The Curved Blades

e sunken gardens justified their right to give the place its name. Other stone steps gave on terraces and flower banks, others still led to the Italian landscape

ggias, were so lavishly furnished with flowering plants, its windows so boxed with them

-only the varied and extraordinary collection of evergreens shared with the ste

glorified the whole estate. Wind-swept drifts half hid, half disclosed the

percilious moon looked down, a little haughtily and condescende

he held back the heavy curtain for the golde

rward, toward the casement, Haviland let the curtain fall behind him

ung her round to face him, and stood gazing at the pretty,

like a moonli

r sunshine--" Haviland's eulogy was inter

I hear you talking;

ng the curtain aside, he let An

y, all ready for the fra

smile that she kept on hand for mankind in general, and which was quite

s Lucy Carrington tapped impatiently on the bridge

beautiful, and had not even enough pretension to good looks to think herself beautiful. Plain features, graying hair-dyed red-big, prominent light-blue eyes, and a pasty, pudgy complexion left no h

o knew her felt there might be other reasons why her suitors had been few, but, as a matter of fact, the acidity of her disposition was a direct result of

one of these. Aristocratic and high-minded, she had unerring perception of motives, and the men who had b

f manner, he flattered Miss Carrington in such wise that his attitude was acceptable if not indubitably sincere. Her closest scrutiny and most challenging provocation failed to surprise any admission of her lack of perfection in his ey

trued as of definite intention, but there had been certain signs

rsion, and, as the Count also enjoyed it,

ds. A poor hand always brought down violent objurgation on the head of her partner and sarcastic comment or criticism on her adversaries. These exhibitions of w

ntly, as they settled themselves at the table. "You know I

me, Lady Lucy, I wi

cut them! Have you no notion of bridge rules? You are quite the

iled as she deftly dealt the red c

od hand! A strange id

n," and Miss Frayne hastil

in! That's babyish. I like to win by su

all at the table knew it, but i

made her more and more irate with each hand dealt. Miss Frayne, who was her protégée and social secretary, watched with grow

c

ton exclaimed, angrily, and flung the off

e peace if possible, "that was a clever idea! It will certainly cha

and gathered up the cards, chatting meanwhile. "You don't lose yo

examined her hand. "Nothing above a nine spot!" sh

picking up the hand. "Why, you didn't look

ay the hand is worthless!" She fairly snatched the

u have an ace and two queens, I could have

play all the open hands! You want me to si

--" and Anita Frayne

e good hands to humor me! I believe you would c

ita flush, "do not tell the young

a mummy, while these people are insulting me right and left! Tell Anit

nd; "you know she didn't. Why, sh

gave a disagreeable sneer. "She's quite

t let you talk so about Mi

er? Go away, both of you! I'll play with you no longer. Go away and s

ubly. "Let up, Cousin Lucy," he said sternly. "You've no right to tr

ogizing, and you, too, my foolish young cousin. You little know w

ly. The same idea was in both their minds. Could she mean tha

you learn to control that temper of you

d in the corner of a big davenport, w

hispered, as he came near her.

und Pauline Stuart, Miss Carrington's niece, and Stephen I

idge with the Lady of the Manor! She's in a peach of a fur

ntly; "It's Anita's turn to-

m going to comfort her, but you must go and keep the gentle Lucy from pulling the house down about our ears! She'

t I suppose we'll have to," a

ave them; "and, for Heaven's sake, give her al

ot. Her eyes a

get her to play mumble-peg or

do so hate to play with Aunt Lucy," she said, "but i

" And the two wen

ength and will-power that contrasted forcibly with the delicate Dresden china beauty of Anita Frayne. The two girls were not especially friendly, though never definitely at odds. Anita was envious of the mo

llitions of temper and their resentment of the biting sarcasms an

f good address, followed Paul

bled Miss Carrington. "Sit dow

nce or twice she triumphed through a mistake of her adversarie

unt to niece, but he made no comment. All four played well, and whe

mit, Count, that it was clever of me to take tha

l mind; you should have been a diplomat. Also, Fortu

for a moment Miss Ca

e card luck changed. Pauline and Illsley held all the

themselves in the angry, swelling throat. Then, as she scanned a hand of cards, all below the ten, again they

gh it off; "this is not your lucky night. Let's g

ust alike! Selfish, ungrateful, caring for nothing but your own pleasure. Mr. Illsley, don't you think young girls should pay some sl

cuse me, I am not s

he girls slight me and snub me every chance they

ave some music. You know there are some new r

ords? Did you get

. We couldn't

you had wanted certain record

get them if they aren't made,

m, so he says he 'tried his best,' to excuse

c drowned further flow o