THE TANGLED WEB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20626, 26 July 1930, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE TANGLED WEB.

BY ELIZABETH YORK MILLEB,

CHAPTER XV

That night tha young Tremletts dined filone, as, indeed, was by jio means unjisuaL

Tha charm aim sweetness of her homo jmd never before been revealed bo poignantly o Meriel. Everything was intensified, or it might be that sho waa peeing things with the eves of a stranger.

Jlow carefully elio had planned her little dining room, for instance. So Jjarmonious and yet uncommon, with its j.'j-euch grey walls and carpet, and tho touches of ied lacquer; the set of rare £!L>'nese prints framed in panels, tho Chippendale furniture, the creamy Wedgwood c hina and the old silver wine coolers, guy with red and white tulips. Jim took upon himself a husband's privilege and i eased her about her long seance with Leonora. "All these new frocks. It sounds like Deauville or the Lido than Is'orfolk." Bv now he was quite nware, though tinoificie.Hy, what, form his birthday gift jnight take. Alas! " Strange looking girl that dressmaker of vours," he went, cn, helping himself to another tasty portion of the hors d'oeuvres which v.'cro a gioat speciality of their cook's. "How —strange?" Meriel asked. "Oil, I dun'no. It. was tho way sho looked me over, I think. Wo met on the doorstep. Toil my soul, 1 didn't feel exactly flattered. Had a fancy as though she sneered as though to say, ' So this is the poor, poor fish, the beautiful Mrs. Tremlett is spliced up with!' Gave me a wonnish feeling." Meriel did not smile, as Jim expected her to do.' iler eyes widened and her lips went white. " Did you speak to Jjer? What did she say?" " Oh, she w.isn t rude, my darling. Nothing for you to get excited about. She just said she was Madame Something-cr-other —Lora, or Eleanora—and then (Ada came along and took her in tow." •' She had no right to —to look at you Jn a peculiar way !" " For heaven's sake, Merry, don't ima. pine the woman was trying to flirt with ine." " I never thought that. I mean, she shouldn't have looked at you like—like vou said." '• What on earth's the matter with you, Jlerrv ? I'm only trying to make light find cheerful conversation. We've got to talk about something, even if we are pn old married couple." 'To his consternation, Meriel burst into jtears and rushed from tho room. Jim dashed down his napkin and followed her, explaining to Ada. whom he encountered in the hall, that Mrs. Tremlett wasn't feeling very well, and to keep hack the rest of dinner until further t>rders. Nothing like tnis upset had ever octuned in the little house before. Cook, wise in the ways of married life —having buried her first and deserted her second, after providing each with progeny—winked with affected solemnity when Ada brought her the news. " You wait! Mark my words! But she'll be as happy as a lark once she's reconciled to it. Our little lady s a horn mother if ever there was one—and I'd ought to l.now, as I've ad five myfclf." ***** It must be confessed that cook's idea laid occurred to Jim. M hat else could ft be? He. found Meriel in their bedroom weeping her eyes out as though she were a baby herself. He was terribly unhappy, fur the doctor had warned him that little John's successor must wait a year or two before making an appearance in this .world. '• Merry; darling, tell mo what's troubling you," lie asked anxiously. " Surely you're not going to be so foolish as to try to keep anything from me? Darling, vou know how much I love you. 1 don't'need to tell you that, do I ? Aren't you going to tell me?" " What could 1 be keeping from you!" fhe cried in a strangled voice. " Oh, wish I was dead!" "Merry!" " Now I've shocked you."