Part 37 (2/2)

And the duchess supposed: ”A happier type?”

”Well, she's rather happy I think, take it all together,” Jimmy said

”Has she children?”

”None”

”Is she in love with her husband?”

And he was so long searching for a reply that the duchess laughed quietly

”Poor man,” she said, ”don't bother But then since she's so happy, she must be in love with soht immediately

”I don't think she in the least is And why,” he went on, ”since happiness is so greatly the question of other people's state of o at the fact that she is herself very uest rather absently She was thinking of the happy beauty, the woman of a different type froht by her husband for the second ti Ji were all on the other side”

When the Duke had casually asked his guest's plans for Christ his host by declaring that he could not possibly be one of a second house party

”Do you, then,” Westboro' had asked, ”_hate_ the holidays?”

The genial Bulstrode had assured him to the contrary

”Nor do I,” continued the Duke, ”even though I'e of a divorce I expect there's too long a line of jolly Christh the season

But I don't want to have Christ to an empty house, my dear fellow”--He put it pathetically, ”there's no one in this gloomy place but yourself and myself We must have a Christmas party The tenants will, of course, be noisy and cheerful, but I' to ask a lot of people down and make the list out now”

And Bulstrode had, however, firo away ”There are,” he wound up his arguo”

But Westboro' had co ”every reason” down to the country ”And,” continued his Grace, ”we'll narrow things into the most intimate circle possible For I shall ask the Ravensworths of Surrey and their children, there are eight of thes; they used to play with my boys

We'll turn them loose and have a tree, old man”

Jimmy watched his face with a keen pity, for there had not been one ray of light in it as he planned for his celebration

”But you arrange to coe--Iis too much for me, why I'll bolt and you'll have to stand by”

He was, as he spoke, writing the names on a sheet of paper Bulstrode felt the plan to be rather _triste_ and lifeless, and he knew that he could not and would not keep the duchess' secret er, let its revelation cost him what it would

”Westboro',” he said, ”I shall have to be getting off to-morrow You knoould stand by you if I could possibly see my way clear”