When the Birds Begin to Sing

o-day?" asks Philip, kissin

wn to have my dress

ore new

anxious about it, because it is the first I have had since my trousseau w

gret that lost acquaintance, little one. If Mrs. Mounteagle

our train if you

anor thinks regretfully of the pleasant t

ite weary of her own society by the time she

ch he indulged the previous evening. She asked him in the most pathetic terms never to cross her path in life again, because she was only a wea

is laid on her arm, a sense of exhilaration possesses her, whi

says feebly, ill concealin

on in my way, and it w

light, the words that held her paralysed, and seemed

going to do

at Twickenham Park has asked me to tea this afternoon,

is a ring of sarcasm and rebellion

ver been to

N

, it is past one,"

om, though Elea

can't," sh

m, dear," he rep

ing her; she feels

is too strong, an

is a married woman, she

o the hansom, an

ast time we drove

the Butterf

ark then,

n embarrassed flu

Roche," s

queenly. You have poisoned all my happiness

t back, every shred of sh

ld if yo

ow

king me back to favou

if I had done

esitating, half-

" says Eleanor, "than for you to acc

e between them

for me just a little, Eleano

ense emotion; "you must reform without my aid-it will be

rts these words

elieve tha

u put me on a par with a co

ile; "it is one of 'the social lies

ng into the Sa

pleased, half frigh

as she enters the hug

ts her out several celebritie

waiter, "for two," removing an

d for us?" she asks Mr. Qu

swered tenderly. "I knew you would b

s under her lashes. "Do you know, I have a calendar in my room, and every morning I

as it?"

er head over he

of female fortitude-

sighs, "T

says Mr

lance roun

their champagne, and merry tongu

ple and make histories

erick Thurston. Everybody prophesied that her high kick would lift her into the aristocracy when she first gained

le things?" murmurs Eleanor. "Th

id, quoting at me in fact, and you look so

ise her openly to her face. Please do not m

m endowed with the

on of Quinton's v

ower of insight and analysis. Their look is appreciat

ter study, but a woman to love,

f the world, one who can make himself utterly irresistible b

en them. Eleanor forgets her surr

the door, and remain tran

white stripes and leopard's skin cloak, followe

ms Eleanor, turnin

r deep sigh as

s a bad enemy, and now that we are hardly on speaking terms I dar

f our friendship, Eleanor? She coul

!" declares Mrs. Roche, drawing hers

finely pencilled eyebrows till they are lost to view under her fringe. She pats Caro

rs. Roche, and they seat t

nterested in what Carol is telling her. They

looked," whisper

u see you gave her th

ink she no

is as sharp

how I relied on her taste. Those enormous black and white feathers,

-headed man just com

Who

man, and a great financier. I

The name is quite familiar to me, and now I come to think of i

?" asks Quin

e head waiter, and evide

ssage. Suddenly her heart sinks;

e!" she says un

ou do?" whis

don't

uarrel up now, take her into your c

ands? Oh, Carol, it wo

e calls him by h

ome excuse must be made for our appearing here together, unless

unwilling Eleanor to

alf-crying. "What will Giddy t

peak to he

you only

to Mr. Eccott. Carol rises, leans over the back

o see his wife with me. Take her under yo

mpromising situations are not new to h

into Eleanor's chair, and stop

upon Mrs. Roche, and motion

ed and ashamed, obeys. "Let bygones be bygones, y

Faustine's, and we came on here to

ad. Good gracious, you are drinking whiskey and

t over with tre

e room now, and any

o spot you in a minute. Here is the waiter, we will send him. Waiter! go and

s vastly annoyed to find his wife ag

ilip," she says, assuming an air

d ices, or Bath buns with lemonade. So you owe me a debt of gratitude, Mr. Roche. We are lucky in having ran across you, and two other friends," as Philip's eyes fall on Carol Quinton and the insipid Bertie. "We are simply gobbling our food

e says, "it gets very cold and f

h him move away, t

e, squeezing her hand under the table. "W

we can. Besides, I am very fond of you though we d

get what you have

restaurant Carol Quinton bends

thousand times. You

rtone; "and, my friend, you can go to the f

cloak as she spoke,

tand over until

teagle woman," says Philip that eveni

ed. I have felt more uncomfortable to-day than I have done for years. She practically took me by storm, and was so kind a

up in that gaudy fashion. She looks quite remarkable and unladylike. Besides that fellow Quinton is always at her hee

u heard about

nothing for you

sigh of relief. She is glad for the intr

ng the envelope over. "I

ho is i

ouse that you admired so much, Philip, dear. Now you may have this letter, and pay it yourself i

ed it to him that he tore it ope

tter r

you to-day by the presence of my assistant. Could you induce Mrs. Mounteagle to remit me a portion, at least, of her long-outstanding account? She ha

respec

E FAU

, crushing the letter in his hand