Part 36 (1/2)

Then their four eyes, which for forty minutes had scarcely left the entrance staircase, were rewarded She caold bag, and a black velvet hat

”I'm not late, am I?” she said, after the introduction

”No,” they both replied And they both meant it For she was like fine weather The forty ed from the records of time--just as the memory of a month of rain is obliterated by one splendid sunny day

IV

Edward Henry enjoyed the tea, which was bad, to an extraordinary degree He became uplifted in the presence of Miss Elsie April; whereas Mr Marrier, strangely, drooped to still deeper depths of unaccustomed inert melancholy Edward Henry decided that she was every bit as piquant, challenging and delectable as he had iined her to be on the day when he ate an artichoke at the next table to hers at Wilkins's She coincided exactly with his rehtly ent--there was no other word Beautiful she was not, for she had a turned-up nose; but what charm she radiated! Every movement and tone enchanted Edward Henry He was enchanted not at intervals, by a chance gesture, but all the tiered her tea-cup, when she pushed her furs back over her shoulders, when she spoke of the weather, when she spoke of the social crisis, and when she made fun, with a certain brief absence of restraint--rather in her artichoke ht and believed:

”This is the finest woman I ever saw!” He clearly perceived the inferiority of other women, whom, nevertheless, he admired and liked, such as the Countess of Chell and Lady Woldo

It was not her brains, nor her beauty, nor her stylishness that affected hi that resided in every particle of her individuality

He thought:

”I've often and often wanted to see her again And now I'ot that list, Mr Harrier?” she asked, in her low and thrilling voice So saying, she raised her eyebrows in expectation--a delicious effect, especially behind her half-raised white veil

Mr Marrier produced a document

”But that's _my_ list!” said Edward Henry

”Your list?”

”I'd better tell you” Mr Marrier essayed a rapid explanation

”Mr Machin wanted a list of the raight sort of people to ask to the corner-stone-laying of his theatah So I used this as a basis”

Elsie April sood!” she approved

”What _is_ your list, Marrier?” asked Edward Henry

It was Elsie who replied:

”People to be invited to the draive six a year No title is announced nobody except a committee of three knows even the name of the author of the play that is to be perfor is kept a secret Even the author doesn't know that his play has been chosen Don't you think it's a delightful idea? An offspring of the New Thought!”

He agreed that it was a delightful idea

”Shall I be invited?” he asked

She answered gravely, ”I don't know”

”Are you going to play in it?”