When the Birds Begin to Sing

IN FEAR

nk of this impromptu, supper-party. Giddy's feet for the moment are mercifully conceal

ing you would come bac

ing her words to be untrue. "Brown could not put me u

Quinton; he kindly sa

adds Giddy, as Carol, grasping

ke your acquaint

illity, the pallor of her face, and nervous hesitating speech. She is no adept at concealing her emotions or "passing things off" like Giddy and Carol. She

o odd," she whispers. "I sa

ear; I am far too fond of you to care about making a friend of your husband."

little fool, to be sat upon already!" She hears them come up, and creeping

self in distinctly masculine tones. Eleanor is heard crying, but

out her hands to the fire. "What

laughs. "I shall breakfast

so good, so uninteresting, so domesticated! I

ing her hands and s

ou like, and laugh at your husband. He can't scold you if you laugh! Tears will only gratify his vanity, besides they are disastrous to be

ng and facing the glass. "I hope Sarah

e Mr. Roche happened to leave in a lecturing mood this m

did not know

ly nothing. It is very useful to members with jealous husbands. We call it the 'Butterflies' Club,' a land of cosy corners and rendezvous. You really will have to joi

tionately through Eleanor'

ge will be here in half an hour, an

the prospect. She i

der gently with her fingers round the swollen eyes,

more fevers," she says; "life is

fur, for Mrs. Mounteagle declares it is ne

ther in the widow's

door to receive them; he starts, colours, a

n a bantering tone, "and don't gape like an

in a grey glove, smiles feebly, and

e?" murmurs Eleanor, laughing softly, "ins

remember

e you will make Giddy a good

It is a mercy I have come back alive after my illnesses

, the Butterfly that is to be," says Giddy

ughs merrily at he

as coming, but now we ar

your charming home the other evening was ill-timed.

ers Eleanor,

, "that I could not go home, but paced the pavemen

quite a long while, during which an ordinary person would have expressed their feelings several t

a fog? It is like your smile," says Carol, gazing

always happy," she

t is deep, searching, admiring; it confuses her. She wants to push it away like something

hap

k from him wit

ay in the year. You need not scheme for love nor demand it. It is yours by natural right. Why is not

riend, would deny her intercourse with Carol Quinton, could he hear these low-whispered words of adulation! As she thinks of it, her husband takes the form of som

asks Mr. Quinton, watching the fi

fternoon; I had been crying. I l

ight is turned up, and a lit

ble in the gloaming!" pulling he

ike light better than

iastically viewing the beautiful room. "Anyone co

, with a rose-coloured lamp," says Carol. "When you ar

?" she asks innocently, su

only in one line: 'I live-

n odd l

ty, and scorn the commonplace. I know a girl who always spe

hated for such a cau

n is more fashionable in Society than that of real affection. For myself, I think a kiss is overrated. It shou

se I idolise you;' 'I kiss you because you are estimable;' 'I kiss yo

the delicate, sce

fly in the corner. I have some invitations to answer

s. Roche regrets that, owing to no previous engagement, she

l la

'At home' on

I shall de

t them expect you-and fail to tu

grows pale. She feels hersel

ntly. "But I shall be

n the matter. I would com

Oh! how allur

at night in her dreams, a red Maltese cross on a blue ground. The blue and red swim before her eyes n

ht do as I lik

u could blot from you

his hand on hers, and the touch th

me home; it is nearly half-past

s her eyebrows at Ele

e would be lat

asing on h

s linger a moment as they fall on her shoulder, a

iddy, "and Bertie is coming with me, so I dare

st delightful ideas, and as to Philip's prejudices--we

ery word "flirtation", the next, inconsistent, susceptib

into the hansom. It is dark already, dark as the

ld," says

r furs clos

ith a ten

volume in

is having tea with his c

and where help is needed, yet human enough to err occasionally. Philip has known her from a child, has seen her weakness

till at last Erminie folds her arms, looks him

the matt

t returns her

have come to confide in

who has heard many a conf

wife-she is young, quite a

I have done all in my power to stop the intimacy, but protestations only appear to strengthen it. This woman has got Eleanor entirely under her thumb, she is like soft clay in her hands. I thought I could mould my wife, who was utterly unformed, a little count

s head on his arms ov

inie; you mig

ow

h us-use your infl

rson seems

ted. I would do any

ckly, his eyebrows

"but" from Erminie's li

is world are its

very shortly, I am in th

" he replies, smother

makes a

," she says, hol

l be so inc

and try to win her from the widow. Erminie Henderson

ands, and wring

ittle woman that ev