Dr. SALLY

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 280, 26 November 1931, Page 23

Dr. SALLY

By z: '' P. G. WODEHOUSE.

CHAPTER Xlll.—(Continued.) 'I im not gibbering," said Sir Hugo. cpir^ ,eat y° u Save proved yourrue ® ann ister. You have come w , & °f the ordeal. I foresaw the n °* Erectly you saw this 6 home of your ancestors, of the family por- „ j s 'the scales fell from your eyes, Ur withered and utP ,T, ould have none of this. tally w ither," he said empliati"u ?? g0 B^red. « did not wither?" t « did not wither." *0U say it clid not wither?" "Tin gaV ® him a nasty look. "oss.SLlr lc '- y^re back to the t.y stuli again." "thaf 011 D ? ean me '" CI- ied Sir Hugo, *oman?n en after you have secn this still inf i your ances tral home, you are ''AT? Ed with her V' »p than ever." ( «ood heavens!" "till rl 1 '" 1 not S°ing to rest," said Bill, "k UaVe -, made her 111 y wife." *ou r wife?" ,% wife." xour— 9" UP a warning hand«Yg"„ Wan '' to marry her?" "But Savp heavens, boy!. . . V* you reflected?" xes/V ••?J» you cons idered ?" "? p a : C y° u g°ne off your head?" d »wi?» aid Bm quickly - ~What thi s Y womanS anniSter ~ Want to marry

"Yes. And I'm going to find her now and tell her so."

Sir Hugo gazed after him blankly. He niopped his forehead and stared gloomily into the future. He was feeling that this was going to put him right off his game. He doubted if he would break a hundred to-day —after this. He was still brooding. bleakly on this lamentable state of affairs when the door of the room to the left of the stairs opened and Lottie came out, all brightness and camaraderie. Her air of spark-ling-eyed cheerfulness smote Sir Hugo like a blow, even before she had come within speaking range.. "Hello, doc.," said Lottie amiably. "Good morning," said Sir Hugo. "You don't seem surprised to see me ?" "No. I heard that you had arrived. I have just been talking to William, and he has told nio the appalling news." Lottie was puzzled. "What news?" "He is resolved to marry you." A slight but distinct cloud marred Lottie's shining morning face. She looked at her companion narrowly, and her hands began to steal towards her hips. "Just what," she asked, "do you mean by 'appalling news?'" "It is appalling," said Sir Hugo, stoutly. , Lottie breathed softly through her nose. "You think I'm not good enough for him?" "Precisely." . , "Listen!" said Lottie, in a spirit of inquiry, "what's the earliest in the morning you ever get a sock right on the side of the head?" For the first time, Sir Hugo became aware that something he had said he could not think what—had apparently disturbed and annoyed this woman

before him. He did not like the way she was advancing upon him. He had seen tigresses in the zoo walk just like that. A swift . thinker, he took refuge behind a chair and held up a deprecating hand. "Now, now, my good girl. . . " "Don't you call me a girl!" "No, no," said Sir Hugo hastily, "you're not, you're not. But, my dear Miss. ..." "Mrs." "My.dear Mrs. . ." "Higginbotham is the name." "My dear Mrs. Higginbotham, cannot you see for yourself how impossible this match is?" Lottie drew in her breath sharply. "Honestly," she said, "I owe it to my womanly feelings to paste you one." "No, no, be reasonable." "How do you mean it's impossible?" demanded Lottie warmly. "If Bill's so crazy about me. . . ." "But William is a Bannister." "What of it?" "And you . . ." Sir Hugo paused carefully. He realised that infinite tact was required. "After all—in the kindliest spirit, of academic inquiry—who are you?" "Nee Burke. Relict of the late Edwin Higginbotham," said Lottie briefly. "I mean, what is your family?" "If anybody's been telling you I've a family, it's not true." "You misunderstand me. But the whole thing is. impossible, quite impossible." "How do you mean?" . < "My dear young lady," said Sir Hugo, "have you really reflected what marriage to William would be like? My nephew, you must remember, my dear Mrs. Higginbotham, is a Bannister. And, without meaning to be in any way offensive, I think you will admit that your social position "is scarcely equal to that of a Bannister. I fear the county would resent it bitterly if William should be considered to have married beneath him. Cannot you see how unpleasant it would be for you. received by nobody, ignored by all." Your proud, generous spirit would never endure it. And, believe me," .said Sir Hugo feelingly, "this damn out-of-the-way place is quite dull enough even when you have got a neighbour or two to talk to. My dear girl, you would be bored stiff in a week."