- " Of course you have." She sat. up," dashing tho tears from lier eves and forcing the ghost of a laugh. " Don't look at me so solemnly, Jim. 1 feci as though I'm being vivisected. [There's nothing 'he matter —only my times seem to have gone flop. " I'd better phono for tho doctor. Meriel clutched at him " No, you iflon't! What on earth could the doctor do for Trie!" •' [ don't know. But obviously something must be done." " [ tell you it's only nerves—nerves! Haven't you ever heard of such things ? I want to sleep. Let me go to bed, Jim. Leave me alone. Honestly, I think I'll he all right in the morning if you'll just leave nie alone now and not bother. You could sleep in your dressing-room, couldn't you? I,ike." when you had 'flu pn.l when little John was born." Never had Jim Tremlett come _up 6gainst such perversity in Meriel since thai bad time before their marriage, lie ought, to have known that she was capable nf it, but ihev had been so happy together that he had almost forgotten those dark months. lie I:-.,| a baffle,l feeling as he slowly descended the stairs. What could he do, anil how had it happened ? Merry, Hunting him nut. For what? Because he joked about the way her dressmaker had looked at him. Still, . i.e. mi:.it, not get rattled, and, fchove all, one mu.-t keep tip appearances before the .servants. Jl" sat down at. the table again, and hsado a | i''i ;:< o of n-aiming dinner, but it was poor I'm,!•».:. and he was too young lind wrd! hc'l to iihie bis anxieties. When tile maid put the dessert before liiin, he -.: ii I; " M. .. Tremlett sorns badly iipset about sou:. ! hing. I'm rather worried, .\•!.■. 11. s anything occurred to bother J11;r that you know of?" " Whv, i sir." t lie girl replied. '' Oidv J 1i.0... ..,| that madam hasn't been quite j , : e]f for the past few days. Cool; thinks --- - ' Ada hesitated and blushed. " We'd, what does cook think ?" Jim demanded. " 'inly *] j ; t ma.hun may be a bit under tho v.i-aificr, a; it were. Her appetite's gone off ■■■!. met hing shocking- Sometimes ladies f. 1 s».or!v, and don't quite know the I, a-,,., r K until later. But 1 must hay tha' ii! id,in was in good spirits and health ail 'i.e time before Master J'iu tame, iiii.'i.'t riic, sir? But frying on all of fleer, may have made her feel laint-lii > ; " So ;iio• wis it' What he had himself fcuniii-i-d. "Ju ' run up a lid see if there's anything yo; : , do for her," Jim said. She hasn't had anything to eat. 'fry to co;iv he r to have some tea and buttered Wo" lb- j,;i, i: 1 ar.sioudv to and fro while lie Availed, llow quiet the house was. Presently t'i 'i ;,ure it would become unbearable unless Meriel sent for him or tame down to say that, she was all right again, and i.of, going to be silly over hornet hing v.diich after all —if it were true "--was ret e\aitlv a tragedy. Why, sho herself had laughed at tho doctor for hi l ! g: avo ''warnings. Vet, Jim hesitated to go up to her uninvited. She had rebuffed him so decisively that bis feelings were still rather Bore, Presently Ada reappeared and announced that madam had consented to have tho tea and buttered toast. This hounded more cheerful. " I'll take them U P to her,'' Jim said. It might be that

