The Brother of Daphne
k steps on the steep, uncarpeted sta
in," s
girl in a lilac dres
awfully la-O-o
sn't her
looking at one anoth
. Larel?" s
nt. Won't you sit down?
sm
w," sh
told
l he has,
peal of
eared,"
r. It cost three and ninepence in the King's Road. Local col
, she took he
u were awfu
England, to study, I understood. He always drew rather well. Then one spring morning I struck him in Piccadilly, by the railings of the Gre
," said I. He
ther nice, that. Pity there aren't more. Why d
begged them to," said I. "
d at me crit
are." He stepped back and half closed his eyes. "Yes, that'll d
d, George. Come
was a child there yesterday, playing in the Park, with eyes-I've only seen their like once before. That was in Op
lov
iled
d to the driver. "Go to Richmo
put his head o
ear that ha
sly for three hours. And all the time I sat still upon the throne, and George painted. About his work he sai
across the studio, and turned it round. A girl's picture. A girl in a flowered dress and a shady hat, her slight shining legs crossed at the knee
like the dress. She looks rather lovely, as
e lau
l right,"
and began deliberately to scrape out all the work he ha
chap," he sa
the nostril. It denotes the force of
ent on r
imply. Half way through my third sitting
er?" said I. "So
Just talk. Don't mind how I answer. I'm goin
the roof of my mouth, but I talked on. And all the time George alternately bent his brows upon me, and hung himself at the canvas, uttering strang
e portrait. Then I turned to Geo
going to make
said. "And now gi
finished. Such a fine, brave face. Not a bit pretty-just beautiful. Dark hair
o. And now-pleasedly I
you a cigar
lighted i
ursday, isn't
what I was
is, because last n
his morning all the cocks were two hours fast. I know. But
e cloud of smoke and
now," she said gravely, "and Au
the Tube. But then I'm not a pickpocket, and you are smoking. Besides, your
s,
picture a little, and
quick to
as they are. I believe I could say them. But th
been better," she said, resuming her seat in the dept
deeper: but the braces I b
ing. "Seriously, where is Mr.
re last autumn with ears such as he has never beheld outside
ll you Thu
hirts. Nobody recognized us. George had a cigar in his mouth, and his exact words were, 'Wottabow
's forgotte
ry, he's proba
ently afraid to
dn't very well overlook
e wiped out
my hea
u the truth, I don't know that I'm very angry with him. I shall pretend to be, of course. B
I like these ci
hat is it about our cigarettes
ything about cigarettes, real
rt. You are a connoisseurs (very good indeed). These cigarettes are actually straight from th
But tell me, why is
like it myself: it's so nourishing. Besides, it goes so well with a blue sui
flectively settling her frock. "Whit
your eggs-I mean eyes. I know.
you wer
ger play for safety in dress. They have begun to dare. And con
hes have to
ve, while contrasts are active. We're
ase. I was in the Row at half-past
e the others are on the bank looking for a place to ti
az
g boots. You see, yo
t belie
a mirror in the room. The room is mirrorless. Very well, then. Either I must use the patent-leather of your little
's engaged. Sha
short for Bolingbroke. Meanwhile, may
a whole palm
in order. I have freq
iscuits hav
sister's awfully proud of
ar made-up ties,"
. Mischievously she regard
wful silenc
ys are goi
in a minute. Just to show you. These
gravely un
all hands with delight, and gave way
hall simply have to have an e
ve nothing o
able focussing, I managed to locate the environs of my collar i
feet. And people loved to look at her and hear the music of her laughing. Only, it was no good going on Thursday, because that was early-closing day in her realm, an
nd stopped. Cautiously I pee
e girl. "Here
to me. Hurriedly I glance
le recess, which was curtained off.
he whipped beh
l right?" I
es
second. Quick, lass
id, thrusting it b
I, kissing the
nto the room. "Thank heaven,"
mean?" I s
t was you. I was a fool to worry. But, you know, I suddenly
e been awful,"
orge, "it woul
heard smothered lau
id, "how did you kn
and clapped m
d. "I'm sorry, old
g at my watch. George took off his coat, a
late last ni
asp
you've only just
e had br
hat and turne
you going?"
