THE CLUTCH OF
CIRCUMSTANCE
MARJORIE BENTON COOKE


THE CLUTCH OF
CIRCUMSTANCE
BY
MARJORIE BENTON COOKE
AUTHOR OF "BAMBI," MTC.
NEW YORK
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY


KD 5716
HARVARD
COLLESE
LIBRARY
Copyright, 1918,
By George H. Doran Company
Printed in the United States of America


CHARACTERS
LADY ROBERTA TRASK, called Lady Bobs.
LADY CECILY HARRISON, Lady Trask's best friend.
THE HONORABLE MILDRED DOWNER.
THE DUCHESS OF WROWE.
LORD ASHTON TRASK.
CAPTAIN LARRY O'TOOLE.
TED CARTER, American boy in English Flying Corps.
LORD KENDRICK, of the War Council.
LIEUTENANT IVAN INSULL, of the English Secret Service.





PART ONE


INVICTUS
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced or cried aloud,
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY.


THE CLUTCH
OF CIRCUMSTANCE
PART ONE
CHAPTER I
"Is Lady Trask at home, Brooks?” Sir Ash-
ton Trask inquired of the butler as he en-
tered his own drawing room.
“Yes, Sir Ashton, Lady Trask is in, I be-
lieve, sir."
“Send her word that I am here, please.”
The servant withdrew, and Sir Ashton took
a few turns up and down the room, nervously
engrossed in his own thoughts.
At the sound of Lady Trask's entrance, he
turned and watched her come toward him,
across the long room. She was tall and gra-
cious and beautiful. She moved with a large
slow dignity, which always delighted him. She
wore a deep toned velvet gown befitting a prin-


10 The Clutch of Circumstance
cess, and smiled her welcome. Lady Trask's
smile was famous.
Sir Ashton held a hand to her, and she laid
her own in it, but her thoughts were not with
him, she was intent on something else.
“Why didn't you bring him with you?" she
asked.
"He was busy at the War Office when I left.
He is coming along presently.”
“He may change his mind— ”
“Oh no. I hope you haven't asked people to
lunch,” he added with quick suspicion.
“One or two.”
“Roberta, not a party!"
"No. Cecily, Mildred Downer, Ted and
Larry. That's all.”
“He certainly would bolt it, if he thought
it was a party. He hates them, you know.”
“The man is the supreme egotist of the
world!” smiled Lady Bobs, as she was known
to her familiars. “You would think he con-
ferred eternal distinction upon us, and our
house forever, by breaking bread with us."
"I merely asked him to drop in for lunch.”
"Stop bothering. If he objects to some
amusing women and two nice men, he can
depart.”


The Clutch of Circumstance 11
“Mildred Downer amusing?” inquired
Trask.
“She amuses me. She's new, modern,
queer.”
“Queer? Why not? Her father was a man
and so was her mother.”
Lady Bobs laughed.
“I'll put Mildred the Manling next you for
punishment.”
“When is O'Toole's leave up?” he inquired.
"I haven't asked him.”
"He manages to be about London a good
deal.”
“Don't fuss about Larry. He's perfectly
charming, even if you don't like him.”
Brooks entered and offered Lady Trask a
letter. She opened it, looked through it, a
slow flush rising to her face. She glanced at
her husband and turned to the butler, who
waited at the door.
"Did this come by messenger, Brooks?”
“Apparently, Lady Trask. It was pushed
under the door.”
“There is no answer.”
“Has Kendrick changed his mind?” asked
Trask amusedly.
"No," she said.


12
The Clutch of Circumstance
Lady Harrison was announced at the mo-
ment. Cecily Harrison was typically English.
Tall, thin, with sandy hair, which was waved
back from a lovely brow. Emerald green eyes
gave her face its distinction.
"Morning, Bobs. How-do, Ashton?” She
looked about. “I knew you were spoofing,
Bobs, when you asked me.”
"Did you? Well, wait and see whether I
was spoofing or not,” retorted her hostess.
"My word, look at her mufti, Ashton."
“Yes,” said Lady Cecily, “I'm dressed for
conquest. He may hate women, but no man
could hate this frock.”
"Cecily, you're terrifying in all your glory!"
her host remarked.
“Ashton is in a funk because I called you
up and asked you to lunch. He's afraid Lord
Kendrick will blame him for my indiscretions."
“Nice of you, dear, to call me an indiscre-
tion. I hope you didn't ask any one else.”
“Mildred, Ted and Larry were coming any-
way.”
“Why Mildred?”
“That's what I said,” remarked Sir Ashton.
“Purposes of contrast. Besides, I like her.”
Ted Carter, a young American, serving in


The Clutch of Circumstance
1
the English Flying Corps, in London on sick
leave, came in with Captain Larry O'Toole,
who carried his left arm in a sling. They were
familiars in this household, and great favour-
ites with both the ladies.
O'Toole struck an attitude, as of one blind-
ed, before the two women who stood together.
“Aren't you very splendid, you two?” he
asked.
“We are, Captain O'Toole. We are perfectly
splendid," answered Lady Bobs.
“Do say something pretty, O'Toole. They've
been forced to admire themselves for several
minutes, the vain things,” teased Ashton.
“Are you paralysed, too?" inquired the
American.
"Entirely."
“When did you come back, Sir Ashton?”
asked O'Toole.
“A day or so ago.”
“Lord Kendrick came back with you, I hear."
“Yes. We were together a week at the
front, and came home together.”
“Preparations for a big spring drive, I hear.
I hope to Heaven I get back in time for it,”
said Carter.
The Honourable Mildred Downer was an-


The Clutch of Circumstance
15
-
"Don't act as if you didn't know me," she
said.
“Certainly I know you,” he replied.
He turned to Trask.
“We must be in our seats at two-thirty. The
Premier speaks at three.”
There was an awkward pause, broken by the
announcement-
“The Duchess of Wrowe.”
“The Devil!” ejaculated Lady Bobs audi-
bly, whereupon Kendrick flashed a smile of
amusement at her.
The frumpy well known figure puffed to-
ward them.
“Roberta, I've come to lunch. I'm not in-
vited, but I've come.”
"How enchanting of you, Duchess,” said
Bobs.
"Ashton, you ask me to parties that bore me,
and when you give one that interests me, I
have to come unasked.”
He bowed over her hand.
“Unasked, possibly. Never unwelcome.”
She nodded to the others.
"Duchess, if you weren't asked, you will
have to do without your entree. As the young*
est present I refuse to give up mine to you.


16
The Clutch of Circumstance
“I should never expect you to give up any-
thing, Cecily. Giving up is not your special
talent,” retorted the Duchess. She turned to
Kendrick. “I heard you were lunching here,
that's why I came.”
"I'm flattered, Duchess,” he said.
"I want to know all the inside news from
the front,” she began.
Luncheon was announced, and Lord Ken-
drick led the way with Lady Trask.
"It serves you right," said he.
“For what?”
“Luring me here under false pretences.”
“Ashton invited you "
“An hour ago—to drop into lunch, en
famille."
“You would have preferred me, alone?”
“I expected to talk shop with your hus-
band,” he evaded.
“That's not a pretty speech.”
"I'm not a pretty speechmaker, Lady
Trask.”
"The men were lunching here. I asked Mil-
dred and Cecily, because I thought they would
amuse you."
“Who is Cecily?”
“Lady Harrison. She's next you.”


The Clutch of Circumstance
17
He turned to look at his neighbour, and en-
countered her eyes. He looked through her,
and it was not until he was attacking his fish
that she spoke.
“Don't you ever smile?" she inquired sud-
denly.
“I do when I'm amused.”
“Go on with your fish, until I think of some-
thing amusing,” she said, turning her attention
to O'Toole, on her other side.
"Perhaps you would have preferred the
Duchess,” said Lady Bobs to him.
“I don't object to the green-eyed woman,”
he replied.
Lady Bobs laughed.
“You are an ogre,—but you don't terrify
me.”
"I haven't tried to.”
“You think you could?”
"Must I think about it?”
The Duchess leaned forward.
“Lord Kendrick, what are they going to do
next in France?"
“I don't know, Duchess.”
“You must know what we're going to do.”
“If I did, I should not tell.”
“I hear the French and English have done


The Clutch of Circumstance
19
Madame. Are you an American?” he added
abruptly.
“I was born in New York. My father was
one of the Hancocks—an old American fam-
ily. Why do you ask?”
“You look un-English. The boy is Ameri-
can, too?”
“Boy?”
“The adoring lad on your other side.”
"Fancy your noticing that,” she laughed.
“Noticing is my chief talent, Lady Trask.”
"Do notice me!”
“I have.”
Lady Cecily claimed his attention.
"I've thought of it.”
“What?"
“The something amusing.”
“Ah.”
"You must say, 'What is it?'”
“I prefer not to risk it.”
“It is very funny.”
“Well, get ahead with it.”
"It is your retort to the Queen.”
“My what?”
“You don't know about it! It is the one
moss-grown anecdote always told about you.
The Queen said


CHAPTER II
LADY ROBERTA TRASK had an interesting
heritage. Her father was the son of a long
line of men who had made history in America.
Her mother had been a famous beauty, Ade-
laide Brück, born in New York but of German
parentage. Roberta could scarcely remember
her, for she had died in the girl's early child-
hood, never having recovered from the birth of
her child.
Hancock, who had been madly in love with
her, laid her death at the door of his daughter,
and never forgave her. He saw as little of her
as possible. So it was that the picturesque and
dominating figure of her childhood and youth
had been her German grandfather, Heinrich
Brück. He was an impelling personality, ut-
terly devoted to his grandchild and his Father-
land. He lived in the United States for the
greater part of his life, from thirty to seventy,
but he never became an American citizen in
any sense of the word.
He had poured his passion for German ideas


The Clutch of Circumstance
25
heart. She was fond of her associates, she en-
joyed her life, but there was in her a sort of
reserve of amusement at the peculiarities and
foibles of the English people. It never crys-
tallised into active criticism or antipathy, but
it just lurked there in the depths of her mind.
She thought of herself as American, she was
spoken of always as such. Any lack of formal-
ity or convention on her part was forgiven her
on the ground of her "Americanism.”
But with the coming of the Great War,
when nationality became a fierce passion in the
hearts of men, there stirred in her an ancient
loyalty. It was instinctive, primal. It was
not to England, not to America, it was to Ger-
many. It was deeply Teutonic, anti-Saxon.
It startled her, as thoroughly as it terrified her.
The thought of all such allegiance must be
slain, she said to herself, it made her position
too unbearable. So she fought it down and
held it back during the first months of the war.
With the rest of the world she was shocked
at the invasion of Belgium, but not as her
husband was shocked. As she pointed out to
him, if France was to be invaded, it had to be
through Belgium, no other way could have
succeeded. This was War.


The Clutch of Circumstance
27
at love. She admired and liked Ashton, but
she had never known the grand passion. On
the whole, she preferred not to.
She went over all this, trying to get her
mind clear. Like all Britons, Ashton Trask
felt his country to be the very root of his being.
She knew that and respected him for it. But
she knew that he would never understand nor
forgive this hybrid allegiance on her part.
Where did her duty lie? Should she tell him,
and go? Should she be silent, and live false-
hood?
It was six weeks after England entered the
War that there came the first of the mysterious
messages, calling on her, as the granddaughter
of Heinrich Brück, to serve the Fatherland.
Where they came from, or how, she did not
know. They were just there, as by magic, on
her dressing table, in her motor car. They
urged her, in German of course, to send the
information at her command to her own peo-
ple, to serve her grandfather's ideals.
She was told that a man stood always on
guard of her house. When the hour came for
her to prove herself, a small British flag, hung
in her bedroom window, would bring an ac-


The Clutch of Circumstance
29
that Germany could ruin her? No traitor to
the Fatherland would be spared!
The cold hand of Fear seemed to shut down
on her. It was a week or so after the receipt
of the threat, that Lady Cecily induced her to
go to a big public meeting where the Premier
was to speak. She did not want to go, but
anything was better than the company of her
own thoughts.
The great hall was crowded with people of
every class and kind, when they arrived. The
two women sat where they could sweep the
crowd with their eyes.
"How tense their faces look-how restless
they are,” Lady Bobs said.
“Yes. They are like people frantically
clutching at this or that to save themselves.”
“Poor wretched souls!" sighed Lady Trask.
“What do they make of it all, Bobs? Do
they believe that we are fighting because Bel-
gium was invaded?”
“They believe what they're told.”
The chairman and the speakers appeared,
greeted with loud applause. The meeting
came to order. Announcements were made,
the first speaker introduced. Lady Bobs did


The Clutch of Circumstance 31
tools. ..." The Premier's voice drowned him
out:
"We are fighting against barbarism, against
a selfish and material civilisation. They can-
not comprehend the action of Britain at the
present moment; they say so. They say,
France we understand. She is out for venge-
ance; she is out for territory, for Alsace-Lor-
raine. They say they can understand Russia.
She is fighting for mastery—she wants Galicia.
They can understand your fighting for greed,
for vengeance, for territory, but they cannot
understand a great Empire flinging its re-
sources, the lives of its children, its very exis-
tence to protect a little nation that seeks to
defend herself— ”
The crowd interrupted with wild applause.
“That is what we fight, that claim to pre-
dominance of a material, hard civilisation
which, if it once wins, sways the world. Lib-
erty goes, democracy vanishes, and unless
Britain and her sons come to the rescue, it will
be a dark day for humanity.”
A slow anger welled up in Roberta. France,
Italy, Russia, were they not busy rescuing
humanity ? Surely Britain and her sons were
not alone in their nobility!


The Clutch of Circumstance.
33
met some people they knew on the way, and
stopped to talk. Everywhere the verdict was
the same, it had been a great meeting.
At the door they met Lord Kendrick. He
had evidently waited for them. He bowed
gravely and walked beside them. He glanced
at Lady Trask a second time.
"Are you ill?”
"No. The air in there was vile. I shall be
all right when I get some fresh air and tea."
He engineered them through the mob, found
Lady Bobs' car, put them into it. He gave the
chauffeur an order and got in after them..
"Are we commandeered?” inquired Cecily.
“Yes,” said he, "for tea.”


CHAPTER III
He took them to a quiet tea shop, and found
a retired corner. Lady Cecily chattered on
about the meeting, the Premier and his speech,
the enthusiasm of the crowd. Lord Kendrick
listened without reply. He turned his glance
upon Lady Trask.
“What did you think of the speech ?” he
inquired.
"I shouldn't have gone. I hate patrioteer-
ing,” she evaded.
"It has to be done.”
“Maybe. Why are we so smug, we Anglo-
Saxons? England and America are so sure
that they are God's anointed.”
“They are,” he said simply.
She smiled.
"It is comfortable to be a bigot,” she teased
him.
"It is essential. In times like these you must
have no doubts. Your country is the best, your
cause the holiest.”
“That's a very long speech for you, isn't it?”
said Lady Cecily.
34


The Clutch of Circumstance
35
He swept her with his absent gaze.
"He has forgotten me again,” she sighed.
“Harrison is the name, yclept Cecily.”
He made no comment on that.
“Why were you so profoundly moved?” he
asked Roberta.
She gave him her startled gaze for a second,
“I am too tired. It is the spring, I suppose.
I must get away to-morrow."
"What do you do to rest yourself ?”
“I dig."
“Do you? Excellent.”
“What are you talking about? Would you
mind acting as if I were here in the flesh, and
not in the astral only?” begged Lady Cecily.
He looked at her then.
"How you do love the spotlight,” he re-
marked.
“I do, and so do you."
"No. I dislike it, but I endure it.”
"Pooh! You'd die without it. You're made
up for the spotlight all the time—heroic ges-
tures all ready for action.”
“Who is this silly woman?” he inquired of
Lady Bobs.
“She isn't silly. She's profoundly wise "
“You mustn't be misled by my blond hair,"


38
The Clutch of Circumstance
“Cecily,” laughed Bobs, "you blessed goose!
Tell me about your geraniums, Lord Kendrick.
Why did you choose to cultivate them?”
A shadow crossed his face, before he an-
swered briefly.
“They were the favourite flower of some
one I cared for. I acquired a taste for them
young.”
“I should have expected you to raise cactus,”
said Cecily.
"There is no use trying to talk with this
'enfant terrible' on our hands. Couldn't you
take Lady Trask's car and go for a drive?” he
inquired.
"No. I won't go home. I like it here."
“Do you see anybody about you'd like to
talk with?” he inquired.
She looked about mischievously.
"Interesting looking man by the door, with
the longish face
"And longish hair," added Bobs.
Lord Kendrick strode across the room to the
table indicated. They saw the man's startled
look, his nod, his smile. He rose at once and
came back with Lord Kendrick.
“He's captured him," exclaimed Cecily.