A MOST DELIGHTFUL AND THRILLING SERIAL.

Merry would snub him again, but ho couldn't help risking it. Sho was already in bed when he carua in carrying the tray ko awkwardly and looking so woebegone as he trod on tip-too that Meriel's heart fairly broke. Sho let him feed her and tho tears ran down and threatened to salt the tea. " You're so good to me, Jim," she said choking a little. " You'll always be good to me, won't vou, whatever happens':" This was going to require patience. " Mervy, darling, what could happen ?" " Anything might. This world is such a strange place—Thank you, Jim I've had enough."

lie set the trav aside and perched on the side of the bed took her hands in his. Then ho asked her. Was it true—what Ada had hinted? Was little John to have a small brother or sister?

Meriel stared at him and shook her head slowly. " No, darling. As 1 said, it's just nerves. The spring weather, I suppose. Please forgive me for being such an idiot." Unfortunately Jim returned to the subject of Leonora. "It was that confounded dressmaker," lie said.

Meriel's chin trembled, and again her eyes were wide and staring. What makes you say that ?" she. asked in a hushed voice. " Because it's so obvious. Ada said you had about a dozen frocks to try on." " Oh—well, yes. Perhaps it did tiro me. And now, darling, I will try to sleep.

" All's well between us?" lie asked anxiously. For answer she threw her arms around his neck and cluing there for a long time. Before morning arrived, Jim Tremlett had mado up his mind about one thing, lie was going to tako this small indication of a nervous breakdown in band before it- reached dangerous proportions.

In the still watches of the night it came to him quite clearly that Meriel had been living 100 circumscribed a life. Anyone with a grain of sense could see that sho needed a change, and it wasn't necessary to call the doctor merely to be told so.

It would be easy enough for Jim to get away from the office for a month or even longer in a case like this. Johnny Paynes would look after his work for liirn, for old Johnny would be the first to agree that lie must take Meriel away. They would go down <o the south of France where she would have a chance to wear her pretty new clothes and lie thoroughly gav for tho first time since her marriage. The baby should be bundled off to Julia's with bis nurse; and Merry must be made to pretend that she was a flighty voting girl again. They would dance and bathe and play golf and go for picnics in the hills. In no time she'd pick up. Jim was delighted with his idea. He would need some new raiment himself, by jove! And there was Meriel facing him at the breakfast-table, listening with that wideeyed look and trying to interrupt as he told her his plans. She traced a pattern on the cloth with her finger-tip. What, could she say ? That she could not go ? What reason could she give? But why not do as Jim wished? Itwould give her time in which to think things out. Yet bow wretched! 'J his cloud was hanging over her threatening lo break at any moment.

Jim, I'll tell you what really upset me last night," she ventured, avoiding his gaze. " I've played the fool. It was because of that dressmaker. I had to givo her such a big cheque and it's cut into my littlo hoard for your birthday present. So you see—naturally I felt unhappy." Her" voice trailed off. It wasn't exactly a lie she was telling, but it was certainly intended to deceive. Jim's eves danced.

"You blessed little fraud! So that's what the hysterics wero about. All because you were a giddy spendthrift. Well, I shall be one. too. We're going to Cannes, and shall give a good imitation of how the idlo rich disport themselves, just to show we know how it's done." If Jim was disappointed about the littlo yacht and the August holiday they had planned, ho gave no sign of it. Indeed, be thought now that this new plan of his was much the better one, particularly for Meriel.

He was determined to be an " understanding " vonng husband.

Alas for him that ho was so vorv far from diagnosing the true cause of her trouble.

CHAPTER XVI. Jim Tremlett had one private little worry which he had not shared with his wife. It amounted to no more than a gnat bite, really, which you can't parade as a mortal ill—so wtiy mention it at all? He had never made what you might call lovo to Graco J'caoocly, but in those dark months when Meriel had behaved so peculiarly Jim had felt the need ol sympathy. And never does sympathy come in so acceptable a guise to an unhappy young man than in the person of an attractive girl.

Oneo in a dim corner of Julia Bentley's drawing room when —needless to say—ho and (irace were alone together, Jim had gone so far as to kiss the damsel, as a small token of gratitude for her great sympathy in his woe. lie didn't like to remember that afterwards. It was not- so much an act of treachery to Meriel. as a possible source of misunderstanding on the part of Miss Peabody. Fortunately somebody came into the" room at what might have proved a critical moment, and Jim was saved from being made a victim of his own impulsiveness. Grace Peabodv might have felt that tho interval between this tender if curtailed incident and the announcement less than a fortnight later of the Jim Meriel engagement was indecently short. Yet he hadn't really misled her.

Jim's conscience would never have bothered him about that one little kiss of emotional gratitude and tho several hand-pressings which had preceded it, it Grace hadn't been so bold as to remind him occasionally, and bint that although he was married—a certain warm undercurrent of feeling still existed between them.

