Patricia Brent, Spinster Part 52

"I knew the first time I saw you together," whispered Patricia.

Lady Tanagra hugged her.

"And now we must all run round to Grosvenor Square. Poor Mother--what a surprise for her!"

III

Elton's medical board took a more serious view of his state of health than was antic.i.p.ated, and he was temporarily given an appointment in the Intelligence Department. Bowen's application to be allowed to rejoin his regiment was refused, and thus the way was cleared for the double wedding that took place at St. Margaret's, Westminster.

Patricia was given away by the Duke of Gayton. Lady Peggy declared that it would rank as the most heroic act he had ever performed. Mr.

Triggs reached the highest sartorial pinnacle of his career in a light grey, almost white frock-coated suit with a high hat to match, a white waistcoat, and a white satin tie. As Elton expressed it, he looked like a musical-comedy conception of a bookmaker turned philanthropist.

Galvin House was there in force. Even Gustave obtained an hour off and, with a large white rose in his b.u.t.ton-hole, beamed on everyone and everything with the utmost impartiality. Miss Brent, like Achilles, sulked in her tent.

"The only two men I ever loved," wailed Lady Peggy to a friend, "and both gone at one shot."

"She's a lucky girl," said an old dowager, "and only a secretary."

"Some girl. What!" muttered an embryo field-marshal to a one-pip strategist in the uniform of the Irish Guards, who concurred with an emphatic, "Lucky devil!"

At Galvin House for the rest of the chapter they talked, dreamed and lived the Bowen-Brent marriage. It was the one ineffaceable sunspot in the greyness of their lives.

HERBERT JENKINS'

SHILLING LIBRARY

BINDLE HERBERT JENKINS WITHOUT MERCY JOHN GOODWIN PICCADILLY JIM P. G. WODEHOUSE THE FRINGE OF THE DESERT R. S. MACNAMARA THE CHARING CROSS MYSTERY J. S. FLETCHER THE MAN WITH THE CLUBFOOT VALENTINE WILLIAMS ALF'S b.u.t.tON W. A. DARLINGTON HIDDEN FIRES MRS. PATRICK MACGILL THE LUCK OF THE VAILS E. F. BENSON THE WHISKERED FOOTMAN EDGAR JEPSON THE DIAMOND CROSS MYSTERY CHESTER K. S. STEELE THE MYSTERY OF THE SCENTED DEATH ROY VICKERS ANTHONY TRENT, MASTER CRIMINAL WYNDHAM MARTYN THE MARKENMORE MYSTERY J. S. FLETCHER A DAUGHTER IN REVOLT JOHN GOODWIN THE BARTERED BRIDE MRS. PATRICK MACGILL A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS P. G. WODEHOUSE HIS OTHER WIFE ROY VICKERS THE COMPULSORY WIFE JOHN GLYDER THE WINNING CLUE JAMES HAY, Jun.

PATRICIA BRENT, SPINSTER HERBERT JENKINS THE SECRET OF THE SILVER CAR WYNDHAM MARTYN ISAACS JOSEPH GEE PLAYING WITH SOULS COUNTESS DE CHAMBRUN THE MYSTERIOUS CHINAMAN J. S. FLETCHER THE FLAME OF LIFE MRS. PATRICK MACGILL BLACKMAIL JOHN GOODWIN THAT RED-HEADED GIRL LOUISE HEILGERS MOLESKIN JOE PATRICK MACGILL SALLY ON THE ROCKS WINIFRED BOGGS THE UNLIGHTED HOUSE JAMES HAY, Jun.

THE EDGE OF THE WORLD EDITH BLINN

3 YORK STREET ST. JAMES'S LONDON S.W.1