Mount Royal, Volume 3 of 3

u were his widow," Mopsy had told her, somewhat harshly; and then there was the task of packing, since they were to leave Mount Royal at eleven, in order to be at Launcest

e were past; speculated and argued as to how the accident could have happened; talked learned

gun came to go off. If he had been going through a hedge, or among the brushwood on the slope of the hi

oroner," sneered Leonard, who had been drinking his coffee in moody silence

led a gun before to-day, and know that the worst gun that was ever made won't

was shot thro

one of your pe

e room together. Five minutes later they had left the house, and were walking towards the cliff, by following which they could reach the Kieve without going down into Boscastle. It was a wild walk for a windy autumn day; but these two loved its wildness-had walked here in many a happy hour, with souls full of careless glee. Now they walked silently, swiftly, loo

he sense of a dreary monotony of grief. Time and space had lost their meaning. This dull aching sorrow was

of consolation in her mind. All her thought

crossed the common above the slate-quarry, seaward of Trevalga village, with

. You would be afraid, and it might cause scandal. No, you are only going to see the place where he died; and then perhaps you, or I, will see a little further

do you

as I say. I kn

ou sus

ion; but it is all guess-work-n

iday-making people tread in the sweet summer time-the way to that wild spot where England's first hero

covering stone of a Cromlech. Christabel remembered how facetious they had all been about Arthur and his game of quoits, five years ago, in the bright autumn weather,

leads to the Kieve. Christabel stood in the little quadrangular garden,

esterday until the men went to look for him?" she

e key. They found it in the pocket of his

y to her lips. His hand was almo

e last of the yellow dahlias were fading, Chri

ng?" she asked. "Can we

t is th

oneysuckle clung lovingly. The lattice stood open. The soft sweet air was blowing into the room, j

showed his pinky blossoms, and many a pale yellow hawksweed enlivened the faded folia

minor cry, like the lament at an Irish funeral. All was dark and desolate in the green valley, as Jessie unlocked the gate, and they went slowly down the steep slippery path, among moss-grown rock and drooping fern-down and down, by sharply wi

his, and stood on the broad flat stone on the other side. This is the very heart of St. Nectan's mystery. H

Bridgeman, pointin

races of stains which had been roughly

enly across to the narrow path on the other side. "And some one else stood

o came to look for h

red, with clenched teeth, "that some one stood here-just here-and shot him. They were standing f

r. Hamleigh's bedroom door. "You understand my plan?" "Perfectly." "It saves all trouble, don't you see." Those few words had impressed themsel

the bridge, seeking unconsciously for support; "you mean that A

reading of t

ace-without witnesses-m

te might have been the other way. Y

"Angus would not have killed him. That

ts, white as death, looking roun

-dark-shapeless-horrible-from the first. He has been murdered! And I am to spend the rest of

Don't you know that nobody came here yesterday except Angus

re is another way of getting here, without going near the gate, where he might be seen, perhaps, by some farm labourer in the field. T

dying away in the distance. Then there was an interval, of some minutes, during which Christabel, hardly caring to wonder what had become of her companion, stood

as she dropped herself over the sharp arch of rock, and scrambled through the cleft, hanging

ands, not daring to cry aloud lest she should

sie Bridgeman made good her descent, and stood on the shelf of slippery rock, below the waterfall, unhurt save fo

e did it often when he was a boy-you must remember hi

-dust red tinge in its dark warp, which Leonard had much affect

is like

left. Try if you can find the coat when you get home, and see if it is not torn. But

the mild autumnal air-here in this sheltered nook which was always warmer than the rest of the world-had sudde

came into the drawing-room-and asked Mr. Hamleigh for a few words in private. It was then he planned this work," pointing to the broad level stone against which the clear water was rippling with such a pretty playful sound, while those two women stood looking at each other with pale intent faces, fixed eyes, and tremulous lips; "and Angus Hamleigh, who valued his brief remnant of earthly life so lightly, consented-re

istabel in a low voice, "I

ood face upon things, for the sake of your son. You were born and swaddled in

im," repeated Christabel, wi