iss Cicester, you would have crawled about the room, muttering
e said that my housekeeper'd b
n," s
was b
ube had stuck,
r the truth, and
w what w
e me. Would you dece
ed. They can't understand
"You mean, Margery-
ther a fancy to you-
deprecatin
I said carelessly.
d George. "Wh
d coolly. "You k
fool!" said George heatedl
urse. Is s
said George.
due here? I mean to say, supposing y
o'cloc
singly. "It must have
he arm. "Has she been
id come here. Now I come to think, she was somethin
nds with a cry. I stop
d excitedly. "W
se a van had just gone up the street.
said George. "Wh
I thought she was a model. I just sa
iterally
ter?" said I. "
" he cried, with the air o
es,"
d before I could stop him, rushed out of the studio. I put my he
you going
look. Then: "To wire
ind my lady a
wire you an ap
he said. "Poor Mr.
de and regarded her. "N
id severely. "Bu
uite a fancy t
g a red lip and tryi
ou're going to have your show. Kindly ascend
ugh," she said, settling hers
little a
you forgot all about the sitting, and that, by the way, when you got here, you met a man going out, and
et anyone lik
you've taken rather a fancy-- Here he is. Yes, queen
Mr. Larel, will you ever forgive me? I'm most awfully sorry. D'you know I quite forgot. I supp
wire so precipitately, and wondering how the deuce he could explain its arrival without revealing the true state of affairs. Apparently in the end he decided for the mome
ly, "there was a man here when I
mean him?" he said, p
. It wasn't him. At least," she added, leaning forward
e. "He was here five minutes ago, an
w was clean-shave
ith a shaking finger. "Isn't th
argery. "For the m
ach other's portraits for a week-" "Oh!" cried Margery. "And the fir
office all right?" sa
d Margery. "Did
er. "Then you were
d I. Margery broke
us darkly. "Yo
aid I. "To say nothing of ask
o," sai
pied by your full and abject apology, and two by the arranging of our next sittin
Margery's sittings-to-b
now, old chap," said I,
ows that I am her
aid I, "there'll
urned and ran back to the studio.
mischief..
and opened her mouth. Then she changed h
u can't ride with the herring
me. Neither would she
said I desperately
if you do happen to be in St. James
showed me the wire.
ol of servant misunderstood hasty instructions and refused you admission anothe
anced at the clock an
e off," I
d at Berry. The latter's eyes were a
ter with you?"
flesh is creeping. Now then. H
l be the las
t she's leaving
t him shar
ean, 'She'" I
known
," said I.
ly, "you do seem suspiciously keen abo
aze with a steady smile, her chin propped on
of being a minute late, a
nothing but the truth. It really was, The
ll me-" B
n't,"
my brother-in-law. "H
" I said, "
"We've only just fini
he object of affording him an opportunity, if possible, of perpetua
of felony," said Jonah. "Have y
." This was the truth. George was going
e wronging Bo
ou, dear
id Berry. "Never mind. Some d
ause you can't find an artist sufficiently da
be rude," Ber
d to th
lunch, old chap,
away my appe
you know w
ed the
," sai
said I,
e to put in
from George, saying that he had had my picture framed and was
cried Jil
e it awfully,
your fate?" s
like it," sai
to bury-I mean, ha
" said Berry. "We can easily
Daphne, "we'll have
and. "I don't want to be
upon hi
ie between us, yet from the east wall of the library, just above the type-writer, I shall smile down upon you
face with his hands. "Where is the Indian Club?" he added brokenly, "I don't mean the on
ah. "Where were the w
"They were worth
blaze is,"
r," said Jonah,
the trick-cycle ready, dear
hall. Yes, it had come. In the charge of two messenger-boys and a taxi, carefully shroud
no ashes?
pon a chair by the side of a window. I took
id Jonah. "Where's
erry. "James has gone fo
It was really a speak
I picked up the receiver. "Is that s
ry's
s," s
s that
t
the most awful th
" I said
u have g
es
u guessed I'v
very sympatheti
ear,
ow what I've
tearf
?" I sai