True, Jim felt, kindly toward Grace. She had been a good pal in time of trouble and despair. Consequently when she Celine; to live in London mid by soirio strange chance discovered tho city chopbouse where he was in the habit of taking his midday meal, it would have been churlish of him to let. her lunch alone. This happened twico within the space of three weeks, and after tho second time Jim changed bis restaurant, although with a reluctance amounting to pain. , . For tho same reason he gave up nis "olfin" week-ends at Pamsgate. Grace was generally there, too, for she was a great'friend'of Julia's and always could go down when she liked. In one wav and another Graco leabody had managed to become an obstruction in the less domestic phases of Jim s life. One day she even called at his office to ask his advice about her film contract, and although he pointed out to her that he was not a lawyer, that didn t seem to matter. On that occasion be felt it, necessary to take her out to tea, but lie made an opoortunity to inquiio whv she had never called upon Meriel.

(irace regarded him with a coy mixture of amusement and pity. '■ Because vour wife doesn t like nio, old tliincr. I'm a friend of your bachelor days. I don't think I'd be welcome in that little dovecote of yours." Jiin tried to conceal his annoyance. But was ho really annoyed ? Fven a hero can bo what is popularly styled human. The pretty creature, was trying to fiat lor him. " Well, Jimmv dear, perhaps, T will run out one afternoon," she conceded.

" Meriel and I ought to try to Vie friends. We havo tho same dressmaker so that might, bo a bond." It was a litllo uncanny, thought Jim, how this dressmaker subject seemed to be. cropping up of late, both at home and abroad.

(COPYRIGHT.)

" I'm sure Meriel would be delighted," he said, although ho knew he spoko without authority. " But as a matter of fact we'ro off to-morrow for a little jaunt to the south. Back again about the first of June. I'm sure this contract of yours is all right, and anyway 1 see you've signed it," "Going away?" murmured Grace. "Then I shan't see you again for ages! Oh, dear, how I'll miss you, Jimmy. This is a real blow."

Jim wriggled, as uncomfortable as a schoolboy finding himself in a corner ho hadn't deserved or anticipated. Apparently Grace meant to see more and more of him in future. Something

would have to be done about it. First, because of Meriel; and secondly, because frankly the girl bored him. A little of her went a very long way in his opinion. Sho began now to tell him all about Lady I'elhury's kindness through the oliiees of Cyril St. Grvs, and the visit Cvril and she had paid to Leonora's shop.

" And such a funny thing," she went mi, " Madame Leonora mentioned that Captain Saunders. It seems she knew him, and sho seems to think that Meriel and hi- were married, or bad been. You should have seen Cyril's face. lie was furious with her."

Grace laughed as sho spoke, but there was something now in Jiin 'L'remlett's face that killed her mirth almost instant! v.

" Sorry, Jim." she said hastily. " Tho man's dead, isn't be? And, of course, everybody knew that Meriel was silly about him for a littlo while. Why. you used to talk to mo about it yourself, for hours. Don't you remember? And you said T cheered you up so. Now you—you treat me as if 1 were a stranger." " I don't care to gossip about my wife," Jim said in a cold voice. This perhaps was unjust, considering that ho had made such a confidante of Grace bef.'.re Meriel consented to become his wifa. !!e looked at his watch. " Afraid I must run back to the office, now. I've got a whole heap of things to see to. Will you forgive me if I cut short our pleasant little chat ?" " Jim, 1 believe you're angry with me!"

" Good heavens, no. But you see, we're leaving early in tho morning, and I really shouldn't have spared the time. It's been very nice seeing you, Grace, and don't forget to call on us when wo get back. I'll tell Meriel I've seen you and 1 expect she'll drop you a line.

Sometliing was rankling in the back of Jim's mind, and so persistently lhat it gave him no peace. Such a small thing it was, too! He felt ashamed to mention it io Meriel.

In fact he tried hard to argue himself out of what could only bo a foolish delusion.

