Part 48 (1/2)

”I don't know,” said Mordaunt, coolly ”You are going to marry Jim”

Evelyn colored, because she knehat he ed against Carrie applied to Ji to marry Jim or not,” she said

Mordaunt looked hard at her and his eyes sparkled ”Ah,” he said, ”I i like this would happen; in fact, I have waited for it It was plain that Jim would pall He has his virtues, but he is not theand honest It would be easier if he had some of our shabby faults Jim's code is as rude as himself, but it's stern and he lives up to it I don't know if I can”

”I know,” said Mordaunt, se, but all the sas to the old school and his rudeness is austere We are modern and live on another plane But how did you co?”

”Ji ”Unconsciously, of course He was here last evening and talked about his plans They are good plans Had I been different, I ht have helped, but they left irl to satisfy ais ridiculous,” Mordaunt declared, and was silent for a moment or two He did know Evelyn, and her frankness meant much It was plain that she meant to break with Ji to do about it?” he asked

”I don't know,” she said drearily ”I can't go on”

Mordaunt reement ”You cannot; but there is a way out I think you see the way Durst I hope you'll take it withand turned her head, and he went on: ”I'm not utilitarian, and my rule is yours We understand each other My talents will be used to aot up and stood by her chair ”You have pluck, Evelyn Tell Jio”

”I haven't much pluck,” she said, quietly ”Jile, and adventure; things I haven't known He's aan to doubt and see I wasn't strong enough to live his life I had wrapped ot needful and I couldn't break loose”

She paused and looked up ”Well, you areI'll tell Jim, but I shrink He may not understand, and it will hurt us both”

Mordaunt thought for a ht be better if Evelyn did not tell Jim, and he was afraid dick would meddle He took and kissed her hand

”My dear!” he said ”But you et hurt, and I have a plan

Hasn't Florence urged you to stop with her in town? Well, suppose you go and I join you there? We can be o to France or Italy Before we come back Jiot over their surprise”

Evelyn saw the plan had advantages It would obviate the need for aard apologies, and when she and Lance careed and submitted without emotion when Mordaunt put his arrets she was firuide; she had found this out and was logical again When Mordaunt went away all had been arranged, and when she sat down to write to Florence in London her hand was steady and composition easy After the note ritten she hesitated for a moment, and then resolutely fastened the envelope

A few days after Evelyn went to town, dick, co one afternoon, er flared up, for he had felt his responsibility and wondered with keen disturbance what he ought to do Although Lance was on the sands the night Carrie was nearly drowned and knewShanks moved the punt He had meant to be cautious and wait until he saw his way, but so in the fellow's furtive, sullen look, banished his control

He stopped Shanks and found it a relief to let hio The other was cool and hinted darkly that dick had better leave things alone He said dick had nothing to go upon; he had not seen Shanks near the punt, and if he went to the police about it, et somebody else into trouble Shanks knehat he knew, and if he were forced would tell

dick then used tact, scoffing at the other's hints until Shanks abandoned some of his reserve, and when the stormy intervieas over dick went home moodily The plan he had made of the ht to take not yet plain Lance was his relation

In the evening he drove Mrs Halliday to Dryholm, where Jim and his friends had been asked to dine They had not arrived, and while Bernard talked to Mrs Halliday, dick went to the library to look at a book about sport When he opened the door Mordaunt riting and there was a letter, to which he see, on the table

He nodded and went on writing, and dick was glad he did not want to talk After a few minutes a car rolled up the drive and when Mordaunt fastened the envelope they heard Jim's party in the hall

Mordaunt went down stairs and dick, co Mordaunt had dropped it, he picked it up and frowned as he recognized Evelyn's hand Mordaunt was talking to Mrs

Winter and dick did not want to disturb theive Lance the letter when they were alone Then Bernard beckoned hi dinner was served

dick did not enjoy the meal He could hardly rouse himself to talk to Carrie and when she turned to Mordaunt, the latter's careless san to joke e dick was in a black mood, for the secret he carried had worn his nerves, and he did not like Evelyn's writing to Lance He was resolved that his sister should have nothing to do with the fellow When dinner was over he said to Mordaunt, ”I'd like to see the gun you bought”