40
The Clutch of Circumstance
"8
:
“Why?"
"Because of your hands. What does one do
with hands like that?”
“The usual stupidities, such as washing the
face.”
“Do you paint?"
"No."
“What then?"
“Must I show my label?”
“Not at all. I shall think of you as a plumb-
er, and be quite content.”
"Excellent profession, I'm told. What do
you do that is interesting ?”
"I do good work, and war works. I amuse
my friends, and bedevil my husband—is that
enough of my label ?”
“Yes. I shall think of you as a green-eyed
yellow butterfly, and be quite content.”
She smiled.
“Repeat ‘Jesus Repose' for me.”
“You do know, then?”
“Of course. Say me your charming verses.”
He repeated them softly, dramatically. His
voice was like honey.
“Le sacrifice est consommé. Jesus repose.
Mourons pour la Patrie et pour sa sainte cause,
La sacrifice est consommé. Jesus repose.”


The Clutch of Circumstance
Kendrick turned to them.
“What's this?”
Lady Cecily's eyes were dim.
"You did very well for me. You picked a
poet. He has made me cry, and I'm going
home.”
They all rose, and the poet made his fare-
wells, and stayed on.
"Perhaps when I come back from Surrey,
you will come and talk gardens with me again,
Lord Kendrick," said Bobs as they went to-
ward the door.
"Thank you."
“If you should suddenly find yourself with
a longing for my society, come and see me,”
said Cecily.
He bowed.
“You might, you know. A taste for me is
like a germ, men have died of it.”
“Of the taste or the cure?”
"Both. I could read up on a seed cata-
logue, but you may as well know that garden-
ing is not a passion with me.”,
“Good afternoon,” said he, closing the motor
door.
“Shall we drop you somewhere?” asked
Bobs.


42
The Clutch of Circumstance
"No. I prefer to walk.”
They marked his tall military figure as he
swung away from them.
"He's a dear,” said Cecily.
Bobs laughed.
"How was the poet? It was the Languedoc,
wasn't it?”
“Umhm. He left a sweetish taste in my
mouth, after Kendrick."
“Why isn't he in khaki?” asked Lady Bobs,
idly, avoiding silence.
“I didn't ask him. I should think probably
because he would faint at the sight of a gun.
He's beautiful, in an exotic way-
“Umhm "
“If only some one in my infancy had taught
me to grab what I want, as Lord Kendrick
does.”
“My dear, you get what you want. If you
mean the lovely poet, he came willingly
enough- ”
“If he hadn't he would have been dragged.”
Lady Bobs nodded.
“It's an enviable sort of mind to have, the
Kendrick kind. It shuts, automatically, like a
steel safe around the body of its convictions,
and no disturbing light gets in.”
O


44
The Clutch of Circumstance
At home Lady Trask went at once to her
own rooms. This sitting room and bedroom
of hers were very characteristic of her. They
were cool and large, with space and simplicity
as their keynote. The neutral coloured walls
seemed to open out, never to shut in. The
notes of colour were concentrated here and
there, in a lamp, a bowl of flowers, or a shelf
of deep blue books. Her piano was here, its
rack filled with the music she loved, and an
open fire burned on the hearth.
It rested her always like the presence of a
friend. To-day she was in special need of such
help. She was literally worn out with the emo-
tions of the afternoon. She undressed and put
on a loose negligee gown. She selected a book
with care, and sat down by her fire to read.
After a bit she admitted that her eye obeyed
orders and read words, but her mind was blank.
She went to the piano, and let her fingers
choose the way, rather than her brain. A flood
of ideas and reactions poured through her con-
sciousness like a searchlight. The Premier's
speech-how strange that it should have made
her so angry. .... She smiled at the memory
of Cecily's amusing audacities, and the way
they plagued Lord Kendrick. What strange


The Clutch of Circumstance 45
silences the man fathered—what a surprise his
laugh was. What sort of human was he? She
must find out. He attracted her immensely.
Was it in the power of any woman to "simoon
him” in Cecily's ridiculous phrase? ... What
was it he had said to her? “You must have no
doubts. Your country must be the best, your
cause the holiest.” What if he knew what
dangerous advice that was to give her at this
moment?
She was aware now of the thing she was
playing, an old favourite of her grandfather's.
It brought him close to her, so that she felt him.
She closed her eyes that she might not lose
him. He released her battered spirit from the
world of flux she lived in, he gave her the sense
of an ordered world.
Back over the years that held him, her spirit
trailed, the years of her childhood when he
had been both father and mother. How sure
his understanding had been, how true his de-
votion. His deep-throated laugh sounded
again. . . . Her hands dropped from the keys
and she felt drowsy, relaxed at last. She went
to the couch and lay down, thinking she would
sleep.


46 The Clutch of Circumstance
“Grandfather Heinrich,” she whispered,
“what shall I do?”
She lay quite still, straining to catch his an-
swer. She was neither asleep nor awake. She
heard the clock tick, and a log fall, burned
through, in the fireplace. And yet she was
not in that room. She sensed a rustling, as of
unseen presences. She felt as if finger-tips
touched her eyes. She was cold with terror,
yet filled with hope.
After what seemed a long time, she opened
her eyes. In a stream of light that came in her
window, from a street lamp outside, she saw,
distinctly, Heinrich Brück standing. He came
slowly toward her, and she raised herself on
her elbow to greet him. He carried what
seemed to be a flaming sword, laid across his
two hands, palms open and upturned. She felt
him lay the sword across her knees, she felt
his hand on her hair, his breath on her cheek.
She heard him say:
“Für das Vaterland, meine grosse enkelin !"
She lay staring at him, speechless, terrified,
longing yet unable to speak. In a second he
was gone, and she knew she was too late. She


The Clutch of Circumstance
417
lost consciousness for a period of time. But
the thundering of her heart finally awakened
her.
The room was empty, the window closed.
She looked at the clock, it was only a quarter
before seven. Her breath came suffocatingly,
in sobbing gasps. Slowly she sat up, and with
startled remembrance her eyes turned to her
knees, where the sword had been laid. A little
British flag lay in her lap.
She did not question any more. She did not
hesitate. She rose, went to the window of her
bedroom, and pinned the flag to her shade.
Then she dressed in a feverish hurry. She was
subconsciously glad that extra work at the War
Office would keep Sir Ashton late. Not that
it mattered now. . . . She went down stairs.
To Brooks she said that she was expecting a
message and she wished to speak with the mes-
senger.
Then she went into the drawing-room and
forced herself to sit down and wait.


The Clutch of Circumstance
“So am I,” said he.
"I'm expecting ”
“A messenger,” he finished.
She flushed and stared.
“How did you know?"
"I am he.”
“Larry—you!"
He slipped off a seal ring he wore, opened
it with a spring, took out a tiny, folded paper,
spread it on his palm. He took up a magnify-
ing glass from a table and offered it to her.
She peered at the miniature identification of
Captain Larry O'Toole as the agent of the
Imperial German Government. She raised
her eyes to his face, literally speechless with
astonishment. He hastily replaced the dan-
gerous scrap of paper in its hiding place.
"Larry, I just cannot grasp it."
"It's not so difficult.”
“But gay happy you, playing around, and
making love to all of us-
“That's how I serve the one I love best av
all!” he said passionately.
“You mean?”
“I mean Ireland.”
“But your commission. Didn't you have to
swear allegiance ?


50
The Clutch of Circumstance
"I never knew where my allegiance lay until
this war began,” he said.
"How strange. That happened to you,
too?"
He nodded.
“I've always loved Ireland. I've always
wanted her to be free, but I left the freein' av
her, for the most part, to the other fella'. I
stood for England's muddlin' stupidity in our
affairs up to the toime when she goes to war
for the avowed protection av the integrity av
little nations, up to the toime she shoots down
the revolutionists, in the streets, without so
much as a court martial trial! When England
starts out preachin' an' crusadin' fer freedom,
by God, I'll call her attintion to Ireland at
her door.”
“But how can Germany help you?”
“Germany will win the war, an' free Ire-
land.”
“Are you sure?"
“Av course I'm sure. I'm riskin' me loife
on ut.”
“But is there an agreement?”'
“There is. The revolutionists in Ireland
have an agreement with Germany. Nothing
could humiliate England so much as for Ger-


The Clutch of Circumstance
51
many to give us our freedom. That's why
there is a whole rigimint av us scattered about
in the British service.”
She considered that a moment.
“You don't hate the work you have to do?”
“Hate ut? It's the breath av loife to me.
I've been av considerable service, thanks to me
irreproachable connections here. No one else
can do what I do. My bit has a special value.”
"You aren't afraid ?”
“Afraid? Of what? Death? Who's afraid
of death now? We face it every day at the
front, it's as ordinary as breakfast.”
"I see. You count yourself as an infinitesi-
mal unit of service?”
“That's it.”
He looked at her intently, waiting.
“How did they know about me?”'
He smiled at that.
"Lady Bobs, they are like God! They know
ivrything. They knew the status and where-
abouts of ivry man, woman, and choild av Ger-
man, Prussian, or Austrian descent, livin' in
England, and They had it down in books, long
before the war was dreamed av by the rist av
us.”
"How incredible.”


52
The Clutch of Circumstance
"Nuthin' is incredible with Them. To an
Irishman loike me, with thought for the wan
day only, They're terrifyin', for They think in
centuries. How can They fail to conquer a
haphazard world like the rist av us live in?”
“Have you known that They were sending
me messages?”
"I have not.”
“How did you come to-day?"
"I came on orders.”
“From whom?"
“From Them."
“They told me that a man watched my house
day and night. They told me the signal that
would bring an agent- "
“You gave the signal?”
“Yes.”
“A messenger brought me orders to come
here and show you my credentials. I couldn't
believe it, but I came.”
“My grandfather was a German.”
His eyebrows went up.
“Trask knows?”
“About my grandfather? Oh, yes. At least
I told him when we were married.”
“He never saw him?”
“Oh, no. He died when I was fifteen.”


The Clutch of Circumstance
63
“Your mother's father?”
“Yes. Heinrich Brück."
“But your mother was American born?”
“Yes, as I was. My father was American
many generations back.”
"You're always spoken of here as Ameri-
can.”
“Yes."
“Wonderful! You have not mentioned the
Brück ancestor since war began?”
“Naturally not.”
“When did you decide?”
“To-day, this afternoon,” she said in a low
voice. "I've known for months that deep in
my soul was loyalty to the ideals of my grand-
father. I've fought the knowledge, I've denied
it. I've told myself over and over that I owed
Ashton my full allegiance, but I know now
that it doesn't count, that nothing counts ex-
cept freeing myself for service "
“What was it that clinched the determina-
tion?”
“Cecily and I went to-day to hear Lloyd
George rouse the populace. I couldn't bear it,
his denunciation of us as barbarians, because
we make war like ruthless gods. I couldn't
endure his calm assumption, but that for Eng-


54
The Clutch of Circumstance
land the world would be a ruin and a waste."
“I know, I know," he said.
“We had tea with Lord Kendrick later. He
assured us seriously that the Anglo-Saxons
were God's anointed.”
He smiled at that.
“God with the Kaiser, God with the Angles,
poor, distracted God!”
“I came home terribly wrought up. I lay
down to quiet my nerves, and I had a sort of
vision of my grandfather. I don't know how
it was, I can't explain it— "
"Don't try. All the Irish believe in ghosts."
"He has appeared to me several times since
the war began, but never so plainly as he did
to-day. Larry, I'm not an hysterical person,
am I?”
“Ye are not."
"I saw him, I heard him speak. I cried out
to him for counsel and he bade me serve the
fatherland. I thought he laid a sword on my
lap, but when I woke I found it was the signal
flag. Larry, how could that be?”
"I'll niver tell ye. Things are as they are,
Lady Bobs. . . . What did ye do, then?”
"I went and hung the signal in the window,
and now I am free.”


56 The Clutch of Circumstance
“When is your leave up, Captain O'Toole?"
she inquired.
“I wish you'd ask the War Office,” he
smiled.
“Do you want tea?” asked Lady Bobs.
“I've had mine," said Mildred.
“And I mine," echoed the Captain.
“None for me, I hate the stuff,” said Carter.
He deliberately attached himself to Lady
Bobs, leaving the Irishman to Mildred.
“You haven't paid any attention to me for
weeks,” he complained.
“Haven't I, Teddy?” she smiled, with an
attempt at lightness.
"No, and right now, when I've come to say
good-bye, you wish I were in Halifax.”
"That isn't true," she replied.
"Is it O'Toole you care for?” he demanded.
“What foolishness, Teddy.”
“Why does he stand with his hands on your
shoulders, like your lover?”
"He was, in fact, giving me disinterested
and fatherly advice.”
He shrugged his impatient disbelief, and
turned to mark that O'Toole was showing Mil-
dred some war cartoons at the other end of the
room.


The Clutch of Circumstance
59
Sir Ashton came in at the moment, with the
Duchess.
“I picked Ashton up on the street, and
brought him home. No, I won't sit down,
thanks. I'm cross as an old crow and I'm
going home to vent it on the Duke.”
“What's the trouble, Duchess?” asked Bobs.
“Trouble? England's the trouble. We're
a muddlin', half-hearted lot. We fight like a
lot of old ladies! We listen to labour, we dilly
and we dally, and look at us. We should have
crushed these Huns and been through with it,
in three months.”
“Oh, Duchess, not three months! There
would never have been any fun in three
months,” protested Carter.
. “This is not a Bank Holiday organised for
your sole amusement, young man. If that
country of yours was where she should be, she
would be fighting shoulder to shoulder with us
at this moment.”
She went on scolding them. O'Toole and
Lady Bobs drew an infinitesimal place outside
her circle.
“We must not be seen talking alone together
hereafter,” he said in a normal conversational
tone.
W


60
The Clutch of Circumstance
“Are we to meet somewhere?" she asked,
following his lead.'
"Never. We must be like this always. If
you speak in a natural voice no one pays atten-
tion.”
“I must have a word. Stay on after the
others go. I'll manage Ashton somehow "
He turned back to the others.
Carter came to Lady Bobs' side.
“May I have a few moments alone with you,
before I go?”
She looked troubled.
“Oh, never mind,” he said.
“Yes, yes, of course, Ted. I'll go to the door
with you, and we'll have a moment or two "
He went to Sir Ashton.
“Good-bye, Sir Ashton, I'm off to-night.”
“Are you, my boy? Good luck to you,” said
the older man with a firm handclasp.
Carter bowed before the Duchess, who gave
him her hand.
“Good-bye. I'm proud of you, and I apolo-
gise for abusin' your country.”
“Thanks. I won't hold it against you."
He shook hands with Miss Downer and
O'Toole. Lady Bobs laid her hand on his arm,
and walked with him out of the room.


The Clutch of Circumstance
61
ve
"That boy is scandalously in love with
Roberta, Ashton,” remarked the Duchess.
"Poor lad-can you blame him?" he smiled
at her.
But when Lady Bobs came back his quick
tender glance swept her face. The Duchess
ordered them all to go home because Roberta
looked tired, and they drifted toward the hall.
Ashton, the Duchess and Mildred Downer
walked together. O'Toole sauntered behind
with Roberta. Once Mildred Downer looked
back at them.
“Larry, I'll make my plans to leave to-
morrow.”
“Leave?”
“Certainly. I cannot stay here, in Ashton's
house."
"My dear, They'll require that of you."
"Oh, no!” she cried, off guard.
“Take care! ... That is why you are valu-
able to Them. It is your position here, your
sure sources of information that They want.”
“Oh, but it's too hideous ”
“You are committed now.”
"Suppose I refuse?”
“Too late.”
"You mean They would ruin me?”


The Clutch of Circumstance
“Without a doubt.”
The others would be at the door now, in a
minute. She drew a deep breath, and said
slowly:
“Very well, the die is cast. What am I to
do?"
"Bobs, my dear, the Duchess is going,” said
Sir Ashton.
With a smile at O'Toole, Lady Bobs joined
her guests.


