Double Harness
Sloane Street for a month before settling at Milldean for the autumn. The gathering was of Grantley's friends, one of the sets with whom he had spent much of his time in ba
young bride-might set her thinking, and encourage or discourage her according to the conclusions she came to about them. She and Raymore would bear scrutiny well as things went. There was a very steady and affectionate friendship between them; they lived comfortably together, and had brought up their children-a boy and a girl-successfully and without friction. Raymore-a t
and got through a lot of money. When Fanshaw was making plenty, and Christine had plenty to spend, things went smoothly enough. In bad times there was trouble, each thinking that retrenchment could best be practised by the other and in regard to
r and towards the outside world; almost aggressively affectionate in public. "Trying to humbug everybody," Tom Courtland used to say; but that was too sweeping a view. Their excessive amiability was the result of their frequent quarrels-or rather tiffs, since quarrel is perhaps an over-vigorous word. T
d them rather, but was generally affable and agreeable when nothing occurred to upset her. Tom Courtland grew more depressed, heavy, and dreary every day. A
e, Walter Dudley Blake, a favourite of hers and of many other people's, known as a climber of mountains and a shooter of rare game in his energetic days; suspected of enjoying life somewhat to excess and with ri
of a bulk of fair average merit. Perhaps there might have been an ideal union-just to counter-balance the Courtlands at the other extreme. If such were desirable, let it be hoped that the Imasons themselves would supply it. In regard to one point, she decided, the com
om Christine Fansh
What are you thinki
sual way. You might pass her over once; but if y
s have kept your atte
ance. "And I was wondering what she thought of us all, what we all
estions, don't they
swers, I should think. And do
t really at a
yes say something d
im, since she was not very easy herself to please. He was glad she app
ly as bad as continually discussing the Arian heresy, as old Johnson says. Bu
ut Sibylla. I shall have to
rth having; and I'm only lear
t frame of mind for a husband. I
you know me u
ught a
ell," she said. "Y
d, since it seems to hint at something rare and out of
aid with a laugh which politely waived any claim
up the key of the
read your Blu
the conversation had soon turned from Sibylla to Grantley himself, or at least had dealt with Sibylla purely
is loud voice-a voice that had a way of stopping ot
as Cr?sus, Fanshaw!"
! Christine and I were disc
ed Christine in her delicate tones, generally
then threw out your Bu
from my back, and made an ab
anshaw insisted rather heatedly. "What
ristine, watching the gradual flushing of h
d slightly, and spoke with an affected air. "We should retrench in
uggested Blake, ch
are beautifu
p-pointed emphasis. "You should rea
ded by another husband. That
own," smiled Mrs. Selford
row," Tom Courtland whisper
e nature of things be final," Fanshaw insisted.
hristine interrupted. "At that
aw," laughed Blake. "And if any of you can't
ld manage them as well as they manage that--" He took a great gulp of champa
Sibylla with a k
ing you, Mrs. Imason? Not
d in on her
intain Mrs. Ima
I think that's mine, Blake, thank
This was Lady Harriet's first contribut
a tale unfold
ch could be discussed with more or less good-nature, or quarrelled over with more or less acerbity, and those which were in another category. The moment the Courtlands were in question, a constraint arose. Tom Courtland himself broke the si
accusation of Christine's extravagance. Selford victimised young Blake with the story of a picture which he had just picked up; he declared it was by a famous Dutch master, an
blooming and happy, a
, old boy.
oice and spoke wi
t stand it any longer! I'd sooner take any risk. Oh, I shall b
y gave
said. "That sort of thin
than what I've gone through. At any rate I get a
tting aw
them about that. I told Harriet she made the house in
-and who
d warily befor
a Bol
d his brows an
ensi
a mixture of rue
tly," he said, drumming his fingers on the cloth. "By heaven, if I'd
ley n
. I could have gone straight. She's
d chap. They'l
rantley. I don't want to make an exhibition of
judicial. Christine Fanshaw attracted her most, first by her dainty prettiness, also by the perfection of her clothes (a thing Sibylla much admired), most by her friendly air and the piquant suffusion of sarcastic humour that she had. She seemed to treat even her own grievances in this semi-serious way-one of them certainly, if her husband were one. Such a manner and such a way of regarding things are often most attractive to the people who would find it hardest to acquire the like for themselves;
elf cosily by her. "I'm rather tired of all these women, except Kate R
u? I'm s
a great deal-and I'm representative." She laughed gaily. "John and I are quite representative. I like John really, you know; he's a good m
presentative?"
ut something, not about nothing, like the Selfords-though I don't know that that is quite so representative, after all." She paused a moment, and resumed less gaily, w
a good
are whether he liked me or not; when I-when I-well, when I didn't care, as I said
bylla pressed the littl
We're very lucky. Loo
ke other people appreciate their own goo
ke are two of the most sought-after of men, and you've married one of them
ylla sat by silent; she was still very ignorant of all the life they talked about. She knew that Christine's charges carried innuendoes from the way Blake met them, but she did not know what the innuendoes were. But she was
n love with-to give, oh, your whole heart and so
necessity o
eps you a bache
le ruefully, or at least as though he were
to marry yet," she pleaded, and
wed the Courtlands downstairs, Raymore accompanying them and giving the men cigars while their wives put their cloaks on. Grantley asked for a cab, which was some little while in coming;
in the brougham as we go to my mo
nds smoke; but as a matter of fact
cted-I said
riet, but you m
ce. His wife was still very quiet, yet Raymore and Grantley exchanged apprehensive looks; the lull be
going ho
just
are you
the
t cl
?" Grantley call
; there'll be
demanded Lady
en't made up my mind. I'm o
even the cabman, who heard the outburst and leant down from his high seat, trying to see. It was like some physical affliction, an utter loss of self-c
d all her neck. "Pretty clubs you go to hard on midn
nd through his arm. Tom Courtland stood motio
swept down the steps. She moved grandly. She came to the door of he
driving with th
my l
carried; it had stout ivory sticks and a large knob of ivory at the end. She dashed the knob against the w
touched his hat, and join
eyes and bowed shoulders, Tom Courtland went down the
more turned
ened to-night-when yo
it mean?"
the answer in their faces. They knew where Tom Courtland ha
ld stand a sav
ion of a ruin inevi