The Curved Blades
and even gay. Enthroned on her favorite red velvet chair, resplendent in an elaborately decorated gown of sapphire blue satin, with her bright au
earls. So remarkable were these, that the Count, who
nderful. Practically priceless, I assure yo
ormal home evening wi
s must be worn frequently to preserve their lustre. L
here? Is it s
Safe Deposit only this morning. I shall return them there in a fe
idn't you, Aunt Lucy?" said Pauline, casua
ok them over and pla
uired the Count again; "
robbery in Merivale Park. It is a
t on the Count; "you take
really no danger. Count Charlier, would you like
ll fair. She sometimes amused herself by making records for her
he asked, as he rummag
ongs," and Miss Carrington
and Haviland placed a
smiling; "don't mis
ugh and not a sound from the lady herself. Then the recorded voice said: "This song is one of Carr's favorites, I'll sing it for h
that the incident of the singer listening
"It is indeed pleasant to preserve one's songs thus.
viland, cordially. "Come over some morn
will give the invitations to my own house, if you please! Count Charlier, if you
cousin of Miss Carrington, and, while he lived with her in the capacity of a business secretary and general man of affairs, the post was a sinecure, for the services of her lawyer and of her social secretary left little for Haviland to do. His salary was a
sent cousin, was by no means treated as an equal of Miss Carrington herself. It seemed to give the elder lady delight to domineer over her niece and in e
intentions of leaving Garden Steps, but so
r tempers, and galled their very souls, but it was that or dismissal, and thus far they had stayed. Matters were nearing a crisis, however, and Haviland's patience was so sorely strained that he was secretly looking for anoth
f another sister, was engaged in antiquarian research in Egypt, where he had been since his graduation as an engineer. He,
wishes, had left his entire fortune to Lucy, his only remaining child. Thus her niece and nephew were her only
ucy Carrington was proud of her beautiful niece, and, too, was fond of her in her own way.
lly for short visits from his now permanent Egyptian occupation. He had always come laden with gifts of Oriental prod
speech to Gray Haviland, Pauline picked up an antique scarab fro
cast furtive glances at his hostess,
athing reproach to Pauline for intruding herself upon the Count's
hild!" And Pauline, unable to control herself longer,
If you don't, you may have cause to regret it. Count Charlier came here to see me, and I
embarrassed Count, "allow me, madame
nts behaved so rudely and played so badly it was impossible for us to continue the game. Nor ca
ittle hesitatingly, followed her. They crossed the great hall, and, going through a rece
pose the palms and orchids will bring him up to the scratch? 'Nita, I'll bet you a box of gl
read presence was removed. "I doubt he can help himself. She has h
. "He's a typical fortune-hunter, that man. Indeed, I am
that he's a guest of the Frothinghams. T
well, they're to be queried. But I say, Polly, if the
ing, of course, and send us away from here. I, for one,
very day she pounds us wor
de beauty were about as convincing as a kitten declaring himself
is not in my line, but the eternal fitness of things requires her removal to another sphere of usefulness. She
n to him, Mr. Illsley. He often says such things, but he doesn't mean th
cy Carrington is a misery dispenser, and such
don't like her, and so we see nothing good in what she does. Now
d he doesn't know the everlasting torture of living under her roof, year in and year out! But he caught on a little the la
letter over six times before she was satisfied. And every change she wanted ma
line. "You have your hours off, Anita, but I never do. She even wake
ley, and then all stopped short, for the obj
excitement. She giggled almost hysterically, and tapped the Count pla
had declared himself or not. The presumption was negative, for, h
no more demonstrative to his hostess than to the others, and went away. Illsley follo
cy's boudoir. It was by way of reporting for to-
opened the bedroom and bath, was sof
harlier?" Miss Carrington quic
Just a typical French nobleman, isn't
t sincerity. "Yes," she returned, "he is infatuated, I have reason to think. But-we sha
morrow?" asked Pauline, and, though she tried to sp
ink, Pauline, that it must be an irksome task to do the smallest favor for your aunt and benefac
e, Aunt Lucy, if you we
es? I give you a home, fine dresses, money, everything you can want, and you
don't! I di
top short of that! But you have done it. I mean this, Pauline: to-morrow you go
yne's soft voice implored gently--"d
t is your last beneath this roof! You are two unworthy girls, to scorn and slight the hand that has fed and clothed you and given you luxu
he house forever, but always forgiveness and reinstatement had followed. This time, however, the Lady Lucy had
h maid, and then told her to hast
appeared; "I'm not retiring at once. Get me out
tly obeyed orders and brought a whit
ington. "Bring the gold-emb
n one, from M
at Christmas time. My, but it'
aste, and he had sent her a typical Egyptian robe, of pale green silk, heavy with
emoiselle's hair?" ask
ll read awhile. You need not
s of milk, ma'mzell
ose I can see
will have your tea at
ou might remember that much yourself. But
it is eight, and, again
most exasperating! Why do you st
le; the pearls? Shall I
m in the safe mysel
le, on your dresse
to get out and stay out! Do you
moiselle;
il glare of the French girl's eyes, but