PART TWO





66
The Clutch of Circumstance
together. Why did the world lay such furious
stress upon "patriotism”? What did the word
mean? She found herself in a position now,
where, if she stayed on, she was disloyal to
Ashton, if she disobeyed Them, and left, she
brought ruin on them both.
No orders or messages came during the
forty-eight hours subsequent to her talk with
O'Toole, so in order to escape for a little
from Ashton and her intimate friends, she had
a bag packed, and went off to their country
place, leaving word for her husband that she
had acted upon an impulse, and run away for
a sniff of spring in the country.
“Ah, Lady Trask, Ma'am, ye look as if ye
was in sore need of the country,” said old Mrs.
Mallory, the housekeeper, when she arrived at
Trask Hall.
“Yes, Mrs. Mallory, I am. I need a good
dose of fresh air and quiet, and growing
things.”
“The garden do be lovely, Ma'am. Mallory
says it's wunnerful growin' weather now. Will
ye have your lunch on the terrace, Ma'am?"
“I will, thanks.”
"I hope Sir Ashton is well, Ma'am.”
"He's terribly overworked.”


The Clutch of Circumstance 67
over
“ 'Tis dreadful times we be livin' thru, Lady
Trask.”
Lady Trask nodded, looking off over the
gardens.
“And earth keeps up its terrible composure,”
she said softly.
“When ye think of all the dyin', over there
in France, an' the sufferin' here at home, ye'd
think they'd had enuff by now," the old woman
ran on.
“They have, Mallory. But this war is like
a huge magnetised ball, that rolls and rolls,
and clutches men and nations to it by irresisti-
ble force. No one can stop it ”
"Mr. Lloyd George can, can't he?"
"It seems not. Let's make a compact not
to speak of the war while I'm here. I want a
vacation from it."
"All right, Lady Trask. We don't speak of
it much, Mallory an' me. We got no sons to
go, an' things is about the same down here.”
“Yes, thank God, they seem the same down
here,” said Lady Trask fervently.
She gave herself up to this illusion with pas-
sion. She sank deep into the lap of Surrey, and
emptied her mind of everything save the event
of the minute. The first day she tramped with


68
The Clutch of Circumstance
her dogs, and later rode for hours across the
peaceful country. No wonder poets sang of
this lovely England, no wonder soldiers died
with her name on their lips. Loyalty to the
beauty of England, she understood that.
The second day she made a friend. She
was pottering about the garden, with old Mal-
lory, when a very small, very red-cheeked
youngster of three joined them.
“Good morning,” said Lady Trask to the
intruder.
He smiled engagingly. He displayed an old
lard bucket and a battered spoon.
“That's Hughie, the chuffer's boy,” ex-
plained Mallory.
“Dig?” said Hughie.
Lady Trask nodded, and showed him a safe
place for his operations. He began with vigour
to make the dirt fly. Old Mallory laughed at
him and went on with his work, singing in a
cracked voice a tune which he seemed never to
complete. The sun was warm on their backs,
the garden was sweet and still. The old man
and the tiny man were soothing companions.
Lady Bobs almost forgot.
“Hughie dig deep, d-e-e-p hole,” bragged
the infant.


70
The Clutch of Circumstance
wishing that she might have had a son of her
own, but as memory thrust at her the face of
her present, she shuddered away from the
thought of a child. She concentrated again on
the sunny garden.
“My mon, John, what can the matter be?”
wheezed the eternal question of old Mallory.
"What is the next line, Mallory?" she asked
idly.
"I dunno, Lady Trask. Hughie he can sing
it. Sing ‘My mon, John,' Hughie,” he or-
dered.
So Hughie lifted voice in an unintelligible
jargon, but in the true spirit of song:
“Ma mon, Jawn, wot can'a matta be,
At I sd’luve lady fair, an she sd’nowt luv
me-
Several days came and went, days spent in
the open, with these two pleasant comrades.
Nothing happened. Lady Bobs slept at night,
she enjoyed her meals. Surely this was truth,
the outer world of war, and death and intrigue
was the dream. The week slipped by, and Fri-
day brought Ashton and Lord Kendrick to
spend the week end. The sight of her husband


72
The Clutch of Circumstance
Hughie, like a collie pup, only less bother.”
He smiled at that.
"Let me show you a quicker and a better way
to do that,” he said, and knelt beside her.
"That's your secret, isn't it? You always
know a quicker and a better way,” she re-
marked.
He proceeded with the demonstration. He
instructed her and included Hughie in the
process. Presently they were all working hap-
pily, silently. Lady Bobs glanced occasionally
at the strong brown hands which worked so
deftly at the roots of things.
“You look almost benevolent,” she teased
him. He ignored that. He called Hughie to
see something he had unearthed, and knelt with
his arm about the boy, as he explained it. The
man was big and kind and elemental. How
could he be at the same time, as ruthless as she
knew him to be? It was the sheer power of him
that fired her imagination.
Lord Kendrick summoned Mallory for a
consultation in regard to a certain bug which
nibbled plants that spring. He agreed to send
him a solution for a spray.
"Eternal struggle in gardens,” she said.


The Clutch of Circumstance
73
“Eternal struggle in the universe," he
amended.
“It must be.”
"Certainly. Star against star, planet against
planet, animal against animal, man against
man. How else would the fit survive?”
She made a sound of agreement that caught
his attention.
“What kind of woman are you?” he asked.
“I'm the kind of woman that you are a man.'
“You think you know what kind I am?”
“Certainly. I belong to your kind.”
“What is it?”
“Conqueror!”
"So?”
“Decide what you believe to be the ultimate
good, for your country, for the race, perhaps
for the world. Then march toward it. Kill,
conquer, take-ruthless, if you like, but in the
end, victorious. That's your creed, and mine."
He stared at her intently, and she gave him
back his look.
"I've known one, maybe two women like
that, in savage tribes."
“I belong to a savage tribe.”
"Indians, eh? Chippewa-Apache?”
“Who knows. I've reverted, that's all."


74
The Clutch of Circumstance
She went back to her grubbing and he fol-
lowed suit. But they both knew that some-
thing had happened between them.
He rather avoided her after that. It was as
if she had scaled his wall, invaded his tent, he
tried to push her out. He wanted none of
her. She knew perfectly what was in his mind,
but she no longer resented it. He would not
acknowledge it, but he was flying a danger sig-
nal. He did not know, as she did, that she was
already upon the rocks of destruction, that she
need not heed his warning. He protected him-
self with Sir Ashton, but when he thought her
unaware of him, he looked at her all the time.
If she lifted swift, comprehending eyes to him,
he looked away, angrily.
Sunday brought Cecily Harrison and her
newest cavalier, the poet Languedoc. They
motored from the Ilarrisons place unan-
nounced, for luncheon.
"You remember Basil Languedoc, Bobs?
Well, well, if it isn't the gruff griffin!” she
smiled, into Kendrick’s frankly annoyed face.
"I won't talk to you," she soothed him, “I
won't even look at you."
“Thanks,” said he.


The Clutch of Circumstance
177
understand you. She shares the belief of many
people that democracies are too undisciplined.
It may be one of the lessons of this war, that
our democractic governments must be reor-
ganised.”
"The Germans are disciplined, and look at
the result," said Kendrick. “The danger to
the world of that autocracy lies here, that it has
taken away from its disciplined masses the
power to make their laws and choose their
rulers.”
"But England refuses several hundred mil-
lion individuals, of every colour and race and
religion, the right to make their laws and
choose their rulers. England does not count
herself a menace to the world. No, my dears,
we, in England, grab two entire continents and
part of a third, protesting that it is for the
good of the world at large. The enemy grabs
without oratory,” she laughed. “If grabbing
is wrong, isn't it wrong for everybody?”
"If you had ever seen a Malayan prison, if
you had ever gone among aboriginal tribes as
I have, if you knew the wrong and oppression
of tyrants of their own race, you'd know that
England civilises where she conquers,” Lord
Kendrick said.


80
The Clutch of Circumstance
s.
before they got off on the wrong track. If
freedom and self-government for their colonies
is the next step, they will take it. If they are,
as we believe, the forward looking nations of
the earth, they will not hesitate.”
Sir Ashton paused a moment, and turned
his earnest face toward his wife.
“You see, dear, it really is like the belief you
have in the basic goodness and understanding
of your mother.”
"Perhaps it is because I cannot remember
my mother that I am so Philistine,” she an-
swered him, with equal earnestness.
“Oh, Ashton, don't convert her," begged Ce-
cily. “It is so nice to know somebody who
still says 'German and ‘Prussian' right out
loud with no apology, like Bobs. I've adopted
it, myself. I go round now, telling everybody
I am pro-German. It makes an awful splash.”
“Cecily, your love of a splash will get you
into trouble one of these days,” Sir Ashton
warned her.
A servant came across the terrace, with a
note for Bobs.
“By messenger, Lady Trask. He did not
wait for an answer. Luncheon is served,
Madam."


CHAPTER II
THE dreaded orders had come. She was
directed to get from Lord Kendrick certain
facts in regard to tactics in the Somme region,
and report at once. It had been impossible to
arrange for a word alone with her guest, and
obviously out of the question to extract even
an opinion from him, in general conversation.
So Lady Bobs went back to town and sought
counsel from O'Toole.
He came at once to see her, apparently by
accident, at Lady Harrison's. She explained
to him the utter folly of trying to get any in-
formation from Lord Kendrick. She knew the
man. It was useless to try, as well as danger-
ous.
“My dear lady,” said O'Toole, "you will
soon be learnin' that our present masters never
heard that word 'impossible.' It doesn't exist
in their language. When They order a thing
done, it is done. If They have asked that in-
formation, ye must get ut. If not through the
silent Kendrick, through some other reliable
82


The Clutch of Circumstance 83
authority. My advice is, waste no toime sayin'
it can't be done—just go ahead an' do it.”
They were interrupted at this point and it
was not until somewhat later that he drifted
to her side again.
"We must be careful about meetin',” he
warned her.
"I think the less careful we are, the better.
You might develop a sudden passion for my
society, Larry. My flirtatious past, and yours,
would prove an alibi.”
"Delighted,” he smiled.
“I shall not hold you strictly to account in
matters amorous, but your reputation as Lo-
thario will help us.”
“The affair is on!” he grinned.
In the weeks that followed, the flirtation of
Lady Bobs and Larry O'Toole amused all
their intimates, and set some tongues a-clacking
outside their own group.
“What is this boy and girl affair, Bobs?
You'd think you and Larry were seventeen.”
“Takes an Irishman to rejuvenate you,”
nodded Lady Bobs. “Love with a brogue is
delicious.”
"I shall dismiss the Languedoc and get me


84
The Clutch of Circumstance
an Irishman. Basil is too lyric. I need a
Celtic renaissance, myself.”
“Yours is the international soul we hear so
much about, Cecily,” laughed Lady Bobs.
Tea and banter and laughter camouflaged
much serious planning between Lady Bobs and
her cavalier. The information about the
Somme front she obtained and forwarded.
They worked together on most of their “assign-
ments," as they called them.
Lady Trask's connections branched in every
direction. She knew the Americans who lived
in London, she met those of importance who
came there on business, or pleasure. Fre-
quently she was able to shed light on English
and American diplomatic relations which was
very helpful to Königstrasse.
She hated with every fibre of her being the
equivocal position she was in, but having
walked into it of her own volition, she hard-
ened herself and went ahead, in what she be-
lieved to be her highest duty.
One day as she was walking home, she met
Mildred Downer, who fell in step beside her.
“Where have you been hiding, Mildred?
We haven't seen you for ages," Lady Trask
said to her.


The Clutch of Circumstance
85
“Oh, I've been about,” the girl answered
evasively.
“Busy, I suppose.”
“Awf'ly. What are you doing with your-
self?”
“The usual things. Odd how we get ad-
justed to war, as if it were our natural state.”
"Yes, queer nation, we are. They say we're
not adaptable, but look at us. Wonderful, I
call it.”
Lady Trask made some reply, but the girl
broke in on it.
“I have been wanting to see you."
“I've asked you to dinner twice," Lady
Trask reminded her.
"I know,” uncomfortably.
“Why didn't you come?”
“I—couldn't.”
“You mean you were engaged both nights?”
“No. I cannot endure some one who was
sure to be there!"
"How ridiculous! Who was it?"
“Captain O'Toole."
“You dislike Larry? You unnatural wo-
man! I didn't suppose it could be done."
The girl's ugly face flushed.
"I think he's a sneak and a bounder."


86
The Clutch of Circumstance
“Really, Mildred, he is a friend, you
know "
“That's why it is so difficult. Because I
like you better than any woman in London,”
she added miserably.
Lady Trask turned an amused glance upon
her, but the real feeling in Miss Downer's
face stopped her.
“Thank you, Mildred. Because you like
me, is no reason for your liking all my friends.
I'm sorry Captain O'Toole keeps you from
coming to us, for Ashton and I are both fond
of you."
"Do you know about Captain O'Toole?"
Mildred asked.
Lady Trask looked at her quickly.
“Know what about him?"
"He keeps a mistress.”
“Does he?"
“He makes love to you in public "
Lady Trask flushed.
"My dear Mildred, nobody takes the Irish
seriously, except the Irish! Larry O'Toole
and I amuse each other. He makes love as a
baby cries, or a bird sings. It's his native
speech."
“Oh, I know you don't care anything about


The Clutch of Circumstance
87
him. It's just that I cannot bear to have him
make you ridiculous,” Mildred protested.
“My child, you're the only person he is mak-
ing ridiculous. Put poor Larry out of your
mind. His fascinations will not be fatal to me,
I assure you."
"I'm not so sure.”
Again Lady Trask glanced at her.
"Why do you hate him so?” she inquired.
"I hate palaver. I distrust all of his coun-
trymen, but him in particular.”
"He hasn't given you any specific cause to
hate him?"
"He has offered me his insulting homage, as
he does all women "
“Pooh, where's your sense of humour? For-
get him.”
"I wish I could!” exclaimed Mildred Dow-
ner passionately, and with a hasty farewell she
turned and walked away.
Lady Trask looked after her in sheer amaze-
ment. Later the talk recurred to her, and she
spoke to Larry about it. He laughed.
"It might prove serious, Larry. What did
you do to her?”
“I courted her, at a dull house party, and
kissed her on the stairs."


88
The Clutch of Circumstance
“It must have been dull! Did she mind?”
“She did. She took me seriously."
“Larry!"
“I had to tell her the plain truth, poor soul.
She's got no sense of humour.”
"Make no mistake, you have an enemy there,
and she is no fool.”
“I'd rather have her as an enemy than have
to kiss her again.”
“What did you do it for?”!
"Experiment. She looked so unkissed.”
"For a clever man, you're stupid some-
times.”
He shrugged impatient shoulders.
. "Even clever women fall into that blunder.
Let's drop Miss Downer and talk of some-
thing interesting.”
As the Captain was leaving, he met Sir
Ashton at the door. When the Irishman had
gone, Trask came quickly across the room to
Roberta and put his arms about her.
“Ashton?” she said, surprised.
"Dearest, I want to say something that is
in my mind. You will not misunderstand if
your heart beats against mine."
She stood still in his embrace.
"Is it about Larry?"


The Clutch of Circumstance 89
“Do you find him so amusing that you can-
not do with less of his society?"
“You think I see too much of him, Ashton?”
"It is what other people think, dear, who do
not know you as I do.”
“Do they matter?”
“I think your dignity and fineness matter.
I cannot bear to have your name rolled over on
many tongues.”
She freed herself from his arms, but he drew
her back with tenderness.
“Roberta, if I could only fill your whole
heart and mind as you do mine."
“Ashton, please ” she said, in protest. “I
will, of course, see less of Larry, if you object.”
"Don't put it so— if I object-I merely
call your attention to the fact that people talk,
and I leave the matter to your own good taste,
my dear.”
"Thank you,” she said. Then, that she
might not pour out to him the whole wretched
story, she turned and left the room without a
word.
Sir Ashton watched her go with a sigh. The
slight frown that creased his forehead deep-
ened. There was in Sir Ashton Trask a deep,
instinctive reverence for women. He had no


90
The Clutch of Circumstance
understanding of the modern free and easy
relationship between men and women. While
he was in no way so old-fashioned that he in-
sisted upon a pedestal for “the sex,” his mo-
dernity wanted to add to all the old courtesies
and tenderness, natural toward women, the
new mental companionshp.
He marked with dismay the younger gener-
ation's desire to take full advantage of the
comradeship, but to be excused from all the
old observances, which had been the perqui-
sites of what they now scornfully referred to as
“chivalry.” He saw that women, even so fine
a woman as his wife, did not resent this, but
rather encouraged it.
It may be, that when reverence for women
survives in a man of Sir Ashton's type, it
means that he has been deeply influenced at
some youthful period, by a worshipful woman,
a mother perhaps. It was so in his case. His
mother had been an unusual woman of strong
character and distinguished mentality. Her
friendship with her son had been based upon
mutual respect and admiration. To the out-
sider they might have seemed undemonstrative,
but there were fine shades of understanding


The Clutch of Circumstance
91
between them, that needed no words. Theirs
was a true oneness of spirit.
The one great and poignant sorrow of Ash-
ton's life had been her death, which happened
two years before his marriage. She had given
her son the fine inheritance of a courteous
mind, and a human sympathy, so broad that
it knew no confines.
He had become philosopher, thinker, almost
ascetic, when the beautiful Roberta had so
upset his poise. His passion for her, so swift
and consuming, was a total surprise to him,
overwhelming in its consequences.
It made of him an irresistible lover. His
ardour and his perfect breeding had satisfied
two needs in Roberta's nature. She was still
a girl when she married him, at twenty-two, a
little bewildered by his courtship.
In the years that followed he never loved
her less. He assayed her nature, as the miner
does his gold dust. The pure metal he treas-
ured, and from the alloy he courteously looked
away.
He came to know that she had known for
her background traditions very different from
those of his mother, and that her values were
consequently often puzzling. He learned that


92
The Clutch of Circumstance
he did not fill her imagination as she did his,
and while her incurable coquetry troubled him,
he did not permit himself to judge her for it.
It was something he could not understand, pos-
sibly a trait due to her American birth and
training—he had noticed it in other American
women. It was a wound in his heart always,
but he never let a hint of it pass his lips or
even creep into his eyes.
It was, then, a special anxiety that had
broken his reticence in the matter of Captain
O'Toole, and his too obvious admiration. Sir
Ashton had an apperception of a certain
shadow of distrust which, to his sixth sense,
began to settle about Captain O'Toole, as in-
distinguishable as a colour spectrum, as inde-
finable as an aura.


