A MATTER OF DISCIPLINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20862, 2 May 1931, Page 14 (Supplement)

A MATTER OF DISCIPLINE.

BY M.E.S,

It waa nnlucky that Billie shonld visit the. kennels at the very moment when Dick was thrashing his young dog. Mac richly deserved the thrashing. Dick had taken him out to muster, and he had driven all the ewes and lambs into the creek; he had then had a refreshing bath and come smugly home, where he had met Dick with a wagging tail and beaming countenance just as his master was returning three hours later, tired, hungry and cross. So Dick tied him up and thrashed him, for the good of his young soul.

Unfortunately, this brought matters to a head with Billie. They had been squabbling for a week and both were conscious of skirmishing upon the edge of a precipice. She had flouted him openly in the matter of Roger Blake, and this very morning Dick had been so bereft of his senses as to say, " A wife has got to obey her husband, my dear, even in 1931." Her clear, mocking laugh had been ringing in his ears when he went out for that unlucky muster.

Dick was so engrossed in the meting out of justice that he did not hear her light step. The next moment his arm was caught in two small but surprisingly muscular hands, and Billie's eyes were glaring—yes, positively glaring—into his. "You coward; you beast; you cruel devil!"

"Don't be silly, Billie; the dog's got to learn. Let go of my arm." " Not till you promise not to touch him again. Oh, how could you thrash a chained up dog!" " Is it likely," Dick asked with quiet exasperation, " that the dog will stand here to be thrashed if I don't chain him ?" " I never heard of anything so cowardly and cruel! Leave him alone, I tell you." She was getting angrier every minute, her cheeks bright, her eyes flashing. Dick was tired out and justly incensed. Mac had the makings of a first-class dog, but he had to be taught. Billie had no right to interfere in a matter of discipline. Once again he heard the echo of that mocking laugh. Yes, once and for all, a man must be master —he took up his stick again and shook his arm free from her little brown hands.

" Go away, Billie, and don't interfere in matters you don't understand." His arm was raised, but Billie had caught the stick and broke it across her knee in a trice. She stamped her foot and almost shouted.

"And now I'll let the dog go; cruel beast, why can't you hit something your own size ?" , The utter unreasonableness of this—for whoever heard of a sheep-dog six feet high ?—entirely exasperated Dick. " If you touch that dog, I'll—" he hesitated, seeking for a, punishment to fit the crime. "Beat me next?" she flashed, It would be like your manly courage." At this he forgot his chivalry, her dignity, their combined senses of humour; swooped upon her suddenly, picked her up bodily, strode with her to the house, despite" a neatly-aimed kick at his shins, down the passage, and deposited her in the bath-room. Next moment the door banged, and the key turned. Dick dropped it into his pocket, and, breathing a little heavily for all his excellent physical fitness, strode back to the kennel. But he only aimed a half-hearted blow at the yapping, exhilarated pup, and walked moodily across to the stables. He was thoroughly, unbearably, ashamed of himself, and of Billie. They had been married nearly a year now and yet such a scene could occur. Of course Billie was spoiled. He had known it when he married her, but she was so utteily adorable that no one ever cared. In the stable he found further fuel for his wrath. In the loose-box was the smart brown hack that Blake had lent Billie last week. Now why on earth did she want to borrow horses from that bounder . Surely there were enough on the place. She knew that he disliked Blake, but theie seemed to be times when she enjoyed hurting him. Did she really care for him now ? He sat on the rails, kicking his heels moodily, forgetful of the fact that he had not eaten since five o'clock, forgetful of Billie, locked in the bathroom. Roger Blake was rather pleased with himself. He had long recovered from blow of Billie's marriage to Dick. After all, even with Bill marriage could only be a life sentence. It was far jollier to enjoy a friendship with the most fascinating young married woman in the place—jollier and safer, even with that considerable spice of daring that he hoped to introduce into it: Yes, it was a jolly good thing it had ended like that—Or had it ended, or was it merely beginning ? He smiled and whistled a soft litle air. He was going to ride with her this morning, to watch her try out the little mare he had lent her last week. Dick had looked black enough about it; easy to see that all was not running too smoothly there. Of course, Bill would be the very devil as a wife , He rode over to Broadmeadows in his perfect riding-kit, his top-boots highly polished, his linen immaculate. The big house looked cool and inviting, but no one answered his " Hello " from the verandah. Usually Billie ran down the passage, gay and pretty, full of excuses for her inevitable lateness, a kitten in her arms and a scatter of cigarette ash in her wake. This morning there was no sign of hei. She must be in the garden or at the tennis-court. As he wandered round the -house, he heard a smothered exclamation and saw Bill's face at the bath-room window. Hurriedly he averted his gaze, shocked that he had discovered his hostess at her toilet. But a voice, small and curiously subdued, hailed him. " I say, do give ine a hand." " A hand ? Delighted, I'm sure—but — er—what exactly do you mean ?" Blako felt uneasy. Billie was unconventional, but there were limits! "Idiot! I'm not having a bath; I'm locked in!" M " Locked in ? How on earth " 1 was just going to brush my teeth," said Bill, very rapidly, " and—find I banged the door—and—somehow, it got locked. I can't think how."

She paused, eyes challenging. "Great Scott! Where's the key?" " I don't know where it's gone," said Billie, with perfect truthfulness, " and I can't make the servants hear." This also was true. She had not tried. " I'm sure, if you gave mo a hand, I could jump from the window." "But it's an awfully small window!" " I know, but I'm not awfully big." She was laughing now, as she balanced on the sill; next moment she was swaying perilously, while he held her bands. "0—oh! It's rather high."

"Come on; I'll catch you." And so it came to pass that Dick, suddenly mindful and very full of remorse, turned the corner to find his wife, flushed and laughing, in Blake's arms. She was on her feet in a moment, very erect between the two men.

