The Outcry

t there at this moment Mr. Gotch, her butler, who had just appeared in the much wider doorway forming opposite the Bruton Street windows an apartment not less ample, lighted from th

. Crimb

gentleman, who emerged from the back room; Gotch

s so good as to arrange the light.” The young man’s dress was of a form less relaxed than on the occasion of his visit to Dedboro

reported act. “Gotch thinks as much of my grandmother as I do

e,” Hugh allowed himself, not without confidence, the amusement of replying;

ar?” And then as he obviously hadn’t, but for something quite else: “I thought, from

to betray them: that I shouldn’t in the least mind! — and I’m here, frankly, at this early hour, to ask

then of her

; “of her wishing not to go to her sister’s, and of Lord Theign’s having proce

om having seen her — the

es: at a ‘private view’ at the opera, in the lobby

hick lustre. “I wanted to see how much you’d tell.” She waited even as

alas not

with the squash they usually are, you

kened, took but a moment for the

ess pursued, “in the

but with some awful gra

“Oh, the Pennimans are nobody! But now,” she

accounts for the hour I’ve ventu

andgate kindly said; “but I can’t not wonder if

chance to tell me anything — be

t the r

ason’?”

She’s with me then as an old firm f

on than enthusiasm, as a hint in respect

raciously. “She puts me on my hon

her see

at least — what m

say — things

him. “You’ve only talked —

smiled, “‘a

gh! But you should know first tha

dy from abroad?”—

e — he comes up thi

s here on

e to spare,” she went on reassuringly, “that, to simplify — as he wired me an hour ago from D

erefore arrive

ch. “Scarcely before noon. So

l be so good as to tell me first — well,” he faltered, “what it is that, to

r sentiments pronounced. “Haven’t you at least guessed th

— I have been supposing. But isn’t it by her having asked me

wondered. “Y

o tell her at last — a

ct of your hour at Dedborough?” She recognised, however, while she spoke, that his divination had failed, and she didn’t troub

mystified as anything els

d every confidence in her accepting him. But you came, Mr. Crimble, you went

” Hugh asked with a pre

mour almost any curiosity.

elf. “But had she

er indignant

round of his

nting on her, and it has de

y for something he didn’t find. “I’m sorry to hea

t see any ——!” In that case, Lady Sandgate’s

ss a conundrum — which he gave up. “I really don’t see any, Lady Sandgate. But,

short an acquaintance.” To which she added more gravely: “I leave you the

r! — please let

though I’m not sure whether you say it as the simplest or as the very subtlest of men.

ick intelligence here at least. “No, I don’t perhaps know as wel

hostess maturely pursued, “what wouldn’t have been

ut he reached at a meaning. “You’re with me in my plea

faster than he had taken hers. But she hung fire a moment with her repl

to the stake,

make Bender impossible. If you ask me,” she pursued, “ho

ted —“I wouldn’t ask you for the world; and my own

Lady Grace.” She reached an electric bell, which she touched — facing then her visitor again w

too languidly came back. “Your Lawr

aight from the lobby; of whom she made her re

ption. But he resigned himself to repeating, with a distinctness that sca

e not faded. “Couldn’t you, with your immense clever

ed on this head a graceless detac

rself. “Never to

ed — though scarce lighting his rel

ut never,” cried the propri

ked, “carrying that magnanimity a little further, set

shocked hands. “Because I’m an aged fema

incingly — to think. “Will you

than such a br

ssively, “that migh

de do what you can — and then ask them a third less.” And she followed it up — as if suddenly conc

but you throw back on it a lurid

want them; and if I’ve given you precious

Sandgate, I am in your debt, but if you really bargain for your p

the back landing, and, reaching the nearer door, she disposed of the question with high gay bravery. “