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CHAPTER II. THE 16TH AND 17TH OF JULY
I had arrived at Styles on the 5th of July. I come now to the events of the
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6th and 17th of that month. For the convenience of the reader I will
recapitulate the incidents of those days in as exact a manner as possible.
They were elicited subsequently at the trial by a process of long and tedious
cross-examinations.
I received a letter from Evelyn Howard a couple of days after her departure,
telling me she was working as a nurse at the big hospital in Middlingham, a
manufacturing town some fifteen miles away, and begging me to let her
know if Mrs. Inglethorp should show any wish to be reconciled.
The only fly in the ointment of my peaceful days was Mrs. Cavendish's
extraordinary, and, for my part, unaccountable preference for the society of
Dr. Bauerstein. What she saw in the man I cannot imagine, but she was
always asking him up to the house, and often went off for long expeditions
with him. I must confess that I was quite unable to see his attraction.
The 16th of July fell on a Monday. It was a day of turmoil. The famous
bazaar had taken place on Saturday, and an entertainment, in connection
with the same charity, at which Mrs. Inglethorp was to recite a War poem,
was to be held that night. We were all busy during the morning arranging
and decorating the Hall in the village where it was to take place. We had a
late luncheon and spent the afternoon resting in the garden. I noticed that
John's manner was somewhat unusual. He seemed very excited and
restless.
After tea, Mrs. Inglethorp went to lie down to rest before her efforts in the
evening and I challenged Mary Cavendish to a single at tennis.
About a quarter to seven, Mrs. Inglethorp called us that we should be late as
supper was early that night. We had rather a scramble to get ready in time;
and before the meal was over the motor was waiting at the door.
The entertainment was a great success, Mrs. Inglethorp's recitation receiving
tremendous applause. There were also some tableaux in which Cynthia took
part. She did not return with us, having been asked to a supper party, and
to remain the night with some friends who had been acting with her in the
tableaux.
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