The Mystery of the Clasped Hands

f Detwich Hall. To my thinking it is, in every respect, an ideal residence. While sufficiently old to have a history (one o

mental lake. On this lake, by the way, some of the finest duck shooting in the county is to be obtained. In his boyhood Godfrey had spent many happy days there, little dreaming that some day it would become his own property. Indeed, it is quite certain it would not have done so had his cousin Wilfred not been killed in India in the performance of a piece of desperate heroism that will be remembered as long as a certain native regiment exists. As for Godfrey, the old man had always liked the boy, but had been bitterly dis

ht of the matter. “He’ll be none the worse for having known a little poverty. I like the boy and he likes me,

ndeed, there could be no sort of doubt as to Godfrey’s popularity. He was received by the county with open arms, and by his tenantry with a quiet appreciation that showed they knew how to value the blood that ran in his veins without making a fuss about it. Owing

the district. “His idea of game preservation is excellent, and he is prepared to sup

season made her bow before her Majesty, said nothing, but maybe that was because she did not think there was anything to be said. She had her own ideas on the subject. She had seen the young squire of Detwich, though he had not been aware of the fact, and, being an

Though his mother had been seriously ill, there had not been so much danger as they had led him to suppose. A month at Torquay had completely restored her to health, and now she was back

e and his youngest sister had been on the best of terms from the days when they had gone bird’s-nesting together, until the tim

n heard to say, “and the fellow who m

two miles of each other, should soon have become intimate. They were in the habit of seeing each oth

himself; and when he did arrive and the many charming qualities of her friend

said to his sister, “I shall n

“You have no idea what a pretty girl she is. They say she created a treme

t, my dear girl. Ever since I have known you your swans have invariably tur

Kitty made a very pretty losing hazard (they were playing billiard

n be only considered by all honest people a mean device. In describing Miss Devereux he used the almos

ue as she spoke. “Some day, if you are not very careful, I will tell Miss Devereux wha

nd going into the left himself. “I don’t mind admitting without prejudice that I am getting

wood-carving together, and she is coming to

se she has some — until then,” Godfrey replied, and then once more going into the

ith himself and his position in the world as it was possible for a young man to be. His business transacted in the town he turned his horses’ heads homeward once more. The handsome animals, knowing that they were on their way to their stables, stepped out bravely, and m

to himself, as he watched her swinging along at a slow can

walk. This very soon brought Godfrey alongside, and as he passed he managed to steal

peated. And as he continued his

a farm, and he had no option but to comply with their request. As luck would have it, however, he was able to return by a somewhat e

ny visitors?

r,” said the man;

aid to himself as he crossed the hall in the direction

fault, if fault it be, is amply atoned for, however, by a capitally constructed ingle-nook, in which it was the custom for the ladies to take afternoon tea. Godfrey str

met Miss Devereux, God

he added: “Good gracious! It’s the fair equestrienne.” Then al

een everywhere, and to have seen everything. Doub

extremely fond of the country, an

it until that moment. For the future, however, under a certai

y,” he continued, “I consider En

letters, and from the description you gave of the various places you had v

tainly nothing like that to be found elsewhere. I would rather stand on the hill yonder and look down the valley in su

ntil that moment Miss Kitty had been regarding him with steadfast eyes. Clever beyond all other men, as she considered her brother, she had never seen him come out of his shell like this before. Hitherto he had been rath

on the other hand, was small, and of a somewhat peevish disposition. It was currently reported that the husband and wife spent the greater portion of their time

and had taken a cup of tea from his hostess’s hands, “but did I not hear you

en, without waiting for an answer, he continued: “For my part, while admitting that a country life is possessed of many charms, with which the

and, as was her habit, was q

f London life, William, so how can y

hat it is a generally admitt

e lady with some asperity. “What I say is, let a man do his duty wh

ndo in this speech, and for a m

vatory, Mr. Henderson?” said Miss D

,” said Godfrey. “Wou

d, Godfrey led the way from the room, contriving, when all had p

anger in the land?” he said, “

tell you?”

nd his wife, who were som

squabble like th

the habit of squabbling has grown upon them until they have become so accustomed to it that they do not notice it.

a second Diana, he spoke as if it were the hunting that had mainly induced him to live in Midlandshire. He registered a vow that he would pu

dio Godfrey had built for himself. It was a handsome building, and gave a

e vicar, complacently. “It remi

William; how can you possibly remember what

of my memory,” the vicar replied. “I assure you I have

in your pocket you would never have thought of looking for them there,” sai

natural transition, and the latest work up

r, Mr. Henderson,” said Miss Devereux. “I can as

id, feeling that no compliment that had e

ous idea occ

ld let me paint you a little pi

g,” his companion replied. “Your time is

ied. “In return, perhaps, you will instruc

she answered. “You mus

d dispense with his sister’s society. Presently Miss Devereux’s cart was announced and Kitty and

Spinkley Grove on Thursday, at eleven o’clock, when you will be permitt

odded to the groom, who left the ponies’ heads and jumped on to the step behind as the cart passed him, with an adroitness

itty as they t

Godfrey

like

ogether he made an important decision to himself. “Provided she wil