Ladies Must Live | Page 6

were instantly and completely turned
from Christine's problems to his own.
At the house they found every one waiting for lunch; Mrs. Almar and
Christine chattering together on a window-seat as if they were the most
intimate allies; Hickson reading his fourth morning paper, and Mrs.
Ussher paying the profoundest attention to something Wickham was
saying. She had suddenly wakened to the fact that he was having a
wretched time and that he was after all her guest. But he interpreted her
actions differently, and supposing that he was at last being appreciated,
he had launched fearlessly forth upon the conversational sea. It was this
spectacle that had drawn Christine and Nancy together, in their
whisperings and giggles in the window.
"This perhaps will illustrate my meaning," he was saying rather loudly:
"this is the difference in our outlook on life. If you say 'she dresses
well,' you intend a compliment, but to me it is just the reverse. The idea
is repellent to me that a woman wastes time, thought, money on her

vanity, on decking her body--"
"One on you, my dear," whispered Christine.
"Isn't he tiresome?" answered Nancy, shutting her eyes.
"I thought he was your selection."
"Nobody's infallible, my dear. Besides, I telegraphed him not to accept
the invitation, but he says he never got my message."
"Why does he think you sent it?"
"Because I couldn't trust myself--"
They grinned at each other.
With the entrance of Riatt and Ussher they went in to lunch, and there
manoeuvering for places for the afternoon immediately began.
Hickson supposed that by starting early he could secure Christine's
company. So he at once asked her what she was going to do, and before
she had time to answer he had suggested that she skate, take a walk, or
go sleighing with him. Ussher explained that the skating was spoiled,
and Christine under cover of this diversion managed to avoid
committing herself.
As a matter of fact her afternoon was arranged. She had told Laura
Ussher a pathetic story of having to go over to her father's house, and
look up an old fur coat of his which had been left behind when the
house was shut for the winter. Mr. Fenimer was known to be rather an
irritable parent where questions of his own comfort were concerned; it
was not impossible that he would make himself disagreeable if his
orders were not carried out. Laura did not inquire very closely, but she
agreed that the best way for Christine to traverse the distance would be
for Riatt to drive her over in the cutter. Riatt sat next to Laura at
luncheon, and she put it to him, when the general conversation was
loudest.

"Would you mind awfully driving poor little Christine over to her own
place to get something or other for that horrid father of hers?"
Of course Riatt didn't say he did mind; as a matter of fact he didn't. He
might even have enjoyed the prospect, if it hadn't been for the slight
hint of compulsion about it.
"It's snowing, you know," he said.
"It doesn't amount to anything," answered his cousin. "But surely, Max,
you're not afraid of a little snow, if she isn't!"
"Anything to oblige you, Laura," he said.
She did not quite like his tone, but felt she might safely leave the rest to
Christine.
Mrs. Almar, unaware of these plots, settled down as soon as the meal
was over, on a comfortable sofa large enough for two, with a box of
cigarettes at her side and a current magazine that contained a new
article on flying. The bird-like objects in the huge page of cloudy sky at
once caught Max's eye. He came and bent over it and her, with his
hands in his pockets. Still absorbed in it, she half-unconsciously swept
aside her skirts, and he sat down beside her. She murmured a
question--it was only about planes, and he answered it. Their heads
were close together when Christine came down in her dark furs ready
to go. The bells of Jack Ussher's fastest trotter were already to be heard
tinkling at the door.
"Are you ready, Max?" said Laura, rather sharply.
"Laura expects every man to do his duty," murmured Nancy, without
looking up.
Riatt expressed himself as entirely ready. Ussher lent him a fur cap and
heavy gloves, warned him about the charmingly uncertain character of
the horse; he and Christine were tucked into the sleigh, and they were
off.

The snow, as Laura had said, did not seem to amount to much, the wind
was behind them, the horse fast, the roads well packed. Riatt glanced
down at his lovely companion, and felt his spirits rising. He smiled at
her and she smiled back.
"I do hope you really