CHAPTER III
LADY BOBs warned Captain O'Toole that
they were overplaying the comedy of love,
since people were talking about it, and they
agreed to let their “affair” drop into the back-
ground,-planning their "casual” meetings
more carefully. It interfered somewhat with
their work, not to see each other daily, but it
was only one of the many and growing difficul-
ties which beset their path.
It so happened that Lady Trask encoun-
tered Lord Kendrick several times, quite by
accident, during these days which followed his
visit to them. On each occasion they spoke to
each other a language shorn of trivialities.
Lady Bobs felt no voluntary response in him,
but rather an instinctive one. She was, as she
had said, of his kind.
He fired her imagination completely, and
the thought of him began to dominate her
mind. She wanted to break down his reserves,
to penetrate his mystery, to see him surge to
the full tide of himself.


94
The Clutch of Circumstance
She began to deliberately plan to see him.
It was easy to inform herself of his probable
whereabouts, so long as he stayed in London.
She learned what an exhausting proportion of
his waking hours he spent in the War Office.
He allowed himself no relaxation. Once she
met him on the street and he walked with her
a little way. She urged him to go away and
weed geranium beds.
“Cannot be done.”
“The life you lead will kill you.”
“Why not? That's not the worst that may
come to a soldier. You cannot get an army of
five million men, out of peaceful England,
without effort.”
“Come with us to Surrey for the week-end,
or ask us to come with you.”
“You want to see my place?"
“Yes.”
“I'll try to manage it. Can you come on
short notice?"
“Give me ten minutes."
“Good, no foolishness about you.”
“Oh, yes, there is much,” she replied.
To her surprise and deep satisfaction he
summoned them on Saturday and drove them
out himself.


The Clutch of Circumstance
95
"It will be dull for you. I've asked no one
else,” he explained to Lady Bobs.
“I like you better when you assure me that
I am incidental—a side issue to your war talk
with Ashton.”
“Women have to be side issues in war time.”
“What pleasant old-fashioned talk is this?”
inquired Sir Ashton. “Women are as impor-
tant as men in this war.”
"They only talk more during this war. They
have always carried on the civil life while men
fight.”
“But civil life has never been so complicated
as it is now, Kendrick. This war could not
have been fought without our women.”
“You cannot eliminate us from your uni-
verse, Lord of Creation. We're just as essen-
tial as you are," laughed Roberta.
“Hm-” said he, unconvinced.
Lord Kendrick's country place was one of
his hobbies. He frankly delighted in it, as he
did in his geranium beds. Lady Bobs thought
that his house expressed him, in its simple,
almost military, uprightness, no soft effem-
inate trifles here, but always a fine sense of
values. The things he had about him were
choice.


96
The Clutch of Circumstance
They sat long after dinner, talking. Lord
Kendrick was at his ease and at his best, as
host. He liked Ashton Trask, and his eyes
were often upon his beautiful wife. He told
of some of his experiences in Egypt. He piled
up Arabian Nights adventures for their de-
light, as simply as one tells fairy tales to chil-
dren. In spite of his modesty, Lady Bobs saw
always the dominant central figure, moulding
events to his purpose. He was the hero of
her thoughts, not this gracious host.
The next day he showed them his gardens.
While Lady Bobs wandered there, her hus-
band and their host talked over their many
joint problems. At sunset they motored back
to town, and for the first time in many weeks
Lady Bobs felt at peace. Lord Kendrick
drove the car and she sat beside him. She liked
to turn and look at him, straight and concen-
trated on the task in hand. The road was wet
from rain and he gave his full attention to the
car and not to her. But she did not mind.
It seemed to occur to him finally that he was
a neglectful host.
"I'm not much of a cavalier,” said he.
"I prefer the roundhead!” she retorted and
was happy at his laugh.


The Clutch of Circumstance
97
When he left them at their door, she felt
that these two days marked a new era, they
were friends now.
That night she went over every word, every
look they had exchanged, like a school girl.
Her heart beat at the memory of his smile,
even while she told herself that this was folly.
She induced Ashton to ask Lord Kendrick
to dinner once or twice, in the days that fol-
lowed, and he came. She knew that he went
nowhere else and she tried to find in that fact
something for her growing madness to feed
upon.
The nights when he came she spent hours
on her toilet. She asked no other women
guests, although Cecily and the Duchess be-
rated her for it. She guarded her tongue be-
cause she knew he disliked chatter. She called
up every resource she had into battle line, for
deep in her heart she knew that this man
stirred her as she had never been stirred be-
fore—that life could hold nothing for her so
wonderful as his capitulation.
She looked in vain for signs of special inter-
est on his part. He looked at her, he listened
to her, once in a while he laughed at her, but
there was no lingering touch of hands, no


The Clutch of Circumstance 99
_
forces were swinging her, Roberta, in ever
widening circles.
“Come back with me, Bobs, and spend a
week in bed. I'll let you alone."
“I cannot, dear.”
“But what is there to keep you in this fur-
nace?”
“I keep busy."
“We work in the country, too. Red Cross
and knitting and the rest of it. We're not
abandoning England.”
“I feel that I must stay on a little longer.
Later I will come, if you will have me, and
collapse upon your hospitality.”
Lady Cecily was obliged to abandon her, but
she telephoned Ashton her opinion that Ro-
berta looked a wreck. She passed on her anx-
iety to the Duchess of Wrowe, her neighbour
in the country, and she, too, made a visit to
Roberta Trask.
"I've come to take you home with me," she
announced.
“Cecily told you I looked a fright?”
“She did.”
“She's a cat! She ought to know that the
news that you've lost your looks runs faster


100
The Clutch of Circumstance
than the news that you've lost your morals,"
protested Lady Bobs.
“You can't hide from me behind epigrams,
my dear. I'm an old woman and I've gone
through nearly everything. I know that peo-
ple only look as you do when it's a sickness of
the mind. Why not let an old friend share her
experience and donate her wisdom?”
"Thank you, dear Duchess,” said Roberta,
really touched. “It's only the cosmic sickness,
and the heat, I do assure you. I will run away
soon. You and Cecily must not worry about
me.”
The Duchess shook her head, and patted
Lady Bobs' cold hand.
“How's the amusing Irishman?”
“Larry? The heat rather melts his wit, I'm
afraid.”
"He's still in London?”
“Yes.”
“Very long leave, isn't it?”
“It seems to be.”
“Too bad we can't have only the dull people
sacrificed in the war, and start the new world
with the witty ones,” said the old woman.
“Wouldn't a uniformly witty world be dull,
Duchess?" objected Roberta.


The Clutch of Circumstance
101
So she kept up her guard until her visitor
left, but when she was gone she acknowledged
to herself how she wished they would let her
alone. Larry's phrase “The path to destruc-
tion" was often in her mind these days. If her
feet were being whirled down that path, she
must not drag her friends with her, if she could
help it.
She sat in the half darkened drawing-room,
where the Duchess had left her, her hands
clasped over her eyes. She did not notice
Brooks' entrance, nor grasp his announcement.
It was only when she looked up and saw Lord
Kendrick standing before her that she came
to herself. She did not rise, nor apologise for
the attitude of dejection in which he had sur-
prised her. A deep flush crept up over her
pale face and dyed her neck, that was all.
“Are you ill?” he asked, without greeting.
“My mind is ill.”
“What ails it?”
She made no reply for several seconds.
“What do you conceive to be the highest
human loyalty?"
“A man's loyalty to his country,” he an-
swered promptly.


The Clutch of Circumstance
103
He had come to her of his own accord. If she
could know one moment of his love, then let
his god of vengeance strike! So absorbed was
she in her own imaginings that his voice star-
tled her out of the shadows.
“I came for a special reason.”
“Of course.”
“I am sailing at dawn-
"For France ?"
He ignored the question.
“It so happened that the last casualty list
came to my hands, and I saw a name that I
knew would hurt you. I came to tell you '
“Yes?”
“It was Carter, the young American. They
downed him, after a brilliant fight on his part.
He got his enemy, but he lost his life doing it.”
He waited and she groped in her mind for
something to say, because he expected it of
her.
“Teddy—Teddy Carter,” she repeated stu-
pidly.
“Yes.”
"Poor Teddy! He felt this would be his
last flight,” she said.
“He came to save me pain, he came to save
me pain.” Her mind beat it over triumph-


104
The Clutch of Circumstance
antly. She forgot Teddy's death in the hap-
piness that swept over her.
“Is that all you have to say?" he demanded.
He stood over her now, and she looked at
him.
“What do you want me to say?"
“This boy loved you. He wore the fact on
his face for every one to see "
"Poor Teddy!
Why didn't he let her alone? Why did he
pump her mind for words about Teddy Carter?
"Poor Teddy," he repeated. “That's a fine
epitaph for a good soldier from the woman he
loved.”
“Why do you bother about him so? I did
not want him to love me I did not love him.”
“That needs no saying,” scornfully.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Your kind never knows love."
If he had looked at her he might have seen
the danger signals, but he did not; he went
on:
"You're all alike, vain, empty-headed pea-
cocks, using men for your purposes "
She laughed at that, with a sound that
stopped him.


The Clutch of Circumstance
105
"A lecture on passion from a human ma-
chine,” she taunted him.
"I've had no time for emotion, but I'm no
machine. When my woman comes, if she does
come, I'll love her as- ”
“You need not tell me how you'll love her-
I know! It will be like a hurricane that will
toss you hither and thither, sweeping every-
thing before it. It will lay waste forests and
mountain tops. It will be like fire that sears;
like thirst in the desert. It will be a scourge,
and a blinding light, and a glory!”
She stood before him now, trembling with
the emotion that shook her.
“How do you know?”!
“Because I am your woman, and I love as
you love!”
“Good God!” he muttered and turned away
from her swiftly.
She waited, and he came back at last.
“You are very beautiful and very terrible,"
he said slowly. “You've played at love all
your life. You've pinned it, like a ribbon, on
this lapel and on that. I know your kind, bat-
tening on the love and admiration of men, giv-
ing nothing in return. If this passion you


106
The Clutch of Circumstance
have played with has turned on you, it is only
justice.”
Lady Trask was like an avenging goddess.
She surcharged the air about her with her
fury.
"You—you pitiless ” she cried, inco-
herent with passion.
“I have pity for one person only, for my
good friend Ashton Trask, whose honour is in
the hands of a wanton woman,” he said, and
turned and left her swiftly.


CHAPTER IV
AFTER a while Brooks came into the room
and aroused her.
“I beg pardon, Lady Trask, I thought you'd
gone,” he stammered, staring at her ravaged
face.
! She passed him without any answer. She
dragged herself to her own rooms and walked
back and forth, back and forth, in agony. She
was sick from head to foot with fury and
humiliation. She felt that her life force, which
should have swept on like a majestic river in
its pride and beauty, had been dammed within
her, a fetid stream now, to poison and destroy.
What were these forces that were sweeping
her? Having flung from her one established
loyalty, was she thereby cast loose from all
loyalty? Where was her judgment, that she
had let her own desires so blind her? How
could she have failed to see that the time to
speak had not come?
For a long time she kept her mind running,
so that she might not remember what he had
107


108
The Clutch of Circumstance
said to her, how he had despised her. But the
words began to pour back upon her brain, like
molten lava. “Battening on the love and ad-
miration of men, giving nothing in return
... a wanton woman ...a wanton wo-
man. ..."
She caught sight of her own face as she
swept by a mirror, and she stopped to stare
at herself. Her face was swollen and out of
shape. She looked like a mad woman.
“Wanton woman ... wanton woman. ...".
What was she to do, living in a world with
this man who had insulted and humiliated her?
She could not endure that, she would destroy
herself rather than meet his eyes again. It
would be hard on Ashton, but he was better
without her, since "his honour was in the hands
of a wanton woman.” If only she had had the
power to strike Kendrick dead, as he stood
there, condemning her, like God!
Another thought of death lifted its head,
like a serpent in her mind. She turned away
from it, shuddering, but it swayed there, twist-
ing and turning to focus her attention.
Suddenly Ashton stood in her sitting-room
door and spoke to her. His pleasant, usual


The Clutch of Circumstance
109
voice called her away from the ugliness that
threatened her.
“This is the night I dine at the club, dear.
What are you doing with yourself?” he asked
her.
“I have a headache. I shall dine up here
and go to bed.”
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said, coming to bend
over her, where she sat, deliberately turning
her face away from the light. He touched her
hair with his lips, then her cheek. She held
herself perfectly rigid, not to scream. “Bobs,
there is bad news about young Carter,” he
added gently.
“Yes, I know."
“You saw the list?”' surprised.
“Lord-Kendrick came to tell me.”
“Oh, that was kind of him. Did he tell you
he was leaving in the morning?"
-“Yes, on the Lancashire.”
“No, the Hartshire,” he corrected mechani-
cally. “My dear, I should not have said that!"
he added quickly. “Forget it, please. What
made you think it was the Lancashire?”' curi-
ously.
"I must have heard some one say she was
sailing-


110
The Clutch of Circumstance
“Did Kendrick tell you the name of the
ship?”
“No. I jumped at the conclusion, I sup-
pose. Does it matter?” wearily.
“Your poor head! Can't I do anything for
you?”
“No, thanks. I need quiet and some sleep."
"You must go to the country, Roberta,
really "
“All right.”
He kissed her cheek.
“Go to bed, old dear. I won't disturb you
again.”
He went out, closing her door gently. She
sat still turning her eyes in upon herself again.
The serpent which had lifted its head was still
there. It held her with its cold eyesmit was
golden and beautiful.
Her maid came to ask her about dinner. She
sent her away, saying she wanted no food.
Later she heard Ashton tap lightly at her door.
She made no answer, so he tip-toed off to keep
his engagement.
Her mind seemed to be working independ-
ently of her, now. She took up her telephone
and called Captain O'Toole. She knew in
advance that he would answer it himself. She


The Clutch of Circumstance
111
urged him to come to her at once. He de-
murred about the wisdom of it, but at her in-
sistence he finally agreed. She bathed her
face, smoothed her hair, and sat waiting until
he was announced.
"I told Captain O'Toole I thought you were
out, Lady Trask,” said Brooks.
"I am to any one else. I will see Captain
O'Toole for a few moments. When he goes,
Brooks, put out the lights.”
“Very well, Madam.”
When she came into the room, Larry took
her hand, and stared at her.
"Lady Bobs, ye beautiful Bobs!”
"Evening, Larry.”
"How is it ye're all lee alone, woman?”
“Ashton is at the club. I have a headache."
"Is it safe for ye to be seein' me here?”
“Probably not.”
“Another assignment?
“Yes."
“Difficult?"
“Yes.”
“Ye want my help?"
"I've got the facts."
“Good for ye, ye're a wonder, Lady Bobs."


