Page:Weird Tales Volume 5 Number 4 (1925-04).djvu/86

Rh nearest here, and what denomination it is.”

“There’s a Lutheran church three blocks away; that’s the nearest. But I don’t think you’d enjoy the preacher, really; he’s egotistical. "When people give him clever suggestions about building up membership and so forth, he quite scorns them. Then there’s a Presbyterian church five blocks up the boulevard. Aurora and I go there. We find the people very congenial, and so appreciative of our efforts to build up the church. And our minister is such a nice little chap, not at all above listening to our advice when we try to help him with suggestions. Aurora! Why don’t you come down? We might give Miss Delorme a cup of tea.”

“I’ll be down as soon as I get my hair fixed,” called back the younger woman, in a far from agreeable voice.

“Please don’t make any tea for me,” I murmured, getting to my feet hurriedly. “I must return at once. I really must. I don’t want to interrupt your ironing, and I have much to do myself.”

Mrs. Differdale did not try to detain me.

“I know just how that is,” she said with a very discernible effort to be agreeable. “I won’t detain you, of course.” Then with a sudden lowering of her voice: “Did you hear about the Princess Tchernova’s five wolves?”

“Oh, are there five?” I murmured.

“Five great savage wolves,” affirmed Mrs. Differdale, the soiled boudoir cap bobbing in asseveration. “And the quantities of meat they consume is simply unbelievable. One might almost suspect that the whole household ate nothing but meat,” she finished with gusto, her eyes rolling.

“I believe Gus Stieger is pleased with his new customer,” I offered, lightly.

“Naturally, Miss Delorme. But if she weren’t keeping those wolves well penned up in a strong cage on her grounds, one would feel nervous about having such a menagerie in the neighborhood. They must be frightful, ferocious beasts.” she shuddered.

Just as we reached the front hall, Mrs. Arnold came down the stairs. She had removed the white curl-papers and her unnaturally crimped hair lay in ropy locks across her forehead. A sweater of brilliant rose-color concealed part of a not especially fresh blouse.

“I met the princess this morning, mother,” said Aurora, with an affected air. “She’s really very charming. I had both girls with me, and she admired them so much. She says she simply adores children, and begged me to let her have them over to spend an afternoon with her when she’s settled. She was so attracted to Minna. But she told me that she thought Alice needed a more fattening diet, that the child was growing too fast and getting too thin. She is certainly a delightful person,” declared Aurora, with a genteel simper.

“She said she wanted us to be over to tea some time, didn't she, Aurora?” Mrs. Differdale added, with a poorly done attempt at indifference. I could just feel her sense of importance at having thus been singled out of the entire community for this signal honor.

“How lovely!” I said hypocritically, and made my escape with difficulty after all, for both women pursued me out on to the piazza, talking about the Princess Tchernova’s beauty, her charm, her wealth, her poise, the social importance of her settling upon Meadowlawn as a place of permanent residence.

turned up Gilman Street on my way home, I saw the princess’ limousine standing outside Owen’s little office, the chauffeur muffled almost to the eyes in shaggy gray fur. I had sufficient curiosity—perhaps on