" Dick —I—l, somehow got locked in the bathroom."

" And I was giving her a hand down."

" I noticed that."

The words were slow and cutting and the gesture with which Dick turned on his heel was almost an insult. He walked away, the contrast between his weary deshabille and tjie other's tailored perfection very evident. Billie looked after him, her lace suddenly pale.

A NEW ZEALAND STORY.

(COPTRIGBT.)

" Dick got out of bed the wrong Bide this morning." drawled Blako pleasantly. " What about coming for a ride and leaving him to it?" " Yes. Oh, yes, rather."

They were out all day and even Blake's horsemanship was tried by her violent pace. " You'll' tire yourself out for the dance to-night." But she only laughed and rode the harder.

They parted at the gates, to meet at a wool-shed dance ten miles off later.

"Are you coming for me to-night?" Blake was surprised. Billie was not usually of such a coming-on disposition. But, not the man to lose a chance, he said, " I'll have the car round by eight." The house was quiet and still when Billie ran up the steps. She. turned her back on the golden sunset and hummed a little, defiant tune as she went to her room. Dinner was ready and she ate hurriedly, fearful of hearing Dick's step at any moment. As she was finishing, she saw him from the window, walking across the paddocks in the falling dusk, Mac at his heels. The dog was leaping round him, fawning upon him. Yes, dogs were like that, and Dick was used to dogs. He'd got to learn Before she had finished dressing, she heard the hoot of Blake's horn, She caught up her cloak feverishly and dabbed more rouge on her cheeks. She was not a scrap afraid of Dick, of course, still it would save trouble if she was off before he reached the house. Blake was waiting, very correct in his evening clothes, and she slipped quickly into the seat beside him!"

" Good girl! Punctual for once. And how ripping you look!" There was something too intimately personal in his tone, but she only said, " Let her go. I feel like speed to-night." "Do you, indeed ? Then you shall have it, my child." But, when they were half-way clown the drive, Blake pulled the big car to a sudden halt, with a muttered imprecation and a protesting scream of brakes.

"What the devil! Why, it's Dick!"

Dick's face was very pale in the glare of the head-lamps. Billie noticed that he was still in his morning kit, and that Mac's nose was in his hand. Then she saw his eyes, and her heart began to race. So he thought she would jeome to heel, too! Blake looked uncomfortable. There was trouble in the air, and the last thing he wanted was a row. Billie was a good little sport and the most popular girl about, but it didn't do to quarrel with husbands. He'd learned that.

"Coming along, Dick?"- he- asked, rather foolishly. " Yes, but later. Get out, Billie; I'll take you in half-an-hour." At the tone Billie's chin went up with a jerk. " But I'm going now. Come along, Roger." " Oh, I say, if Dick wants you to wait

Her answer was characteristic. She leaned across, her foot on the starter, and the big car leapt forward, missing Dick by inches, and slid off down the drive. Blake was angry.

" Really Bill, you're the limit. You might have run him down." • There was no answer, and, glancing down, the man saw that she was huddled in the corner, her face hidden. Billie in tears! Of course, there was only one course open to a man of gallantry. The car was brought slowly to a stand-still, and his arms were round her.

"Dear little girl! Don't cry, Billie, you adorable kid." She seemed very unresponsible, and he leant over and lifted her bodily to his knee. She struggled wildly, but he only smiled. They had to struggle—just to keep up appearances. And then everything happened at once, and none of it according to Roper Blake's calculations. There was a singing slap from Billie, and even at the painful moment it occurred to Blake that her little hand was much harder than it looked. Then there was a loud yapping from an unseen dog, a heavy hand upon his immaculate coatcollar, and he was dragged bodily from the car. Blake was not a big man and it seemed to him that Dick loomed immense in the darkness.

" Only a joke, Dick," he stammered rapidly. " Billie started it herself." At this the grip tightened threateningly. " You cad —you dirty cad—get out of here."

Immensely relieved that that was all, ho crept back to the car, his nerve decidedly shaken. The confounded girl was still there, looking scared to death, and as for Dick—why, the fellow had a light in his eye that made one feel that he might start on her next. But he opened the car-door very politely and handed his wife out in complete silence. Very thankfully Blake let in the clutch and slipped inconspicuously off in the darkness. " These married women," he muttered furiously, and vowed a vow into himself.

In the drive Billie faced Dick, her chin up, but her lips quivering in the merciful darkness. " Well?" " We won't go to the dance, my dear. Come home with me." " To the bath-room ?"

" Billie, I'm sorry, and ashamed."

Still sho hesitated, when there was an interruption. Mac had been gazing up at his two idols in mystification. Now he leapt suddenly upon Billie, yelping anxiously, stopping to run to his master and .fawn upon him. Billie laughed. "Behold the peace-maker! Dick, you can never beat him again." " Not till next he deserves it."-

" Oh, but you are cruel!" " Oh, but you are silly! You mustn't interfere when I teach a dog a lesson — it's a matter of discipline." But there was nothing disciplinary in the way Dick put his arm about his wife, nor much of rebellion in her heart as she set her foolish, hot little head upon his shoulder.

Never again, she decided, would she interfere in a matter -of discipline. ' Not even next morning when she saw Dick riding down the drive, his face very grim. He was leading the little brown mare, but his hunting-crop was in one big, strong hand. In front of the horses, Mac wheeled deliriously. . . She turned a little white when he came back two hours later, the whip broken, one eye gloriously sunset-hued. But she went meekly and fetched hot water, asking no questions. Nor did she make any comment when she heard later that day that Blake had developecLinfluenza suddenly and had retired to bed. After all .it was only a matter of discipline, and what was it Dick had said ? " You mustn't interfere when I teach a dog a,lesson!"