Marie Belloc Lowndes

“ He would be alive to-day if he hadn't married that selfish, silly woman who would drag him about to wherever there was a candle alight! Money may mean more than it ever did," he went on, "but even money can be bought too dear, as I once heard a countryman of our pleasant friend, yonder, express it."
"I do hope," said the Duchess in a low voice, "that you really like dear Mrs. Todd? It's very hard on a woman to be married for her money." ”

“ Alexis Todd, had ever seen anything quite like her—at any rate at close quarters, and that in spite of the fact that some of them were acquainted with Judith's mother.
The one comparatively young man of the party, a rising politician named Mark Frett, who was still on the sunny side of forty, became at once obviously attracted. They were constantly together, talking, walking, motoring even, in the car he drove himself. Soon he confided to the Duchess that, though Miss Melchard had a peculiar appearance, she was certainly a very clever, original, and intelligent girl. ”

“ The Duchess waited a moment. "But he is always very kind to me," she said simply.
"I should think everybody is always very kind to you," the girl said gratefully.
"While I'm gone, do write Mr. Dovedale a short note. Say you've made up your mind not to marry him, and that you're enclosing a cheque in full for the money you owe him."
"May I stay up here?" asked Judith nervously. "It would be so dreadful if I went downstairs, and they all began to congratulate me. I suppose they all know?"
"I suppose they do, by now. But only one person has spoken to me of the matter—that was Mark Frett." ”

“ He spends what spare time he has surrounded by a lot of old roués while his son is being toadied by a lot of young rascals."
"Oh dear!" cried the Duchess, dismayed. "That sounds very bad? They have a big party staying with them now, and in their party is a girl I have not seen since she was a child, and whom I am curious to see, for I've known her mother, Lady Melchard, all my life——"
"You don't mean a girl they call Judith Melchard?" exclaimed Mrs. Alexis Todd in some excitement.
"I do indeed. She must be odd in a way, for her real name is Beatrice, yet she insists on being called Judith!" ”

“ Small wonder that the young man who was on Judith Melchard's farther side devoted himself unaffectedly to the pretty vivacious young married woman next him. Mr. Ralph Dovedale, on the other hand, tried again and again to make the girl talk to him. The Duchess noticed that twice Judith pretended not to hear him, but the third time she turned on him and muttered something in a low, angry tone, while she ostentatiously moved her chair a few inches farther away from his. ”

“ She'll be overjoyed that I'm going to be married to Ralph Dovedale, if only because he's a rich man."
She added mournfully, "He hates gambling, so after I'm married I shan't have even that to fall back on."
"I'll think over what is to be done; it's quite clear to me that you can't marry a man about whom you feel as you say you do," said the Duchess firmly.
"If I'd the pluck I'd shoot myself," said Judith sombrely.
At breakfast the Duchess noticed that Mark Frett looked serious, and quite unlike his usual cheerful self. ”

“ The Duchess, who had known Mark Frett since he was a boy, threw him a curious look. "When you're as old as I am you'll realise that people do do very queer things—sometimes, especially if they're what they call 'in love.' Mr. Ralph Dovedale has used this abominable means to rush, as he thinks, poor Judith Melchard into an engagement. ”

“ She paused, expecting a protest, but the other, far from being annoyed, looked positively relieved. "Pray don't trouble to send for her; someone will only be too delighted to motor her over," and then beckoning to Judith she said in a cold voice, "The Duchess would like you to go and stay with her for a few days on Monday. Ralph will motor you over. I suppose you'll come back here afterwards, Judith?"
"I suppose I shall," said the girl in a sullen voice, and as she turned away a man's voice exclaimed in a low, excited, angry tone, "You promised to stay the whole of this week, Judith! ”

“ She is the exact age of our eldest daughter. Or, rather, my girl is two or three days older than Dora Melchard's girl. The Duke came into my room, laughing, and when I wanted to join in the fun, 'You're not the only proud parent to-day, Laura,' he exclaimed. 'Who d'you think has got a baby, and a girl too, worse luck?' I couldn't guess, so at last he told me, 'Old Melchard—Old Toddlekins has got a daughter,' he said, 'born this morning'——"
"The Duke is a very bright man," said the American lady reflectively, and, the Duchess couldn't help thinking, rather irrelevantly. ”

“ And then Lady Dovedale intervened, "My husband doesn't care for billiards, so we've made what was the billiard-room into a bridge-room, and a general indoor games room. Do you play bridge, Duchess?" she asked.
"I'm sure you'll much prefer 'chemmy!" broke in the younger lady positively. "It's absolutely fascinating! I'd rather play to lose, than not play at all!"
"I don't agree as to that," said Lady Dovedale languidly, "I hate losing, especially as it makes my husband cross."
"Sir John disapproves of the sins he's not inclined to," cried her guest gaily. ”

“ But as these thoughts were flitting through her mind, she saw a lady who was obviously the hostess hurry into the room, accompanied by her husband. And perhaps just because of the girl's passionate tone of disdain the Duchess glanced at the couple with more care than she would otherwise have bestowed on them.
Illustration: "'James! I do believe that's Dora's girl.'"
Sir John Dovedale looked what he was—a hard, intelligent man of business, who had built up a vast fortune by his own individual efforts, and who was proud of it. ”

“ When she got up from the table, he followed her out of the dining-room. "I had no idea," he said a little awkwardly, "that Miss Melchard was engaged to be married."
And then the woman he addressed took what she called to herself "a chance."
"The marriage announced in to-day's Times," she said quietly, "is not going to take place. Mr. Ralph Dovedale, unknown to Miss Melchard, inserted that notice. She's terribly upset about it, poor child. Of course he's madly in love with her——"
"But what an unscrupulous thing to do!" ”

“ Now be honest, Laura! If you had been watching some of the women there as closely as I watched them you'd have seen why gambling has been called 'the child of avarice and the parent of despair.'"
"I think you're very narrow-minded, James. ”

“ Alexis Todd in a dramatic tone. "I should say she was different! However, don't go by what I say, Duchess; you just judge her yourself."
But, to the disappointment of both ladies, most of the house-party at Baycombe Place, including their hostess and Miss Melchard, had gone for the day to a race-meeting which was being held in the next county.
That very same evening, however, there came by hand a prettily worded note from Lady Dovedale, asking the Duke and Duchess if they would waive ceremony, and come to dinner at Baycombe Place the following Saturday. ”

“ Todd; also she was vaguely aware that one of her bachelor guests, an ex-ambassador named Lord Amersham, would certainly be pleased if he and this lady were asked at the same time.
Now Mrs. Alexis Todd also always came down to breakfast, and as hostess and guest greeted one another this morning, the Duchess suddenly bethought herself that here was the ideal companion for her forthcoming call on Lady Dovedale. As is so often the case with American women, Mrs. Alexis Todd had the valuable social gift of making herself agreeable to everyone she came across. ”

“ She hasn't enough ready money."
"My dear!" The Duchess smiled. "That really must be nonsense."
"It isn't nonsense. I owe Ralph Dovedale over three thousand pounds."
"Three thousand pounds!" exclaimed the Duchess.
She stared at the girl with horrified eyes. "What has the money been spent on?"
"Can't you guess, Duchess?" And then Judith Melchard uttered the one word "Chemmy."
"That gambling game they were all playing the other night?"
"Of course. Lady Dovedale taught me how to play. I've been with her again and again to what some people call, I believe, gambling dens. ”

“ I don't suppose he'd want to marry me if I was—well—say Miss Jones? But he feels he's bought the right to marry a peer's daughter—that's actually how he put it to me once. He hated my coming to stay with you. ”