112
The Clutch of Circumstance
"I've never done Them any service equal to
this,” she said, dry lipped.
He looked at her tense face and burning
eyes.
“What is it They're askin' av ye, Mavour-
neen?” he asked softly.
“The name of the ship upon which Kendrick
sails at dawn.”
“God!” he exclaimed. “Ye've got it?”
She nodded.
“He is your friend and Ashton's. This is a
terrible thing They're askin' av ye, now!”
Still she did not speak, and he continued his
scrutiny of her storm-swept face.
"Lady Bobs, ye're not lovin' the man!”
“No.” She forced her lips to form that one
word, and hold back the stream of hate that .
threatened to follow it.
“Ye are a wonderful woman, Lady Bobs."
He bent his ear to her lips. “Now, tell me the
name of the ship.”
“The Hartshire, sailing at dawn,” the obe-
dient lips repeated.
He lifted her two hands and pressed his lips
to their palms.
“By God, Bobs, I adore you!"
“Don't!” she said sharply. “Good night.”


114
The Clutch of Circumstance
When her guests arrived she scarcely noted
what men these were whom Ashton had ob-
ligingly provided. They were Cecily and Mil-
dred Downer's concern. Lady Bobs, however,
was never so the centre of the party. She was
more beautiful than any of them had ever
known her to be, and her spirits were wilder.
She was witty, brilliant, electrical.
"What's happened to Bobs, Ashton?”
Cecily asked him curiously.
“She is wonderful, isn't she?”
"But it's feverish, it isn't normal. The
woman is ill. She's like a guttering torch.”
"A blaze, I should say."
“The torch is brightest before it goes out,”
she warned him.
"She's a bit overdone, I think. She prom-
ised me last night to go to the country.”
“Thank Heaven,” she exclaimed with such
relief, that he patted her hand affectionately.
“Good old Cecily.”
“Is Lady Trask always like this?” asked her
neighbour of Mildred Downer. "I never saw
or heard anything like her.”
"She is marvellous, isn't she?" answered the
girl, who scarcely took her eyes off Lady Bobs'
glowing face.


The Clutch of Circumstance 115
The comic play went on and on. When
there was laughter, Lady Trask laughed, but
she heard not one word of that silly farce. In
the intermissions she took up her leadership,
keeping them all in a ripple of laughter.
Later Ashton proposed supper and they
went off to the Savoy. There were several
parties of people they knew, so many people
were kept in town late by war work. The men
from nearby tables visited them. All eyes were
on Lady Bobs to-night.
Half way through supper the major-domo
of the dining-room bent over Sir Ashton's
shoulder and gave him a message. Trask
apologised to his guests and went out hastily.
Lady Bobs talked on. Across the room she
caught the eye of Captain Larry O'Toole, who
nodded and smiled.
When Sir Ashton came back they all saw
that something serious had happened. His
face was white, the line between his eyes deep
with suffering.
“There is bad news for England, my friends.
Terrible news,” he said in a low tone, as he took
his seat. “The warship Hartshire has been tor-
pedoed or sunk by submarine, off a nearby
coast- "


116
The Clutch of Circumstance
“Many lost on her?” asked one of the men.
“They think the biggest man in England
was lost on her,” replied Ashton, “Lord Ken-
drick.”
"No," came the breathless chorus. Lady
Bobs gave a sort of exclamation, which no one
noticed in the excitement.
"But that man is necessary to us, he cannot
be dead!” cried Mildred Downer.
“There is one chance in a thousand that he
was picked up, but the crew is reported lost.”
"It isn't believable!” said Lady Cecily.
“When did you see him last, Ashton?”
“Several days ago. But Roberta saw him
yesterday.”
They all looked at her.
“Did he tell you he was going to France?"
asked Mildred.
“He told me he was leaving England.”
"Was it chance, or did the Huns know he
was on that ship?" Mildred asked Ashton.
“We'll never know,” he answered.
“But how could they know the name of the
ship?” said Cecily. “It must have been an ab-
solute secret, so much depended on it. How
could any one have found out, Ashton?"
“They could not unless some one in the War


The Clutch of Circumstance
117
Office told,” said Sir Ashton, and all at once
his eyes rushed to Roberta. She met them
steadily, but Mildred Downer, in a flash of
intuition, guessed the truth. Lady Trask had
known the ship Kendrick sailed on, because
Sir Ashton had told her! Mildred's glance
slid across the room to Captain O'Toole, who
was apparently enjoying his supper.
"Let's go home—this is awful!” said Lady
Cecily.
They rose and made their way toward the
door. On the way they passed the table where
Larry O'Toole sat, and he rose to intercept
them, and say good evening. He was in high
spirits. He walked with them toward the
foyer, until he had a chance to catch Lady
Bobs' attention. He lifted his eyebrows and
she nodded.
“Congratulations,” he said to her with a
smile.





PART THREE





PART THREE
CHAPTER I
MILDRED DOWNER spent a perfectly sleep-
less night after the supper at the Savoy, where
the news of the sinking of the Hartshire was
announced, and the ugly certainty had come
to her that Roberta Trask knew in advance
the name of the ship on which Lord Kendrick
went down.
At first she tried to dismiss the whole thing
from her mind. It was not unnatural that Sir
Ashton should have told her the fact, by acci-
dent, or in confidence. It had no bearing on
the ultimate tragedy. Never for an instant
did any doubt of Lady Trask's loyalty enter
her head.
But in regard to Lady Trask's intimate
friend, Captain O'Toole, she had an accumula-
tion of impressions, not yet sufficiently definite
to be called suspicions.
She had begun by hating O'Toole for per-
sonal reasons. An ugly woman, unused to any
121


122
The Clutch of Circumstance
amorous attentions from young men, she had
mistaken the handsome Captain's attempt
pour passer le temps at a dull house party, as
a genuine infatuation. Her hurt pride and
fury at him when she learned the truth were
sufficient groundwork for her hate. In her
queer way she cherished a deep admiring devo-
tion for Lady Trask. Her beauty, her fascina-
tions, her quick wit, these were the supreme
gifts to the mind of plain Mildred Downer.
It disgusted her to have her ideal waste time
with Larry O'Toole. It was partly in the spirit
of wishing to save her friend future chagrin
that she began her investigations of Larry.
She had been characteristically thorough in
her efforts. She made inquiries about him in
the Irish town where he was born. She fol-
lowed his record in school and college. She
found no disgraceful facts about the handsome
Celt, but certain indications of a happy-go-
lucky laxity kept her on the trail, until she
discovered the mistress in London. This
seemed to her sufficient evidence to convince
Lady Trask of his undesirability. She was
shocked at the apparent indifference of her idol
to this revelation.
It was a little after this interview with Lady


The Clutch of Circumstance
123
Trask that Mildred came upon the fact of
O'Toole's connection with the Sinn Feiners.
The Casement execution had apparently put
an end for the time being to Irish-German
intrigue, but the discovery of this revolutionary
alliance of his threw some light, she thought, on
one or two coincidences, which had come to
Miss Downer's attention. There was the mat-
ter of the zig-zag British advance, which Sir
Ashton had mentioned at his own luncheon
table, and which was in the hands of the enemy
next day.
What if Lady Trask had been indiscreet in
regard to the name of Kendrick's ship, in the
presence of her admirer? Would it be possible
that O'Toole could have used information ac-
quired that way?
She went over it, all night long, in an agony
of distrust and terror. Hers was a consuming
devotion to England and its cause. She would
not hesitate one second to sacrifice Captain
O'Toole, if the good of England required it.
But what about Lady Trask? Suppose
O'Toole were a spy, and that it could be proved
that he learned his facts from Lady Trask, who
in turn obtained them from Sir Ashton, a mem-
ber of the War Cabinet! It would mean ruin


124
The Clutch of Circumstance
and disgrace for both her friends. Surely
England could not ask that of her!
But as if the Fates conspired to make her
go ahead on this path of discovery, two nights
later, the Duchess of Wrowe came up to town
and opened her house for a distinguished
French general, who was in London on diplo-
matic business. She heard, during the evening,
O'Toole discussing with the guest of honour
the matter of the general direction of the allied
forces. There was some argument, into which
several of the men were drawn, and some facts
were dropped in regard to future plans. It
was all general enough, but the stand which
England and France would take in the matter
was fairly well indicated, if not stated.
Somewhat later in the evening, she was
standing in the supper room with a dull com-
panion, when O'Toole joined Lady Trask,
standing nearby. He spoke to her in a casual
tone, but Mildred's ears, sharpened by sus-
picion, listened.
“Did you get it?” inquired the Captain.
"No."
“But you must,” forcibly.
Lady Trask laughed.
“Any plans?"


The Clutch of Circumstance
125
"Not yet.”
O'Toole was summoned by the Duchess, and
Mildred's partner turned an astonished face
to her sudden remark:
"But it isn't possible!”
“I assure you it is,” said he, thinking she
challenged him. He stared at her almost
hysterical laughter.
Two days later it became evident that Ger-
many knew the attitude of England and
France in regard to the general direction of the
allied forces. Mildred Downer assured herself
that it was coincidence, but the affair tor-
mented her so that she could neither eat nor
sleep.
Finally in desperation she went to an old
friend of the family, a man of authority and
position in public affairs. She poured out to
him the whole miserable story of her suspi-
cions. She did not even spare herself the con-
fession of why she began to hate Captain
O'Toole. Her friend listened attentively, and
asked some questions about Lady Trask. Mil-
dred repeatedly stated her belief in Lady
Trask. She was a coquette, flattered by the
attentions of a witty rogue.
She explained how she had tried to keep the
n-


126
The Clutch of Circumstance
affair to herself because of her affection for
Sir Ashton and Lady Trask. She was afraid
that disgrace for O'Toole might incriminate
them. But when she thought of the sacrifices
that were being made for England, she thought
that maybe this one was demanded of her.
Was there some way that the Irishman could
be watched, without drawing the Trasks into
it?
“You say you warned her that the man was
a libertine?”
“Yes.”
“Does Trask make no objection to the fel-
low?"
"I don't know."
“Suppose I put a secret service man on him,
and if I get confirmation of your suspicions,
warn Trask that Lady Trask is indiscreet."
“Yes, that would be a good way to manage
it. Would my name have to be used ?" she
asked anxiously.
“I should think not-not unless something
develops where we would need your testi-
mony."
"It has been a relief to talk to you."
"You have done a plucky and a patriotic


The Clutch of Circumstance
127
thing, Mildred. England may have cause to
thank you for a real service.”
"I'd do anything to help.”
“I know that. Thank you for coming to me.
You may be sure that we will shield the Trasks
in every possible way.”
She left his office relieved of responsibility
but not of anxiety and foreboding. If it should
be her duty to bring sorrow and disgrace to
Lady Bobs!
These were days of hectic activity for Lady
Trask. The days she managed somehow, but
the nights could not be escaped. Surrender to
sleep meant visions of slowly heaving waves,
and drowning men. ... Sir Ashton finally
carried her off to the country, on the plea that
he needed rest. She went willingly enough.
It seemed to make no difference to her, and he
wondered why she had persisted in remaining
in town.
They spent a week together, mostly out of
doors. They rode and golfed. Lady Bobs
tried to garden, but there was a ghost in the
garden now, who always stood behind her, or
worked beside her. It had brown deft fingers
which patted down the earth. Even Hughie's
prattle and old Mallory's song could not drive


128
The Clutch of Circumstance
him away. So that happy refuge was taken
from her. She no longer set foot on Mallory's
well-trimmed paths.
“Ye notice how Lady Trask never digs no
more in yer garden, Mallory?" his wife in-
quired.
“Ladies gets whimsies for work. Gardenin'
ain't no bank holiday," was his answer.
“She ain't the same wommun. I wunder
sometimes does Sir Ashton see it like I see it."
"He sees what is under his nose, don't ye
fret.”
Sir Ashton, in fact, thought Roberta very
nervous and over-tired. He discouraged their
having any guests and urged her to relax and
rest. She smiled at that. She was ever on the
alert for orders from Them. The difficulties
and dangers of transmission were greater here
in the country. She was planning how to meet
Sir Ashton's sure objections, and go back to
town with him, when he went.
Lady Cecily arrived one day, bringing two
men. Ashton took charge of one of them. He
made no impression on Lady Bobs although he
told her he was an old friend of Mildred Dow-
ner, and had heard much from her of Lady
Trask's charms. The other man was a Captain


The Clutch of Circumstance 129
Ivan Insull. He was a big, magnificently pro-
portioned young man, with laughing blue eyes,
and abounding vitality.
“Captain Insull gave me no peace, until I
brought him here, Bobs. There are men who
worry along for a day with my poor charms,
but not the Captain," complained Cecily.
"What can a man say to that?” he asked,
with his big boy smile.
"If you only spare us the 'How happy would
I be' couplet,” suggested Bobs.
"You are spared,” he assured her.
“And don't bother about calling us the horns
of your dilemma- ”
"Ladies, you have elected me the King of
Bromidia! Accept in return the neighbouring
provinces of Sulphitia.”
They laughed at his nonsense, and Lady
Cecily went to speak to old Mallory.
“Why did you want to come and see me?"
inquired Roberta idly.
“Because you are the most beautiful person
I have ever seen. You were pointed out to me
in London."
"That is manna from Heaven to a tired
woman feeling middle-agish.”


130
The Clutch of Circumstance
“I'm an antidote for that feeling. Do try
me,” he urged her.
“My case would demand your constant at-
tention,” she warned him.
“Your case would get it,” he replied with
decision.
"Are you an Englishman?” she asked.
“Canadian.”
“Ah, yes, that's it.”
“May I ask what is that, that's it?"
“Hm-you've got the look of a man whose
eyes have swept broad spaces. I knew you
were no dweller in cities.”
“I'm a rover-no dweller long in any place.
Like Satan 'I walk up and down the earth.
From Singapore to London is a step.”
"You wear seven league boots, then. That's
course. The Giant in the Fairy
Tale.”
He laughed at that.
“That's me. You haven't any prejudice
against giants?” anxiously.
“Not if they make me laugh, and play, and
believe in fairies."
"Oh, we do!” he assured her. "You may be
the haughty Princess Irmingarde, and I will


The Clutch of Circumstance
131
show you what a handy thing is a pocket
giant.”
“I think that must be what I need."
“I'm yours," he cried, with a low bow.
“Good, you are getting on!” commented
Lady Cecily, joining them. “What are you
going to do with the great creature, Bobs ?”
“She's going to play with me,” he boasted.
“Don't you ever go off to war and get shot,”
said Cecily, with eyes suddenly misted. “We
do so need big boys who can laugh in Eng-
land!”
So it was that Captain Insull came in to
Lady Bobs' circle.


CHAPTER II
LADY BOBs was finally forced to make Lady
· Cecily her long deferred visit. They met in
town and Lady Harrison cornered her.
"Bobs, have you taken a dislike to me, or to
the place ?”
"Cecily, you foolish one! When do you want
me?"
“When will you come?”
“My dear, I was never such poor company,
to myself or to my friends.”.
“I'll risk you. Want to be alone, or shall
we import some amusement?”
"For instance?”
“Some pleasant men—not husbands,"
laughed Cecily.
“Are you dispensing with husbands entire-
ly?”
“Oh, no. We'll have them for week-ends.
They can golf together—but they'll be no use
to us. We can take Cecil and Ivan- "
“Cecil is lily-fingered poet, but who is
Ivan?” inquired Roberta.
132


The Clutch of Circumstance
135
“He'll tell me to give up—coffee.”
"I'll prescribe for you. Give up-to-mor-
row.”
“You mean— ?”
“To-day is enough.”
“La Cigale et La Fourmi?" she reminded
him.
“Ah, yes, but give me La Cigale. She has
her perfect day of sun and love, and then she
goes out. That's my way. Isn't it yours?"
“Make me laugh, Pocket Giant, don't make
me philosophise,” she begged him.
“I wish I could make you forget,” he said
gently.
“Forget what?”
“The thing that drives you so.”
They were sitting on the veranda, and he
went to get a ukulele, and came to sit beside
her. He sang her some aching Hawaiian songs,
and then he broke off and made her laugh with
an imitation of a Chinese boy, trying to sing
a Chinese song, with one string of the instru-
ment for accompaniment. These strange
noises brought Lady Cecily and Languedoc to
the spot.
“I have an inspiration,” said Cecily. "Let's
have a garden party and a concert for the ben-


136
The Clutch of Circumstance
efit of convalescent Tommies. Basil could
recite his poems, Ivan could sing, and I could
provide the garden and the food.”
"Must we?” sighed Captain Insull. “We've
been so happy here in our quiet way. Why let
the rude world in?”
“The rude world must pay well to get in,”
his hostess replied.
“Do vote against it, Lovely Lady Irmin-
garde!” Ivan begged Roberta.
“It is no use. I can see the idea growing
like a plant, in Cecily's mind,” she laughed,
indicating Cecily's absorbed expression.
“We could get down some celebrities from
London, and exhibit the Duchess of Wrowe,”
Cecily said.
“For a fee?” inquired Languedoc.
“They still pay to see a Duchess,” she re-
torted.
“Are husbands to be exhibited, too?" asked
Insull.
“Don't be cynical. What do you say to
Saturday?”
"The day does not matter, it's the audience.
Do you expect me to read my poems to the vil-
lage green grocer on a half holiday?"


