ENTHRALLING NEW SERIAL Peter Persists

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21417, 10 May 1941, Page 12

ENTHRALLING NEW SERIAL Peter Persists

By Sylvia Cairn

CHAPTER Vll.—(Continued) Nancy settled down very quickly to the simple routine of life at Old Abbey. The sense of monotony wore off, now that she had a definite niche to fill. Her fear of loneliness was unfounded; not only was her employer pleasant and wellroad, but she met other people too. Miss Ransome enjoyed congenial society, and refused to give up entertaining, in spite of her doctor’s advice. To be sure, she entertained cn a small scale; two or three people in to dinner was as much as she was fit for. But she enjoyed these quiet little dinners, and so did Nancy. The girl found that the most frequent visitors were Mr and Mrs Baird and Mr Allardyce, to whom Jimmy had taken such exception. Indeed he was a great favourite with the old lady, and called on her whenever he visited Seventon. All three were in to dinner on the Monday following Jimmy's visit, and Nancy liktl them Mr Baird was grave and quiet, i and had a fine ascetic face. He J looked like a saint and spoke like a scholar. Indeed Nancy was inclined to wonder why Molly-'Allar-dyce had married him. She was such a jolly young woman, and with her frank interest in frocks and gossip, seemed far too worldly for such a husband. But they were devoted to each other, that was plain. Tim Allardyce, the brieliess barrister, seemed to spend as much time in the country as Jimmy did. He was a slim good-looking young fellow with an alert air and a boyish smile. He had such a zest for country things that Nancy was not sur- j prised to hear from his sister that . he had always done better at sport , than at studies. Nancy liked him. | and saw no sign of the conceit at which Jimmy had cavilled. He was | charming to the old lady too, and she adored both his compliments and his J teasing. And Nancy liked his bridge, although she found him an exacting partner. She soon felt at home at the Rectory, and got into the way of slipping in there whenever she had time to spare. She was sure of a welcome. Mr Baird lent her books, Molly retailed local gossip. And Tim Allardyce took her about in his shabby little car. made her play ( golf with him, and brought down the latest dance records for her delectation. At first she had been afraid of neglecting the old lady, but Miss Ransome was charmed. “Young folk need young folk,” she affirmed. “I think if my other | companions had made friends, they might have stayed longer. So I’m glad they didn’t, for I wouldn’t have you, my dear!” Nancy continued to visit at the j Rectory with a light heart. j “How do you honestly like Old Ab- j

bey?” demanded Molly one day after she had been there several weeks. “I adore it,” smiled Nancy. “More than the other girls seemed to do!” “I know ” Nancy stopped. She had no intention of passing on absurd ghost stories. “I wonder why they left. Miss Ransome speaks of the quiet. Have you any idea?” Till Allardyce, lolling in the window, asked: “Is young Ransome down again this week-end?” And Molly laughed. “I may be prejudiced, but I fancy he has something to do with it,” she asserted, nodding wicely. £ “Why?” Nancy’s eyes were round. “He’s quite—nice.” She was beginning to revise her opinion of him, as she found him jolly and friendly during his frequent visits. “I may be cattish, but I always thought he tried to kiss the pretty ones, and they wouldn’t let him. And the plain ones wanted him to kiss them, and he wouldn’t!” Tim chuckled. “But he’s not a bit like that.” Nancy quite forgot that she had been on her guard with him at first —as she never had been with Tim. “Unless ” her laughter bubbled up, “you include me in the plain ones!” The other joined in her laughter, comment was unnecessary. Tim crossed to the gramophone, and put on a record. “Come and dance. That’s a topping tune.” (To be Continued)