The Brother of Daphne

w, pulled the curtains aside, a

the night

zard yet blizz

h," sai

you have my warmest Yuletide greetings and heartiest goo

e move prete

ere you can't

's going on like t

eft at the goods station for a month during a tram strike, it would

e. "I meant the we

rried you. But to the weather. This berlizzard-German-has its disadvantages. A little more, and we shan't be able to bathe to-morrow. Never mind. Think of the Yule

k careful aim, and discharged it in the direction

can have another two shots instead." "I'll take the vase," said my

pressed to death for this impious display. In consideration

turret?"

shall be more merciful. When you can show me a representation of the man who drew Slipaway in the Calcutta Sweep try

but the point is, what are we go

n like this,

we must,"

her without Sjvensen, and he may be too busy to

tprints there twice daily in real snow. The audience are invited to come and tread in them. They do, too,

go on like thi

our dear self-capable of anything.

nilly to give up sleeping out of doors, it would do so. Well, I'm tired. What

said Daphne, "you'll go on talking ab

h. "My dear," he explain

ely little known, too, and far enough from London to escape most tourists. The inn itself had sheltered Cromwell, and before his time better men than he had warmed themselves at the great hearth round which we sat. For all that, he had given his name to the panelled room. Our bedrooms were as old, low-pitched and f

town of Steeple Abbas, and twenty-one miles from Pallow, stood Bill Manor, where the Hathaways lived. This good man and his wife Milly were among our greatest friends, and they had wanted us to spend Christmas with them. Though we had not done so, we had motored over several times and they had lunched with us at Fallow only the day before. And for New Year's Eve the Hathaways had arranged a

The dispute waxed. Daphne and Jill insisted that go we must, could, and should. I rather supported them. Berry and

the Hospice will find my corpse. I wish the drinking-trough, which will be erected to m

Jill. "The new Saint

debate till the next morning, in case it stopped snowing during the nig

ard of snow. In a word, the weather was now magnificent, and, but for the real evidence Upon the country-side, no one would ever have b

don't see the car coming back at four o'clock i

ost a full m

ry, "but the banjo

t the inn at Steepl

ple, we can make Fallow," sai

" said Berry. "If you knew the difference

in one, tools in t

d Daphne. "We'd bett

I." s

come back to our dear Fallow and ou

Berry emptied his mouth and

driven her back to the inn. The people had evidently half expected her back, for, as we stopped at the door, it was flung open and the landlord stood ready to welcome her in. The next moment I was once more on my way. In spite of the weather, the car went well, and I had soon covered more than half the distance. I was just about to emerge from a side-road on to the main highway, when a dark mass right on the oppos

ut of the car, advanced to the edge of the drift, holding th

cture I've seen somewher

trange? And now, who, what, where, why, and how are you? Are you the goddess in the car

woman in

t," said I

ha

you are. J

o a

're New Y

laugh ans

I know. And your father, Christmas, has gone for help. If I know anyt

d in this wretched drift. It wasn't altogether the man's fault. One of our h

ter than to run so close

's got to walk till he finds a farm where

ns, I don't suppose the farmers will come runni

now the district, so he's up aga

, Eve! But what abo

'm all

ind it rather hot in there? C

good resolutions

o give up ferns. And you can

al

you I was a highwayman? I o

ck g

you, Eve. Your soul's not your own when you're up against High Toby. I have a pistol in my h

aus

our friend

'll have to get out on the near

side of the tilted car, with her face close to the inch and a half of open window. Except for an occasional flash, which had showed where her eyes we

said. "How sad.

t out, and then reap

I. "That's an intermittent light, isn't it

lainly indignant, if muffled

led the rug away from a small white nose and a mouth whose

I didn

know. I mean, I know you said you didn'

ly one brain, and at

owest ebb. Exactly. That's why you must let

don't thi

ht. I'm staying at an inn about nine miles away. We'll be there under the half-hour. There's supper and a fire waiting

ed the situation. W

people think?" she

g the in

osing it

inquest would read worse, my dea

you know

ou stop here much longer, my dear child

er the gentle face, s

a fool I am. Give me her h

t about

chauf

hen I looked for the companion. There

a note," said I

I scrawled a f

to shelter. If possible, bring the car to 'The Three Bu

quickly. When she had finished, I laid the tablets on the seat, where the

thing in the nic

ame?" said

man of the r

feel my mouth, I'd kiss yo

the front seat. Then I bade her stand in th

y, so I'm going to carry you to my c

was a ge

eft my niblick in London. Come along. Don't be frightened if I sl

ee minutes later we were making for Fallow

e curtains of the Cromwell room, the place was in darkness. I clambered stiffly out and felt for the key I had asked for. A Yale lock in the studded door! Never mind. This door is only a reproduction. The orig

ll wrapped in the rugs, my lady lay fast asleep. With some difficulty I got her into my arms. On the thres

hearing the car, I just come down to see yo

charge in my arms. A corner of the rug had fallen over

better not let her see you. She'll be awfully angry

'll only open the door and see that the fire's all right, sir," he said.