The Clutch of Circumstance 137
I
“I do. It's part of your 'bit,'” cried Lady
Cecily.
“Yes, and the green grocer's bit, too. He
may stand under gunfire, but will he stand
under Languedoc's poetry?”
“Hush, Saul, or I'll brain thee with a peb-
ble," said the poet sweetly.
Roberta was right, the idea was fixed in
Cecily's mind, and she marched them all to-
ward her goal. Cards and tickets were sent
out broadcast; people were asked down from
London by telegram and telephone.
When she made out a programme for the
two performers Basil protested.
"You treat us like two trained bears with
rings in our noses.”
“I haven't time to pet you now, but later my
appreciation will embarrass you,” she prom-
ised.
The day before the party they rifled the
gardens and woods for decorations. They de-
cided on the spots where the refreshments were
to grow. They were as merry as youngsters
preparing for a picnic.
“Are the village children to dance on the
green?” asked Insull of Cecily.
"I had not thought of it.”
ars


138 The Clutch of Circumstance
“They always do, in song and story.”
“Do they? You and Roberta go and collect
the village children, and engage them for to-
morrow."
“No sooner said than done,” cried Ivan, go-
ing after Lady Bobs. “Lovely Lady Irmin-
garde, we are ordered to the village to stage
the Pied Piper," he explained.
They boarded Cecily's runabout, which
Captain Insull drove, and started for the vil-
lage. Ivan sang lustily, as they dashed along
the country road. Bobs lay back relaxed, al-
most content. He threw her a smile, now and
then.
“Comfy?” he asked.
“Hm. Sing that again.”
So he sang it again.
The day of the lawn fête was a dispensation
in weather. Everybody came from far and
near, and Lady Cecily was so pleased, that
Languedoc said to her:
“Madam, your triumph is offensive!”
The audience was as kind as the weather.
They applauded Languedoc's poems politely,
but they encored Captain Insull's songs until
he was as hoarse as a tired crow. The children
Ice
W
dis


The Clutch of Circumstance
139
danced on the lawn, led by Lady Bobs and
Insull, and every one was in high spirits.
The Duchess of Wrowe turned to Ashton
after the children's games. Insull was bending
over Roberta, who smiled up at him. The
man's devotion was in his face, in the very pos-
ture of his body as he leaned toward her.
“Ashton, do make that girl of yours behave
herself. That is not a proper tableau for a
mixed, public affair like this. Who is Captain
Insull?”
Sir Ashton shrugged his shoulders.
"He seems an agreeable fellow.”
“Too agreeable by far, I should say.
O'Toole, Lord Kendrick, Captain Insull-
Roberta's list grows too long."
“My dear old friend, forgive me if I say that
I cannot discuss Roberta's friends or her con-
duct with any one.”
“Ashton, you're a fool!” snapped the old
woman. “Why don't you make her love you
so that she will give you her full attention?”
“I think the verb ‘make’ is never conjugated
with the verb “to love,'” he smiled at her.
Captain O'Toole stopped to say a word to
them. He caught Roberta's eye and made a
gesture which she knew. She paid no attention


140
The Clutch of Circumstance
to it, so shortly he sauntered over and joined
her. With a smile he held out his hand, and
when she put her own in it she felt a tightly
folded paper against her palm. She presented
O'Toole to Captain Insull, and, after a few
bantering words, the Irishman went on.
"Don't let him give you notes,” said Insull.
“Why not?” she challenged him.
"He won't do. He's a second rater."
"Men never like him. He's an old pal of
mine, and he has a perfect right to slip me
billets-doux. Come along and be pretty to the
Duchess.”
“I prefer to stay with you. Why should I
be pretty to an old grenadier with a black
moustache?”
“Because you're such a kind pocket giant
that you will like to give the grenadier a treat."
But Cecily arrived at the moment and or-
dered Insull to sing again, so Lady Bobs
joined the Duchess and Ashton.
“Roberta, who is the handsome officer?"
“Captain Ivan Insull is his name.”
"He's in love with you.”
"Is he?"
“I tell Ashton he ought to put a stop to your
philandering."


The Clutch of Circumstance
141
Lady Trask looked at her husband.
“Why don't you?” she inquired.
He smiled at her, without reply.
"Irishman!” called the Duchess. “Take me
to Cecily. I'm tired and I'm going home.
Roberta, behave yourself.”
"You don't mind her, dear? She's getting
old and cranky.”
“I wasn't thinking of her. Why don't you
stop me, Ashton?”
“I have, I hope, never stopped anybody
from doing anything that their natures or their
pleasures dictated,” he remarked.
“I wish I were the kind of wife you ought
to have, Ashton!” she said with sudden feeling.
“Dearest, you are the only wife for me to
have.”
"How you do stand by!”
“You'll find me standing by, as long as we
two are on this planet,” he smiled.
He drew her hand through his arm, and led
her toward the house.
“I wish I could make you as happy as you
make me,” he added with a sigh.
S we


CHAPTER III
LADY BOBs' "mission” brought her back to
town. The remark of Captain Insull about
notes from O'Toole recurred to her once or
twice, but when she recalled his bland expres-
sion, she was sure it was a chance shot. At
worst he would think Larry in love with her.
They must be more careful, however. They
had thought themselves very expert in this
exchange business. There must have been
something in action or expression which had
caught the attention of Captain Insull.
She found herself refreshed by the normal
healthy days spent at the Harrisons'. Her
dread moment of reckoning seemed post-
poned, and life regained some of its savour.
Ashton thought her much improved. He so
enjoyed her society in his enforced stay in
London, that he made no more protest to her
remaining in town.
Captain Insull managed to see her every
day. They walked or motored, or lunched or
took tea together, and Lady Bobs leaned on his
high spirits as on a crutch. He had an uncanny
142


The Clutch of Circumstance
143
way of guessing her mood or her state of mind
before she spoke, and with a sort of boyish
tenderness he set himself to make her forget
everything except the moment in hand, with
its golden opportunities.
She gave his devotion little thought, save
that it comforted her. She was fond of him as
she might have been of a brother. She often
longed to open her heart to him, to tell him
about the tangled web she was caught in. She
was so sure of his understanding and his help.
About this time the masters over sea began
to make many and arduous demands upon her.
Planning ways to get the required information,
manipulating this friend and that, taking care
to cover her tracks always, such were the de-
vious trails along which she forced her mind.
The service she had entered upon, in a moment
of high feeling, had closed her in with prison
bars. She no longer obeyed Them gladly-
she obeyed because she must.
Heinrich Brück came no more in answer to
her appeals for help. He sent no message of
courage to sustain her dreams. Duty and
Destruction were the ball and chain that
clanked behind her every step during these
days. No wonder that she turned to Ivan


144
The Clutch of Circumstance
Insull as a prisoner turns toward an open
door.
Mildred Downer came in to see her one day
in July.
“What are you doing in town?” Lady Bobs
asked.
“Working from eight to six, and sometimes
half the night besides, with wounded Tom-
mies,” the girl replied cheerfully.
“Good for you. You look very fit.”
“Never better in my life. I have never been
too busy to think before, with work that counts.
It is the answer to the whole thing— ”
“The answer is not so simple for all of us,"
sighed Lady Bobs. .
“Work from now on is to be my religion.
It is the only way to forget the things you
want and cannot have,” said Miss Downer.
“I do not need conversion,” smiled Lady
Bobs.
“I can't imagine you working,” said the
girl. “You were just made to express beauty
and wealth and leisure. But why do you stay
in town this hot weather?”
“Ashton has to stay. I do not mind it.”
"Is Sir Ashton well?”
“Fagged, poor dear.”


The Clutch of Circumstance
145
"Marvellous how the men stand the strain
of it.”
“How about the women? I'd go to the
front, to sure death, in preference to the
woman-job of waiting.”
“Most of us are too busy to think.”
“You and I have neither husbands nor sons
out there. There's time to think for mothers
and wives, Mildred.”
“We're all living in Hell,” the girl said.
“Let's talk of something else,” Lady Bobs
suggested.
“Lady Cecily told me that you had a new
slave. Who is Captain Insull?”
"If you can imagine all of youth, and gaiety,
a splendid body and a singing voice, in one
goodly person, you have Captain Insull.”
“Where did you find the paragon?” de-
manded Mildred.
"Cecily handed him over to me, and by the
way, she had him as a present from a friend
of yours," said Lady Bobs, mentioning the
name of Captain Insull's sponsor.
At the mention of that name a strange thing
happened to Mildred Downer's expression.
Her skin went dead white, her lips looked blue,


146
The Clutch of Circumstance
her eyes full of terror. Then a hideous flush
spread over her face and neck.
"Mildred, what is it? Are you ill?”
“It's nothing. I'm all right. Heat, I sup-
pose.”
Lady Trask rang for a glass of wine, and
urged her guest to go up-stairs and lie down.
But Mildred refused. She seemed anxious
to get away.
When she had gone Roberta tried to recall
anything in their conversation which might
have upset her guest, but it seemed to her in-
nocuous enough. She decided that it was a
case of overwrought nerves and too much heat,
and let it go at that.
She telephoned Insull, but he was not at his
club, so she started out on an errand, defying
the sun, which was hot. She had not been gone
from her house more than half an hour when
Captain Insull rang her bell. Brooks admitted
him.
“Lady Trask went out half an hour ago,
Captain Insull.”
"Did she say how long she would be gone?"
“No, Captain Insull, but she was walking,
so she has not gone far, I fancy. Will you
wait, sir?"


The Clutch of Circumstance
151
“He is in trouble with the authorities- ”
“Oh!”
"Bobs, he has been your intimate friend,
your companion in public places. He is facing
disgrace. Go away, dear, now at once. Go to
Lady Cecily for the night, there's a good girl.
We will get you on a steamer for Amer-
ica— ” he was speaking incoherently and she
stared at him.
“But why should I ?”
“Because I cannot explain it now. I beg
you to go away at once.”
"Why do you want me to go?”
“Because I'd sell my soul to keep you from
unhappiness!"
“Dear pocket giant, I cannot go.”
Sir Ashton came into the room, and after
a few moments Captain Insull left. She saw
that Ashton was disturbed about something.
“My dear, may I ask that Captain O'Toole
be dismissed from our list?”
“Why?” dry-lipped.
“There are some ugly rumours about the
gentleman. It is unfortunate that he has been
here so often- "
“All right, Ashton, I will not see him again.”
Brooks came to the door.


152
The Clutch of Circumstance
"I am very sorry, Sir Ashton, but there are
some men here, who—
Two military officers entered the room. Sir
Ashton stared at them. They were strangers
to him.
“You wished to see me?” he inquired.
"I am sorry, Sir Ashton, but we have a mil-
itary warrant for Lady Trask,” said the elder
man.
Before Sir Ashton could reply, he stepped to
Roberta's side.
“Lady Roberta Trask, you are under ar-
rest,” he said quietly.


CHAPTER IV
“What is the charge?” Sir Ashton brought
himself to say at last.
“Offence against the Army Act.”
"Your warrant, please.”
“Under a special Espionage Act, Sir Ash-
ton, military and police authorities are given
power to arrest suspicious characters without
a warrant. This is our order, and the charge
sheet,” he added, offering Sir Ashton these
documents. They were signed by General
Stoten.
“We are given time to get witnesses, to pre-
pare a defence?”
“The court martial is set for eight o'clock
to-morrow night, Sir Ashton.”
"I guarantee Lady Trask's appearance at
the court, at the hour appointed.”
"Sorry, Sir Ashton, I am under orders to
arrest her. If you will come with me to Gen-
eral Stoten, he may parole her in your charge.”
"I will speak to the General on the tele-
phone,” said Sir Ashton.
153


The Clutch of Circumstance
155
He promised to get a colleague and come to the
house at once.
Presently Lady Trask's maid ran down the
stairs, and called to him.
"Sir Ashton, Lady Trask is very ill, I
think.”
He hurried up-stairs after her, and into his
wife's room. She was in bed, white as chalk,
and shaking with a nervous chill. She did not
open her eyes when he spoke to her.
"She will not speak to me either, she just
shakes like that, ” the girl exclaimed.
Ashton summoned a physician and came
back to sit with Roberta, until he arrived. She
looked dead-it terrified him. The doctor
seemed puzzled by her condition. Ashton told
him she had sustained a mental and nervous
shock, that she had been overwrought all sum-
mer.
"Frequent nourishment, absolute quiet. I
will send a nurse and return myself at mid-
night,” the doctor said.
Ashton remained until the nurse came and
was installed. Roberta did not open her eyes
in all that time, she would not answer his ques-
tions, and yet he knew that she was not asleep.
The attorneys were announced and he went


156
The Clutch of Circumstance
down to meet them. He explained the situa-
tion, and his belief that O'Toole had involved
Lady Trask as an unconscious victim of his
treachery.
Sir Andrew read the charge sheet aloud.
“But that is utterly impossible,” cried Ash-
ton.
“That is what we must prove,” said Sir An-
drew, quietly.
“But why does she have to submit to a court
martial? She should have a civil trial,” pro-
tested Trask.
“I had General Stoten on the wire after I
talked to you. I asked about that. Captain
O'Toole naturally comes before a military
court, and Lady Trask is accused of being his
accomplice. The authorities thought that as
a court martial could be conducted with abso-
lutely no publicity, that out of deference to
you as a member of the Cabinet it should be so
conducted.”
“My feelings are not to be considered. The
utmost justice is what I demand for Lady
Trask. There is no time in twenty-four hours
to prepare a defence ”
"Pardon me, Sir Ashton, there is all the time
we need. If Lady Trask will help us with the


The Clutch of Circumstance
157
truth, we will stay here until we go to court
to-morrow night.”
“But Lady Trask is ill—she cannot speak.”
"Then the trial must be postponed. How-
ever, we will stay on, until all hope of her help
is futile.”
“You advise me not to insist upon a civil
trial?”
"If Lady Trask is innocent, as we all believe
her to be, is it not better that the fact should
be proved before a court sitting in secret,
whose proceedings are never revealed? Why
should all England blaze with this scandal?''
"If you think she will get justice ”
"I do.”
With a sigh Ashton acquiesced, and they
began to lay their plans for the defence. Fre-
quently Ashton went up to see Roberta, to beg
her to speak to him. At midnight the doctor
returned, and reported no change. All night
long, down in the library, the three men worked
on the case of Lady Trask.
Morning came, still she lay like a dead
woman. Ashton and the attorneys decided
that if at three o'clock there was no change,
then Sir Andrew would appeal to General
Stoten for a postponement.