There was hustle and bustle in tho little house when he got homo that evening. and Meriel seemed to be suffering under a deep depression, which sho accounted for by tho fact (hat she had parted from her baby that afternoon. By ibis timo littlo John and Nanny were safely arrived at Julia's and it should have been some consolation to bo told over the telephono that ho was perfectlyhappy in tho adoration of twin cousins, and apparently did not miss his mother at all.

Jim was thoroughly tired. Tn fnct it dawned on him that ho needed this holiday as much as Meriel. At dinner both of them were slightly edgy in temper, and when Ada —affected by tho general e.xictement—dropped a silver dishcover on to tho parquet, Jim gave a jump and said something not altogether under his breath that outraged hi 3 wife's cars.

When tho embarrased maid retired, husband and wife indulged in what was their first real quarrel. "Oh, I've apologised, haven't I?" demanded Jim. " What more can T do? Would you like me lo go down on my knees and ' say it with flowers ' ?" " I never, never would have believed you could be so rude. Jim. you are so strango to-night. Of course, T. know it's been a business getting ready for a trip like this, but really I've borne tho brunt of it—all tho packing and seeing baby off and arranging for tho housecleaning 'while we're away. Honestly, I almost wish wo weren't going-."

" So do I," Jim replied, to her great amazement.

" Very well, we won't- go, then," Meriel said, her lips trembling. " That is, I'll go down to Julia's for a whilo by mvself."

"Don't be silly, darling! What aro wo making all this fuss about, anyway ? Just because Ada bangs down a dishcover." And then suddenly that secret rankling got tho better of him. " Who do you think breezed into the. office this afternoon Grace Pcabody. She's gone on the films, and wanted my advice about her contract, so I took her out to tea." Meriel's inind mado a swallow-liko swoop. Without an instant's hesitation sho connected Grace Peahody with Jim's peculiar behaviour since he returned homo. " It's too bad that meeting your old friend should put you out of temper, she said, acidly. Jim laughed in a vexed way. "It did as a matter of fact," ho replied. "May I ask, if you won't regard it as an impertinence, how you got in touch with this, new dressmaker of yours?" Meriel flinched as though he had struck her. , ,

" What on earth has Grace Peahody got to do with my dressmaker?" she demanded. r .. • Jim told her. Then ho said: Dm you meet, this Leonora through Frio Saunders?" _ It, was such a straight, point-blank hit that Meriel sat looking at her husband with an air of sheer stupidity. hat next. sho wondered t It wasn t like Jim to play the cross-examiner. As Ironi a distance she heard herself distinctly throwing Angel to this roaring lion. " She's Aunt Angel's dressmaker," she s.iid, and although stie was frightened half out oi her wits, Meriel's voico sounded merely angry.

Oh, that was it! Of course, Angela |>,.lbury had been as thick as thieves with Saunders. Jim fell instantly contrite, reassured, happy, everything was cleared up, and it wasn't so surprising that tho Leonora person had imagined Saunders to have married Meriel. Saunders had finite expected to marry her, and might have done, so if Johnny Paynes hadn't inter venoi I and sent him [lacking at a critical moment.

Jim mopped his brow. Something had been a verted—something obscure but nevertheless menacing. He couldn't have said what it was to save his life, beyond that tie couldn't stand the idea of Merry cherishing any memory at all of Flic Saunders. The very mention of the fellow's name made Jim bristle. " Good lor'—l wish 1 wasn't so jealous!" he said, sheepishly. Going to bo friends again, Merry <

" Perhaps it, hasn't occurred to you that I can be jealous, too," she murmured, her voice breaking a little. "Is it, usual for Grace Peabodv to call on you at tho office?"

Jim found himself on the defensive now, and without quite knowing how it happened. More experienced husbands could have told him, however, that it was bound to happen. " Oh, no," be answered. " She's never come to the office before. It was only about this contract. You see, she wasn't quite sure—" " Yes, and if sho hasn't been to tho off!co before, where have you been seeing her?" Meriel interrupted. (To bo continued on Saturday next.)