Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/167

 without flinching. He had to make a great effort to hold himself in hand. And Charlotte, a cold eye upon him, followed up in an extremely businesslike manner. She had a very strong hand to play and a true warrior, if ever there was one, she was set on wringing out of it the last ounce of advantage. There had come to her at last, after many a year of watching and waiting, an opportunity beyond her hopes and her prayers.

"Last evening poor Sarah came to me in great distress," proceeded Charlotte. "Muriel, it appears, had been electioneering in the constituency of a certain person, and in the course of her wanderings up and down the suburbs, she found herself quite by chance at the house of Mrs. Sanderson's brother-in-law."

By this time his Grace had sufficiently recovered from the blow that had been dealt him to ask how Muriel had contrived to make that particular discovery.

It seemed that she had found Mrs. Sanderson there.

"The long arm of coincidence," opined his Grace with a wry smile. He opined further that the whole thing began to sound uncommonly like a novel.

"Sober reality, I assure you, Johnnie. And sober reality can beat any novel in the power of the human mind to invent, that's why it's so stupid to write them. Muriel entered the house by chance, Mrs. Sanderson came there, and presently, if you please, Master Jack arrived by motor with the young person. By the way, Muriel says she is very good looking."

"Quite a family party." His Grace achieved a light tone with difficulty. "But I incline to think, Charlotte, you a little overstate the facts."

"It is the story Muriel told Sarah."