158
The Clutch of Circumstance
A few moments before that hour Ashton
went to Lady Trask's bedside. He laid his
hand gently on hers, and she opened her eyes
and looked at him.
“Dear— "
“Ashton, is it time to go?”
“Not yet. Could you see Sir Andrew Stark
for a little and tell him some things he must
know?”
“No, I cannot see any one. I want to be
alone until I go.”
"But, Roberta, we must know. How can
we defend you unless you help us?”
“You cannot help me, Ashton.”
She closed her eyes and would not speak any
more. He reported this to Sir Andrew.
“This looks serious. Could this shock have
unsettled her mind?”
“I think her mind was clear."
The doctor reported at three o'clock that
Lady Trask's heart was normal, her brain
clear. But she would not speak.
At seven forty-five, in silence, the two attor-
neys and Sir Ashton and Roberta drove to the
court. They were a few seconds early. The
President of the court martial, General Stoten,
the prosecutor and the Judge-Advocate were


160
The Clutch of Circumstance
on any account, at any time whatsoever, dis-
close or discover the vote or opinion of any par-
ticular member of this court martial unless
thereunto required in due course of law,
“So Help Me God!”
The oath was taken by each member of the
court. Then the prosecutor read the charge.
He first read the indictment against Captain
Larry O'Toole, charged with being a spy in
the service and pay of the enemy. A list of a
dozen particular acts followed which gave aid
and comfort to the enemy. There was no
sound of breathing in the room, so tense was
the attention.
The indictment was read against Lady
Roberta Trask. She was charged with being
a spy, in the service of the enemy, working in
collaboration with Captain O'Toole. The
specific act of treason was the revelation to the
enemy of the name of the warship on which
Lord Kendrick had sailed.
Roberta looked neither to the right nor the
left. She could feel Ashton's body in the next
chair tremble. She wished he need not suffer
so; she had no sensation herself.
The court proceeded to satisfy itself that


The Clutch of Circumstance
161
the charges brought were against offenders
amenable to military law and the jurisdiction
of this court. That each charge disclosed an
offence against the Army Act.
Ashton leaned over and whispered to her.
“Say ‘not guilty' when they ask you."
The prosecutor asked Captain O'Toole
whether he plead “Guilty or not guilty.”
"Not guilty,” he replied in a steady voice.
“Lady Roberta Trask, do you plead guilty
or not guilty?”
“Guilty,” she said quietly.
Sir Andrew started up, but the President
asked her if she understood the nature of the
charge, and the general effect of pleading
guilty. He explained at length and he advised
her to withdraw the plea.
“Guilty,” repeated Lady Bobs.
The prosecutor began an address. Roberta
did not listen. She seemed to be back in New
York, a child. She was in the big old-fash-
ioned house where Heinrich Brück had lived.
His voice was in her ears—“Deep, deeper than
anything in your life is this love of fatherland.
Give your love to this young America, lieb-
chen, but let your deepest loyalty be for the


162
The Clutch of Circumstance
traditions of your mother's race. Count no
sacrifice too great, not even life itself.”
There was some movement in the room, and
Roberta's spirit came back. Mildred Downer
was called and sworn, to give testimony against
Larry O'Toole. How topsy-turvy life was!
If Larry had not kissed her on the stairs, she
might not now be swearing away his honour. It
was a big price for a kiss. ... Larry's attor-
ney tried to get into the testimony the motive
which caused her to set a watch on the Captain.
“Why did you collect evidence against Cap-
tain O'Toole?”
“Because I wished to rid my country of her
enemies.”
“It was patriotism alone which prompted
your action?"
“Yes.”
“Did you suspect that Captain O'Toole was
working with the aid of Lady Trask?”
“I had no suspicion of Lady Trask.”
“Yet you carried your suspicions to head-
quarters and had a secret service agent ap-
pointed to follow Lady Trask.”
“I did not know that was to be done. I said
repeatedly that I did not doubt Lady Trask!”
“If you had doubted her, your patriotism


:
163
The Clutch of Circumstance
ern-
would not have driven you to give evidence
against Captain O'Toole?"
“If I had doubted her, I would have given
the evidence just the same. My country de-
manded that of me.”
She was dismissed and Brooks was called
and sworn. He stated his term of service to
the Trasks and admitted that for the last six
weeks he had been in the service of the govern-
ment authorities.
He testified that Captain O'Toole was a
constant guest at the Trasks' house. He had
never heard any treasonable conversation be-
tween them until the afternoon before, when
he had heard Lady Trask threaten to defy
some authority which she called Them, and
Captain O'Toole had threatened her with dis-
grace. He had never seen any exchange of
papers or documents between them, etc., etc.
The various counts against O'Toole were
established slowly and painfully.
"You wear the uniform of a British officer,
Captain O'Toole. Were you ever loyal in
heart and deed to England ?”
“I am loyal in heart an' deed, to one coun- .
try, and only one—to me own country—to Ire-
land!” he replied.


The Clutch of Circumstance
165
ican, when I was eighteen. He died when I
was twenty.”
“Did he have German sympathies?”
“No. He was very American.”
“You married Sir Ashton Trask when?”
"In 1901.”
"You became an English citizen, by your
marriage to an English subject.”
“I have never been an English citizen in my
own mind.”
"That does not concern us. You were such
by law.”
Roberta smiled at that.
“On what date did you begin collusion with
the enemy?"
"In May, on the day the Premier spoke-
she gave the place and the date.
“Did anything said by the Premier on that
occasion lead you to so act?”
“The whole mental attitude of the English
people, for whom he was spokesman, moved
me to the act.”
“What mental attitude do you refer to ?”
“The attitude of a superior Anglo-Saxon
race, called upon to destroy barbarians.”
“That is the belief of the entire world, Lady


166
The Clutch of Circumstance
Trask, not only of ‘a superior Anglo-Saxon
race,' as you call us.”
“It was against that belief that I rebelled.”
“By what means did you establish communi-
cation with the enemy?”
“They had sent me many messages during
the years of war, urging me to serve them. I
was told a watchman guarded my house night
and day. That when I had something to com-
municate, if I made a certain sign, an agent
would be sent to me. I made the sign."
“Who was the agent who was sent?”
“Captain O'Toole.”
Sir Ashton was asked to testify in regard to
Lady Trask's German descent. He said that
while she spoke sometimes in derision of Brit-
ish faults, and American faults, that she had
never spoken in his presence, in defence of
Germany, never admitted a basic devotion to
the enemy's country.
· "How did the name of the warship on which
Lord Kendrick sailed come into your posses-
sion?” she was asked.
"By accident.”
Sir Ashton asked permission to testify to
that point and it was granted him.
"I take full blame for the fact that Lady


The Clutch of Circumstance
167
Trask gained this information. She knew,
because I told her the name of the ship.”
“You knew that to be a state secret, Sir
Ashton?”
"I did. In speaking of Lord Kendrick's
departure, by a slip of the tongue, I spoke the
name.”
TATIC
"You realised your mistake?”
“Yes.”
“You warned Lady Trask not to repeat it?"
He hesitated a second.
“Yes.”
“You had no reason to fear, at that time,
that she would use the information?"!
"No, none."
“You very gravely neglected your duty, Sir
Ashton, by this breach of confidence.”
“I know that, milord. I beg that I may
suffer the full penalty of this breach. It was
in no way the fault of Lady Trask. The pos-
session of this knowledge was a terrible tempta-
tion put in her way.”
Lady Trask was recalled.
“What motive inspired your action in regard
to the Hartshire?”
"It was the greatest service I could do Ger-
many."


168
The Clutch of Circumstance
"Was there any personal reason why you
wished Lord Kendrick destroyed ?”
“I refuse to answer.”
“Was Lord Kendrick your lover?”
“No.”
Brooks was called. He reported that Lord
Kendrick had visited Lady Trask the day be-
fore his death. He testified that they had quar-
relled, that Lord Kendrick left in a fury, and
that Lady Trask seemed like a crazy woman
after he was gone. She dined in her room, but
as soon as Sir Ashton was off to his club, she
summoned O'Toole. They had a conference,
which Brooks did not hear, and the Captain
left hastily.
"Lady Trask, is it true that on the occasion
of your last talk with Lord Kendrick you
quarrelled?”
“I refuse to answer.”
The prosecutor pointed out to her that this
refusal to answer would be used against her.
There was a whispered conference between the
attorneys; they urged Lady Trask to tell the
truth, but she refused. She was asked if she
would call witnesses, and refused, again con-
trary to advice. Sir Ashton begged to be
allowed to speak as witness to her character,


170
The Clutch of Circumstance
ment, and I was assigned to the case of Lady
Trask on June 8.”
That sentence burned into Roberta's con-
sciousness. She had been fooled, and duped
by this man whom she had made her intimate
friend! The whole thing came to her. His
introduction to Cecily by the man to whom
Mildred had carried her suspicions. But how
could Ivan, the singing giant, be ?
He told in detail all the evidence which he
had collected, including her intimacy with
O'Toole.
“Yesterday I went to call on Lady Trask.
She was out. Brooks ushered me in, to wait.
I stepped out on to a balcony, which hangs
outside the drawing-room. She came in, pres-
ently, with Captain O'Toole. Before I could
announce myself, or make an escape, they
began the conversation which Brooks has re-
ported. They did not discover me. When
they were gone, I made my report to headquar-
ters and the arrests followed.”
Roberta looked at him. He had much more
the appearance of a man facing death sentence
than did Captain O'Toole.
The president praised him for his work, and
congratulated him upon the arrests.


The Clutch of Circumstance
171
The evidence was all in now. The Judge
Advocate asked Lady Trask if she wished to
speak. She rose slowly and swept them all
with friendly eyes.
“Milord, and gentlemen, and friends, I have
nothing to say in my own defence. Two
months ago I undertook a service, in which I
was prepared to give my life, if need be. I
undertook it, in a spirit of high resolve, and
deep devotion to certain ideals which I believe
to be of supreme value to the world. Now,
in these days of war, when all values are ob-
scured by fury, and hatred and passion, I know
that these ideals are lost to view. But in the
innermost heart of my fatherland they lie dor-
mant, and when the world is rebuilt, they will
be the steel girders of its framework. England
and America and all the nations must make the
contribution of their highest and best, too.
"What is this thing we call patriotism? It
makes me sacrifice the closest human tie, to
serve Germany. It makes Captain O'Toole
ready to offer his honour, if only Ireland can
be freed. It makes Mildred Downer sacrifice
her friends, it sets Captain Insull as a spy in
the house of his intimates!
“Surely if any one of these is treachery, then


The Clutch of Circumstance
173
it seemed to the watchers. In solemn file the
officers filed in again, and took their seats.
“We, the members of this court martial, find
Captain Larry O'Toole guilty of treason, as
a spy. The court sentences him to suffer
death, at dawn, by being shot.”
Roberta's eyes dragged themselves across
to Larry's face. He was looking at her. He
smiled and nodded gaily. The voice went on:
“We, the members of this court martial, find
Lady Roberta Trask guilty as a spy, but in
view of her relationship to a valued and patri-
otic British subject, whose services to England
have been tireless and unremitting, we con-
demn Lady Trask to death by her own hand.
If on the first day of July, of this year 1916,
she be not dead, then this court sentences her
to face a firing squad, and to suffer death by
being shot.
"Lady Trask is hereby committed to the cus-
tody of Sir Ashton Trask. It shall be his duty
to see that she has no communication with the
enemy, from now until the day of her demise.”
In silence the president of the court signed
the sentence, and the Judge Advocate did like-
wise. The court was adjourned, and the offi-
cers marched out of the room. Larry O'Toole


PART FOUR





PART FOUR
CHAPTER I
WHEN they arrived at home, after the brief
silent trip in the motor, from the court room,
Lady Bobs turned at the foot of the stairs,
and waited until Ashton laid off his hat and
coat.
"Would it help you if I-if we sat together
for a while and faced this thing out?" she
asked.
"You're very tired?”
“Yes, I am. But I want to consider you
only— "
“Do you think you can sleep?"
“Yes. I have not slept for weeks, but to-
night I think I can rest,” she said slowly, her
black circled eyes lifted to him.
“Go to bed, then, Beloved. We will talk
to-morrow,” he urged her.
"But will you sleep, Ashton?”
"No. I have some work to do. I will keep
my mind busy on other things, until to-mor-
row.”
179


180 The Clutch of Circumstance
She laid her hands on his shoulders, as he
stood below her.
"I can never say what your understanding,
what your support to-night has meant- "
She broke off, laid her cheek for a second
against his hair, and climbed slowly up the
stairs and out of his sight.
He turned and walked quickly into the small
study which he used as office. He carefully
arranged the working light. He unstrapped
and laid out his papers in order. He went to
his cellarette and measured himself a stiff drink
of brandy. Then, by a terrific exercise of will,
he gave his attention to the work in hand. It
was as if he forced himself into a tiny dark
chamber of his own mind. He sealed the win-
dows and doors that no air might come in, that
no light from outside might penetrate. There
in the darkness, he gave his full, concentrated
attention to this business, which was England's
business, and therefore required his best.
It was about three o'clock when the last pe-
riod was placed. He ran his hand across his
brow, and it came off wet. He felt himself hot
and perspiring from the strain he had been
under.
He turned off the light, and crossed the room


The Clutch of Circumstance
185
“Dear, we cannot escape this talk,” she said.
"I wish you might have had some rest to help
you.”
"I'm all right,” he assured her.
“I have been going over my things-
He laid his hand on hers in protest.
"Must you?”
“Dear, I have only twelve days, you
know-
“Oh, don't!” he begged her, his face in his
hands.
“Ashton dear, I wish I could make you see
it as I do," she said, her hand smoothing his
bent head. “Can't we say that I have made a
journey into a dangerous country, and given
my life as forfeit?”
“No, no. It is not right—it is not 'justice,
tempered with mercy.' We have mixed it all
up somehow,” he protested.
"Perhaps. The essential thing to us is, that
the price must be paid.”
He groaned.
“Ashton, the horror is all gone for me. I
have paid for months a price that makes
Death seem a trifle,” she said.
He rose and faced her.
“My poor Roberta !”


186
The Clutch of Circumstance
“No, no pity! I chose my path, I saw
where it might lead, I have come now to that
place. Sometime, before I go on, I want you
to know every step of that road, but not now.
Let us dispose of certain essentials, so that we
need not mention them again ”
“As you like, dear.”
“I have a list here of personal things to go
to my intimate friends. We will, of course,
decide on some cause for my death, to be made
public. But let us arrange now that this list
is in the top drawer of my desk, where you will
find it.”
“Yes,” he agreed.
“My books and music I want you to have
and anything else you would like ”
He turned away and she paused a second.
“I have made some legacies for the ser-
vants, and named some small possessions of
mine which they might like.”
“I will attend to it,” he forced himself to
say.
"Here is a list of people to whom I want to
leave money, here my list of charities. My
will is in the safety deposit vault, as you know.
I want you to have as little trouble as pos-
sible ”


The Clutch of Circumstance
187
“Oh, Roberta "
She put her arms about him. He leaned
his cheek on her hair, and they were silent for
a little.
“We must face this last thing, Ashton-the
manner of—my going.”
“No, I cannot.”
"It is infinitely harder for you than it is for
me. I know that. My only desire is to spare
you, if I can. What is your wish in the mat-
ter? Shall we decide now how I am to go, and
when?”
“You will not go until you have to? You
will give me these twelve brief days?” he
begged her.
“Yes, dear, of course.”
"Promise?"
“I promise. I have a feeling-can you bear
this, Ashton ?-a feeling that I owe it to the
gods to shoot myself.”
“No-no-no.”
“How then?"
“Oh, must we decide this ghastly thing?” he
cried, out of the bitterness of his agony.
“We need not, if it hurts too terribly. Sup-
pose we leave it to me "
"That is too damnable. Whatever it is, in


188
The Clutch of Circumstance
the end, belovéd, let it be my responsibility. I
could teach my hand to hold a revolver, to aim
at you, to fire at you, if it would spare you one
jot of the horror.”
"Dear heart, it is not a horror! Look at it
with me. Death is a friend come to lead me
out of a tangle I could no longer stumble in.
Let him free me the old Greek way, with a cup
of hemlock. There's a sort of glory in that.
Shall we say that we close this subject until the
eleventh hour is come?”
“Yes, yes. I may find a little strength,
if you will help me.”
"I shall,” she said gently.
“What would you like to do with these
days?” he asked her.
“I should like to spend them quietly with
you, in Surrey. Could you manage that?”
"Yes, it must be managed. Let us go to-
morrow.”
“Thank you."
She drew away from him and said:
“Ashton, do you want my word that my
services to—to my country are at an end?”
“I do not need it.”
“I feel certain that when Larry was arrested
he sent Them word of our undoing.”


The Clutch of Circumstance
189
“Let us not speak of it,” urgently.
"Not again. I wanted you to be sure of me,
now.”
He bowed, his face haggard with emotion
and weariness. She scarcely dared look at him,
so poignant was his expression.
“Ashton, this is not fair to you! I wish my
soul had mounted this morning, with Larry's,
so you might have been spared this.”
“Don't say that don't think it! You can-
not know what this reprieve means to me.
Twelve days, why Heaven and earth were
made in less! Let us pretend that we have
been offered twelve days in Paradise. Let not
one word or thought penetrate there, which is
not the child of happiness and love. Shall we
make these twelve brief days of ours, a Golden
Age, belovéd?”
She looked into his eyes, his stricken tender
eyes, and her own filled with tears.
“Am I fit to enter Paradise with you, Ash-
ton? Will not the Angel with the Flaming
Sword cast me out?”.
"No sword shall bar your way, my Roberta.
Love guards our gate.”
“Ashton, I'm so unworthy


CHAPTER II
AFTER Sir Ashton left her, Lady Bobs re-
turned to her desk. There were many letters
to be written to many friends in many places
and lands. She wanted these farewells said
before she went into the country.
A telephone call from Cecily Harrison inter-
rupted her labours.
"Bobs, the Duchess and I came in together
for the day, and we want you for lunch.”
“Delighted.”
“We will pick you up at one. It is the
Duchess's party and I do not know where she
is taking us.”
"I will be ready at one, thanks.”
These oldest and best friends deserved the
greatest part of her day, if they wanted it. She
would not see them again, for those last days
she meant to be Ashton's exclusively.
She dressed with great care. She wanted
these two to remember her at her best. She
selected a frock which Cecily especially ad-
mired. When she joined them in the motor
the Duchess exclaimed:
192


194
The Clutch of Circumstance
street and harp picture,” Cecily continued
gaily. “So dangerous to let every one experi-
ment on the harp-difficult instrument, you
know.”
“Cecily, what an awful idea! Heaven a
clamour of amateur harpists!” laughed Ro-
berta.
“And crowns! You know how few people
can wear a tiara.”
"Stop at once, Cecily,” ordered the Duchess.
“I cannot afford to lose my religion at this
late date. But I promise you here and now,
that I will never wear one of their ready-made
crowns, nor touch a harp.”
"Bobs, the Duchess is a fallen angel. We
three may be together after death,” said Cecily,
hopefully.
"I hope so,” said Roberta with sudden ear-
nestness.
“Will you tell me how we got on this lugu-
brious subject?” inquired the hostess.
“Need it be lugubrious? Isn't it an old tra-
dition to surround death with horror?” asked
Bobs. “With such multitudes clamouring at
the door of Heaven I like to think in Cecily's
phrase-maybe it's jollier there."


