Then the gaps began to show to those who were concerned

small, brown-gloved hand touched his arm. He turned and saw Joan Whitworth at his side, her lovely face alive with excitement, her eyes most friendly. It was hardly at all the Joan he knew. Joan had courage, but to face Goodwood i

aid. She held it out to him enclosed in a

in him such a whirl of emotion that, for a moment or two, Joan Whitworth spoke and he was n

ew you were expecting one. When this one came, I thought that it might be important and that you ought to have it at once. On the other hand it might be another t

obar?" cri

e was quite certain that we

ret in his voice ma

I w

stened to r

you were quite right,

ace clea

was important I could bring it

d eagerly. "But now you a

ir Chichester and his wife in the paddock, and Hillyard wished his hosts good-bye. Mario Escobar

arty. You have not forgotten? You are off?

r spinning up and down the road into the hills. It was an afternoon of blue and gold, with the larks singing out of sight in the sky. The road wound up and down, dark hedges on one side, fields yellow with young wheat upon the other, and the scent of the br

u glad

tence of misun

ming, I want to fall back into the rank and fi

rstand that

itted or did not fit the inner politics of the Office, the capture of honours by the stay-at-homes-all the little miseries and horrors that from time immemorial have disfi

Joan. She brought the car to a halt on the edge of Duncton Hill. "Look for luck a

down and the misty slopes of Leith Hill-Hillyard was never to forget it, neither that scene nor th

ill be glad to hear news of you," she said, and she