sipping a thoughtful seltzer and lemon and listening with courteous
gravity to a young man in a sweater and golf breeches who occupied the
neighbouring chair.
'She is a dear girl,' said the young man a little moodily, 'a dear girl
in every respect. But somehow--I don't know--when I see her playing
golf I can't help thinking that woman's place is in the home.'
The Oldest Member inclined his frosted head.
'You think,' he said, 'that lovely woman loses in queenly dignity when
she fails to slam the ball squarely on the meat?'
'I don't mind her missing the pill,' said the young man. 'But I think
her attitude toward the game is too light-hearted.'
'Perhaps it cloaks a deeper feeling. One of the noblest women I ever
knew used to laugh merrily when she foozled a short putt. It was only
later, when I learned that in the privacy of her home she would weep
bitterly and bite holes in the sofa cushions, that I realized that she
did but wear the mask. Continue to encourage your fiancee to
play the game, my boy. Much happiness will reward you. I could tell you
a story----'
A young woman of singular beauty and rather statuesque appearance came
out of the club-house carrying a baby swaddled in flannel. As she drew
near the table she said to the baby:
'Chicketty wicketty wicketty wipsey pop!'
In other respects her intelligence appeared to be above the ordinary.
'Isn't he a darling!' she said, addressing the Oldest Member.
The Sage cast a meditative eye upon the infant. Except to the eye of
love, it looked like a skinned poached egg.
'Unquestionably so,' he replied.
'Don't you think he looks more like his father every day?'
For a brief instant the Oldest Member seemed to hesitate.
'Assuredly!' he said. 'Is your husband out on the links today?'
'Not today. He had to see Wilberforce off on the train to Scotland.'
'Your brother is going to Scotland?'
'Yes. Ramsden has such a high opinion of the schools up there. I did
say that Scotland was a long way off, and he said yes, that had
occurred to him, but that we must make sacrifices for Willie's good. He
was very brave and cheerful about it. Well, I mustn't stay. There's
quite a nip in the air, and Rammikins will get a nasty cold in his
precious little button of a nose if I don't walk him about. Say
'Bye-bye' to the gentleman, Rammy!'
The Oldest Member watched her go thoughtfully.
'There is a nip in the air,' he said, 'and, unlike our late
acquaintance in the flannel, I am not in my first youth. Come with me,
I want to show you something.'
He led the way into the club-house, and paused before the wall of the
smoking-room. This was decorated from top to bottom with bold
caricatures of members of the club.
'These,' he said, 'are the work of a young newspaper artist who belongs
here. A clever fellow. He has caught the expressions of these men
wonderfully. His only failure, indeed, is that picture of myself.' He
regarded it with distaste, and a touch of asperity crept into his