e light the c

l may wake any moment. You can come and

good

inside, can't you? Because y

, thank

d Thomas and I were making our way back past th

g-case to her room and see to her f

a minute to s

It was very good of you to come d

ight, s

es

will wait on Miss Mansel in the morning, sir. Susan's

ll right. I'Il tell Mi

night,

e door of the

ss Mansel,

I. "One of our party-my cousi

re lifting me o

and shook its sn

, I take my hat off to you. Eve, you

hy

-here, now, ju

I look

perfectl

't hel

uldn't

from a ball. All blue, it was, blue of a wonderful shade-periwinkle, I think they call it, Her stockings were flesh-coloured and her shoes of gold: these she had taken off, the better to warm her little shining feet. White arms propped her towards the fire, and she sat sideways, with one leg straight by the warm kerb, the other drawn up and bringing her dr

'm afraid you've struck a loser this time. You'll

f hair, and what about the pearls behind

ke out, though, and the

h and showed two rows o

ever. After all this time, too. However. I hesitate to men

d I lifted her to her feet. For a

aid I. "Is there anyon

You wouldn't like me a bit, only I'm not myself

s you're Jill

lar must get me through breakfast and out of here and over to Steeple Abbas somehow. Funny, your

n I went back with Jill, they

d. When I had finished, she th

ot a robber, a

ly not.

ng the exchange

ite. Why, just to look at yo

gry. Oh, no, no, I didn't mean th

against the chimney-pi

it," said I,

vering, "take off your co

d across the back of a chair. Then I kicked off my great high rubber b

little creased

forgive th

t have minded

dn't have

ve. Remembe

hen I picked up her little shoes and

id, laying a hand on my shoulder to keep her ba

e what we've got for supper." And I turned

und, she was lig

ir. "It's bad for the digestion. Sit by the fire a little, a

put out the candles, and st

will you

ainst the chimney-piece an

u'd better be a child and sit on the h

er side. "My dear, do you realize th

, Adam. An

firmly, "ce

ut

. Goddesses are immortal

ught to get up

e to rise and make you

he smiled into

have ever sat here befor

ples, you know. I expect the old wo

n't see,

y cigarette-"have long memories of things, some sweet, some stern, some full of tears, and some aga

nother to mak

herly smiles, especially wise. Th

the sooner they f

on't undeceive them. It'd break the poor old fellow

in spite of h

n't got any he

t make up for it. Come along." I altered my tone. "Chaste and beautiful one,

Jack?"-lan

mistress. Remember, I have six sp

my father? Hi

ould never have attempted to climb. The angle of his chaise suggested that one of the hind wheels was, to put it mildly,

Adam, I almost find it i

I could hear his oaths of encouragement, while the post-boys sawed as they had ne

linchpin. Is that right? And, oh,

ius of thirty miles are drunk. Yes, me again. A man has to think of all these little thing

ch I must

," said I, reaching for a li

ing the play of the flames. Then she sp

d me your fair

shelter, and set her on her way in the morning, and then spent his poor life trying to find her again. Anyway, one doesn't te

es

can't, Eve. He'll praise, thank, bless you all in a flash.

repeated dreamily. "Does he

r," s

Then she flung her cigarette into the grate and

e cried. "Mine

ting one of the candles. Then I picked up

," sa

e foot was on the kerb, and her left hand hitching her dress in the front a little, as women do. The other she held, palm downward

," s

Adam, would you ki

Eve was sitting in front by my side this time. As we turned into the main street, I slowed down. Outside 'The Three Bulls' stood the limousine, weather-beaten a little and its nickel work dull, but seemingly all right. In the middle of the road stood a chauffeur, his cap pus

n hear a car coming

imousine, which stood on our left between us and the hotel. Then I stop

e, dear,

of a second. For a moment I held her hand to my lips. Then I shut the door, slipped back into my

ot home all

ate, but never mind. Skaul again, my pathfinder. I thought of you when I was going to bed. Was the snow-hut comfo

. In the doorway I turned and took off my hat. The chauffeur was starting up the limousine. And

one, I felt a sheet of paper in its cuff. I plucked it out, wondering. It had been torn from the writing-block, and bore the message I had

o my pocket and

" I said abstractedly, as

y kept bowing and calling me 'my lady.' They couldn't understand my connection with the others at first and when they asked about t

idn't enli

t what was wrong ti

al one neve

ndlord stammered something about 'y

er about the new chambermaid. I was rather uneasy about the girl, as a matter of fact. She must ha

ond, after breakfast, a wire for J

said. "I wonder how h

from?" s

Easter. Wants us to go over to his plac

of

ou and party,'

et his sister

had," said Jonah. "She's a wonde

ou meet her?

ciate her with

my sister. "What yea

. "If I told you," I said, "you wo