Lottie frowned thoughtfully. Hers was a mind that would face facts, and she had to admit that she had never considered this aspect of the matter before. "I never thought of that," she said. "Think of it now," urged Sir Hugo. "Think of it very carefully. In fact, in order to enable you to think the better, I will leave you. Just sit quietly in one of these chairs, and try to picture to yourself what it would be like for you 1 here during, say, the months of January and February, Avith no amusements, no friends—in short, nothing to entertain you but William. Think it over, Mrs. Higginbotham," said Sir Hugo. "And, if you wish to secure me for a further consultation, you will find me walking in the raspberry bushes." He bustled out, and Lottie, taking his advice, sat down in a chair and began to think. He had opened up a new line of thought. Lottie Thinks Again. i Presently, .there was a sound behind her, the sound of one meditatively sing'ing, "I fear no foe in shining armour," and she was aware that she had been joined by Lord Tidmouth. "Hullo, old egg," said Lord Tidmouth. "Hullo, Squiffy," said Lottie. She was pleased to see him. Although, some years earlier, she had been compelled ' to sever the matrimonial bond that linked them, shehad always thought kindly of dear old Squiffy. He was her sort. He liked dancing and noisy parties and going to the races and breezing to and fro about London, Theirs, in short, was a spiritual affinity. "Squiffy," she said, "I've just been having a talk with old what's-liis-name." "Sir Hugo?" "Yes. Do you know what .he said?" "I can tell you verbatim," replied Lord Tidmouth, confidently. "He said that, while fair off the tee, he had a lot of trouble with his mashie r shots, and. this he attributed to. . ." "No. ' He was talking about Bill." "What about Bill?" "Well, what would happen if I married Bill." "What did the old boy predict?" "He said 1 would be.bored stiff." Lord Tidmouth considered.. "Well"' he eaid, "I'm not saying he wasn't right. Bill is /i stout fellow, one of the best, but you can't get away

from the fact that he insists on spending most of his life in this rather mouldy spot." - "Is it mouldy?" "Pretty mouldy, from what I have seen of it. All right if you care for being buried in the country. . "It's a pretty place. As far as I've seen—from my window." "* "It is pretty," agreed Lord Tidmouth. "Very pretty. You might call it picturesque. Have you seen the river?" "No." "It lies at the bottom of the garden. Except during the winter months, when —they tell .me —the. garden lies at the bottom of the river." Lottie shivered. "It wouldn't be a very lively place in winter, would it?" "Not compared with some such spot as London." "Are. you living in London now, Squiffy?" Lord Tidmouth nodded. "Yes/' 1 he said, "I've come back to lay my old bones in the metrop—when I've done with them, that's to say. I've got a rather sweetish little flat in the Albany." "The Albaily!" breathed Lottie, wistfully., • "Right, in the centre of things, and handy for the theatres, opera houses, and places of amusement. All the liveliest joints, within a mere biscuitthrow." "Yes." ' "Wasted on me. of course, because I never throw biscuits," said Lord Tidmouth. "You must; comc and see mv little nest." "I will." "Do." "Have you plenty of room there?" "Eh? Oh, yes, lots of room." Lottie paused. "Room for me?" "Oh, yes." "1 mean —what's thfe word I want?" 'Tdoii't'know, old thing..' Where did you see it last?" , • "Permanently," .said Lottie. "That's it." She came to him and grasped the lapels of his coat. She looked up at. him invitingly. "How would you like to have me running round, the place.Squiffy ?" .' Lord Tidmouth wrinkled his forehead. "I don't think I'm quite getting this." he said. "It seems to be sort of floating

past me. If it wasn't for the fact that you're so keen on Bill, I should say you were. . ." "I'm going to give Bill up." "No, really ?" "Yes. I couldn't stick it here. The old boy was quite right. It would give me the willies in a week." "Something in that." "And the thought crossed my mind. . ." "Well?" . ' "It just occurred to me as a passing idea. . "What ?" "Well, you and me. . "What about us ?" Lottie pulled at his coat. "We always suited each other, Squiffy," she said. "I'm not denying we had our rows, but we're older now, •and I think we should hit it off. We both like the same things. I think we should be awfully happy if we had another try at it." Lord Tidmouth stared at ' her, impressed. "Perfectly amazing you should say that," he" said. "the very same thought occurred to me the moment I saw you at Bingley. I remember saying to myself, 'Squiffy, old man,' 1 said, 'haven't you rather, as it were, let a dashed good thing slip from your grasp?' And I replied to myself, 'Yes, old man, I have.' " Lottie beamed at this twin-soul. "I'm awfully fond of you, Squiffy.' "Awfully nice of you to say so." "After all, what are brains?" "Quite." "Or looks?" "Exactly." "Kiss me." -Right ho." "Nice?" "Fine." "Have another?" "Thanks." "Once again?" "In one moment, old thinsr," said Lord Tidmouth.- "We will go into this matter later, when we have a spot more privacy. I observe our genial host approaching." He waved his hand at the Last of the Bannisters,.'who was coming in through the French windows from the lawn. (To Be Continued Daily.)