The Clutch of Circumstance
195
NOV
“Heaven is an old tradition, Bobs, if you're
going into that,” said Cecily.
“So it is, and none of us believe in it- "
“I do,” said the Duchess promptly.
“Not a static place of bliss, Duchess,” pro-
tested Cecily.
“Certainly static. I hate being moved
about. Since nobody knows anything about
the place, you may as well pick out the kind of
Heaven you like, and believe in that.”
They laughed together at that.
“What kind would you decide on, Bobs?”
inquired Cecily gaily.
“Mine is rather hazy in my mind. Not so
unlike this, perhaps. Going on with your
work, developing, loving, growing wiser.”
“Any God in yours?”
“Oh, yes. God working, developing, loving,
growing wiser through me, through all of us.”
“What an idea!”
“Where do you go from here, Cecily?”
asked the Duchess and laughed at her own
slang.
“My faith paints a place rather like London,
in the season, only with a pleasanter climate.”
"No God in yours," laughed Roberta.
“Oh, yes. Some woman in a modern book-


The Clutch of Circumstance
197
“So do I,” said Roberta simply.
“You don't act like it,” bluntly.
"I am just crawling out from under that
‘natural polygamist,' but I hope we are not
turning from Heaven to monogamy!” said
Cecily.
So they laughed and chaffed each other in
the way of old friends. They finished luncheon
and planned the afternoon. The Duchess had
errands and they were going back to the coun-
try for the night, in spite of Roberta's urgent
invitation that they stay with her. She wished,
she said, to be dropped at the Downers'.
“How can you endure that girl, Bobs?”
demanded Cecily.
“Poor Mildred—I like her.”
"Don't discourage Christian charity, Cecily,
it is rare enough as it is,” cautioned the
Duchess.
When the motor stopped at the Downers',
Roberta bent and kissed the Duchess' withered
cheek.
"It has been perfect, Duchess,” she said.
“You two are priceless to me. You give my
days savour,” the old woman remarked with
rare softness.


198 The Clutch of Circumstance
Roberta caught a sob back into her throat,
and bent to Cecily.
“Goodbye, old dear,” she said.
“When are you going to the country?”
Cecily asked, kissing her fondly.
“Ashton and I are off to-morrow for a
while."
“It is high time,” the Duchess remarked.
“We will see you soon, Roberta.”
"Au 'voir, dear friends,” she said softly, and
watched the motor slide away.
Miss Downer was reported out, so Lady
Trask picked up a hansom and made a few
calls, but found no one at home. She turned
back to her own door.
"Miss Mildred Downer is in the drawing-
room, Lady Trask. She has been waiting a
long time,” said the maid who admitted her.
Lady Bobs hurried into the room where
Mildred sat. She surprised her in an attitude
of complete dejection. At sight of Roberta
she rose, suddenly flushed and embarrassed.
“Well, Mildred,” said Lady Trask, her hand
out.
"Oh, Lady Bobs,” exclaimed the girl. Then,
“You must wonder how I dared come here,
after last night.”


The Clutch of Circumstance
199
“On the contrary. I went to see you."
"You did? Then you don't hate me?"
"No."
“I have not slept for nights because I hate
myself so.”
“You must not. You saw this thing as your
duty. No one can think that it was pleasant
for you, Mildred.”
The girl fought for composure.
"What you said last night has upset my mind
completely. Why are we all trying to serve,
by destroying each other? If I have brought
this on you unjustly, Lady Bobs, how am I
to live?”
"If the whole world has ‘its mind upset com-
pletely' there is some hope for the future,
Mildred. According to the law of England,
Larry and I were justly condemned as en-
emies, but my question is, isn't there a larger
law of patriotism? Your love for England,
mine for Germany, Larry's for Ireland, Ted
Carter's for America-surely this is a divine
instinct, it must be utilised in some bigger
scheme of a universe.”
"I see that, I want to work for that,” the
girl said earnestly. “Oh, it is sardonic that


The Clutch of Circumstance
201
"I thought I should die this morning, at
dawn, when I knew he ” Mildred could not
go on.
"No, no. Think rather of the way he met
his fate smiling, I promise you. Flinging
his soul forth, proudly, without a cry.”
“I suppose you will not believe this, but I
loved him. I know, now, why I wanted him
punished. It was because I was humiliated
that he did not want my love. Oh, Lady Bobs,
now you will despise me!”
Lady Bobs put her arm across Mildred's
shoulders.
“No, I do not despise you. I know how
alike we all are, how far from civilised; how
bound by old traditions that a woman must not
offer her best gift. Some day surely, it must
be otherwise, if the race is to climb. ..."
"I should have known that he could not care
for me,” Mildred went on. “I'm so ugly and
stupid, and he was so handsome, so happy.
'Son of the morning' I used to call him to my-
self. When he kissed me I thought I should
faint with happiness "
Lady Trask nodded.
“Afterward, when I knew he meant nothing
by it, that he was just playing with me, some-


202
The Clutch of Circumstance
thing inside me went mad. I thought I hated
him. I thought I wanted to serve England,
but last night I knew the real truth. I wanted
to be revenged on him, because he had hurt me
so. I loved him. I loved him! As dawn came
on, I- ” she choked and stopped, sobbing
hysterically.
Lady Trask's eyes were full of pity.
“Do you think I ought to go and tell Gen-
eral Stoten that I killed Larry out of re-
venge?”
“That would not save Larry, Mildred. I
think your punishment will come without Gen-
eral Stoten's help or direction.”
“But I've always thought I was a decent
person, with standards, and now I find I'm
just a rotter!”
“I know. These instincts spring up to
shame us, in crises. We never know they are
a part of us even, until all at once they domi-
nate us. It must be that you and I, and our
kind, are second rate.”
“Not you, Lady Bobs.”
“Yes, I am thoroughly second rate. I know
it, and I pay the price willingly.”
"If I could only pay for you.”


The Clutch of Circumstance
208
“The ill ye do, by two and two,
Ye pay for, one by one,”
quoted Lady Bobs. “Never fear, Mildred,
you will pay,” she added.
Mildred rose to go.
“You have been fair to me, and very kind.
I wish you could say as much for me. I'm glad
I've known you,” she said earnestly.
“Thank you, Mildred. Good luck."
They clasped hands firmly, like two com-
rades. Then with a groan Mildred turned and
hurried out of the room. She did not see Sir
Ashton, who passed her. She fled out the door
and away, like one pursued by furies. Sir
Ashton went to Roberta quickly.
"Did Mildred Downer presume to come to
this house?” he said sternly.
“She is very unhappy, Ashton.”
“She ought to be. Sneaking little inform-
er!”
“Let us be a little kind in judging her, dear.”
He kissed her, his eyes dim.
“We can go to-morrow, at noon, if you like.”
“I do like,” she assured him.
She sat late that night finishing up the many
things there were to be done. “Balancing her


CHAPTER III
THE moment they left London a change
came over Roberta. She was keen, interested,
alive. Nothing on the road escaped her. She
approved the day, which Ashton thought hot;
she quoted poetry about the English fields, she
repeated to him some of Cecily's absurdities.
She was as light hearted as a girl on a holiday,
and while Ashton marvelled, he delighted in
her. How her beauty filled the eye, and satis-
fied it, with its rich maturity!
*Yes, Ashton?” she questioned, aware of his
gaze.
“I'm wondering how you can be more beau-
tiful than when I married you."
“What a pleasant thing to say.”
“ 'Pleasant is a homely adjective,” he pro-
tested.
“Vanity is a homely vice. Of course, you
are glad to be told you grow old gracefully,
but all the time you think back to your radiant
youth, and you are not satisfied with 'grace-
fully.'”
“Strange. I've no regrets for my youth.
те
206


The Clutch of Circumstance
207
“Grow old along with me,
The best is yet to be,
The last for which the first was made,"
he said, and turned away quickly at the thought
that followed it.
"That is true of you, Ashton, as it is of few
people. Some of us cannot risk old age-it
is too trying.”
“Think of the penalty of eternal youth,” he
suggested
She recalled Ivan's phrase, “I protect my
youth, where other people squander theirs.”
She frowned, and turned him out of her mind.
June was the loveliest month of all at Trasl:
Hall. The rose gardens were an ecstacy of
colour and scent. A rose-covered pergola
fairly sagged with bloom, and a trellis which
climbed to Lady Trasks' window sent roses
creeping over the sill. She called Ashton's
attention to it.
“Isn't that charming? It is like a votive
offering from the good god Pan,” she said.
“Take his offering, but do not listen to his
piping, Roberta,” he warned her.
She slipped her hand through his arm, and
answered in the same spirit.


The Clutch of Circumstance
211
gesture, with which Ashton swept the dross of
her on to a sacrificial pyre, punished her
cruelly.
He came and stood above her.
“So, dear, that is our past. Our present has
no memories. Nothing shall spoil these days,
nothing."
She took his hand and laid her cheek against
it.
"If you knew what your love meant to me!
How I cling to your tenderness, how I count
on your understanding.”
“What else is love, but these things, my Ro-
berta?”
"I've stumbled along so many roads, and
hurt so many people, to find out what love is,"
she said.
“I wish you might know— ” he began and
could not finish.
"I do," she answered him. She drew his
face down to her and kissed him. "Oh, dearest,
I've blundered so, and played with sacred fire.
But deep in me I must have known how safe
I was in your heart—that the time was to be,
when I should know that my love was yours."
She felt his tears on her cheek, the beating
of his heart, but there was no need of words.
ma


The Clutch of Circumstance
213
"It's like my Bible these days. He and his
race are so sure of the things of the spirit. ...
'O, Great Beyond, 0, the keen call of thy
flute. It has the eternal yearning of the
human race to know. How do you suppose
the immortal hope was planted in all our
hearts?”
“We must presuppose a plan. And why
not? If the planets move in courses, if the
earth turns on an axis? What sort of an or-
dered universe, if death by accident, by war,
by disease can cut short unfulfilled lives? The
youth of the whole world swept on to the scrap
heap, by this accident of war? No, they must
go on. They must finish their work.”
“Yes, that's it. We must finish our work,”
she repeated thoughtfully. "I shall think of
you working here, you will think of me work-
ing on-somewhere else. Perhaps when you
come, I shall know— ” but he interrupted
her passionately.
"Not now, dear heart of me. The spirit
must comfort me later, but not now, while I
can hold you, while I can kiss your brow and
eyes and lips- ”
“Oh, my lover, take me now, all of me and
find me sweet, if you can, but don't forget,


The Clutch of Circumstance
215
ment but the present one came to taunt them.
The rays sprayed over the horizon line.
"It will beat us!” cried Roberta, urging her
horse. She was off at a gallop, Ashton at her
heels.
As the sun-ball shot up over the world's rim
she galloped faster.
“You're too late, my love,” called Ashton.
“Not yet,” she answered, and fled on.
But when the golden circumference was com-
plete against the sky, she let Ashton come
abreast.
“I almost made it,” she boasted.
“So you did,” he smiled. "What is a million
miles?”
She laughed and they turned their horses
to ride back.
"Doesn't this air taste like pleasant fruit?”
she asked him.
“Like trees of frankincense,” he nodded.
“Is the air always so sweet in the Golden
Age?” she inquired.
“Always."
“Are the days always so full of good gifts
in the Golden Age?"
“Always.”
"And love so abounding?”


220
The Clutch of Circumstance
about whom she had let herself feel bitterly.
She had driven all memory of the handsome,
singing big boy out of her mind forever, and
here he was, scarred and aged with his ordeal,
come to sue for her pity.
She looked at Ashton, but his face was a
white mask, set and graven. She sat down on
a bench in the summer house, and indicated
chairs for the other two. Ivan began to speak
at once. He stood before her and his words
rained down upon her.
“I have no right to come here, I know that.
But I remembered how kind you were to peo-
ple, and I thought-I hoped— ” he broke off,
and then began again. “I could not let you
go without saying one word in defence of my-
self— "
"I beg your pardon, Captain Insull, but
Lady Trask has borne a good deal from you.
I think she might be spared your defence, don't
you?” Ashton asked coldly.
"What is it you want to tell me?” Roberta
asked him.
“How I love you, and what the Hell of this
week has meant to me!" the boy burst out
impetuously.
“Roberta, it is folly to let this go on. We
e WO


The Clutch of Circumstance
221
are not interested in your emotions- ” Ash-
ton broke in.
“Why not? I was serving you,” Insull
cried.
“Serving me?”
“Certainly. I was doing the dirty business
of your country, wasn't I?”
“Ashton, let Captain Insull say what he
has come to say, please,” Roberta begged him.
“When I was put on your case, Lady Trask,
I knew nothing about you. I had only seen
you once. I hated the job but I had no choice.
I was ordered to shadow you and get evidence.”
“Yes?” Roberta said, anxious to help him.
"I made myself agreeable at first to try to
make you like me, so you would let me be with
you. You were heavenly kind, and I felt
surer every day that it was a false scent, that
you were all right. But when I got my first
actual evidence, that paper that I saw passed
between you and Captain O'Toole, in Lady
Harrison's garden- " he stopped and wiped
his forehead, breathing deeply.
“Yes, I remember.”
“I saw that message later. I went into your
room at Lady Harrison's, and saw it.”
She nodded, frowning.


The Clutch of Circumstance
223
would not see. He begged me to run away
just before they arrested me. I refused.”
“How could I tell her? The evidence against
O'Toole was mounting every minute. There
was no chance for her. Even if she went to
America, as I urged her to do, she would not
have escaped— ” he groaned.
“I did not want to escape,” she said.
“You say you love her, yet you hounded
her to her death!” Ashton challenged him.
"I was under British orders, Sir Ashton, I
had no choice in the matter!” Insull answered.
Ashton turned away and looked with unsee-
ing eyes over the garden without. What God
of Fury and Unreason twitched the strings
which made them all dance in these torturing
days?
“Lady Trask, I wanted you to know, that
any suffering which has come to you through
me, has been nothing to the suffering I have
brought upon myself. What you said, that
night, about our motive of service being true,
no matter what treachery seemed to result, has
comforted me a little. It was so fair. I
thought that maybe, if you believed that, you
might have mercy for me in your heart.”


224
The Clutch of Circumstance
She caught her breath in a quick stab of
pain.
“I know that you do not care anything about
me, that you never did. I knew those last days
what you were going through, and how it
helped you to play with me, and laugh at my
foolishness-
• “Yes, it did help me. I'm afraid I never
thought what it was doing to you,” she admit-
ted.
“I don't count! Why, I'd grind myself up
in little pieces, if it would help you. I shall
not pay less, Lady Trask, for my duty than
you pay,” he added solemnly.
Sir Ashton turned swiftly.
“What do you mean by that?
“I mean that life isn't the greatest thing you
can give up. You know that.”
Roberta went to Ivan and laid her hand on
his arm.
"Ivan, let there be no talk of that,” she said
firmly. “I tried to say at the trial, that each
of us had done his best for what we believe in.
I found it hardest to forgive you, įvan, be-
cause I had made you so intimate a friend.
But I see now that you have paid the ultimate
price with the rest of us.”


230
The Clutch of Circumstance
Let love melt into memory, and pain into songs.
Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of
wings over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle, like the
flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say
your last words in silence.
I bow to you, and hold up my lamp to light you on
your way.
He did not cry out, he did not flinch. He
looked upon her calmly, with a love which
equalled her demand of him. He stood above
her, so, many minutes, then he whispered:
"Belovéd, I bow to you and hold up my lamp
to light you on your way!”
THE END