The Girl on the Boat

against the ivied stone wall of the house. Beyond, separated from these by a gravel pathway, a smooth lawn, whose green and silky turf rivalled the lawns of Oxford colleges, stretched to a picturesque shrubbery, not so dense as to withhold altogether from the eye of the observer an occasional sil

Mr. Bennett on his first visit to the place. He could not have believed that the

fifteen, from twelve-thirty till four, and from five till eleven. And on this, the third day, there had been no intermission longer than ten minutes. It was a trying Summer. Even the writers in the daily papers seemed mildly surprised, and claimed that England had seen finer Julys. Mr. Bennett, who had lived his life in a country of warmth and sunshine, the thing aff

eal. It's no good looking at the

lso had become a little

partner he was playing one more interminable rubber of bridge against B

ration the sound of rather stertorous breathing began to proceed from beneath th

d Mr. Mortimer. "That's the

t!" said Mr. Bennett with heat. "That

pped by the outward appearance of a canine plug-ugly. Murder seemed the mildest of the desires that lay behind that rugged countenance. As a matter of

ou," said Mr. Mo

u know? He's a dangerous beast, and if I had had any notion that

ifference. I am within my legal rights in purchasi

lendidly with Smith," said Billie.

nal fondness still lingered. He disliked Mr. Mortimer. He disliked Bream, and regretted that Billie had become engaged to him, though for years s

d he resented the fact that, being in the house, he should go about, pale and haggard, as though he were sickening for somethin

d at the glass like a frolicking puppy. It seeme

ook to assure himself that he had really slumbered to this unusual hour, he suddenly became aware of something bright and yellow resting beside the watch, and

en in once or twice by mirages. It was not till he had pulled up the blind and was looking out on a garden

. Bennett rang the bell joyfully, and presently there entered a grave, thin, intellectual-looking man who looked like a duke, only more respec

mornin

" said Mr. Bennett

I would have awakened you at the customary hour, but it

. What more could a man want in this world

did

ted, she proposed to drive Mr. Mortimer and Mr. Bream Mortimer into S

t!" exclaime

ama ha

as a fine day; he had a dutiful daughter; and he was going to

walking backwards but giving the impression of doing so; and Mr. Bennett

ousers. Here at last was a day worthy of them. He drew them out, and as he did so, somethi

mere fifty yards away. What could be more refreshing? He shed his pyjamas, and climbed into the bathing-suit. And presently, lookin

ecent excavations had rendered somewhat muddy. Then he observed Mr. Bennett, and moved gladly towards him. He did not recognise Mr. Bennett, for he remembered his friends principally by their respective bou

elvet turf and began to run. Smith, after a momentary pause of surprise, lumbered after him, wh

tt; now he saw in a flash that its practical merits also were of a sterling order. He swerved sharply, took the base of the edifice in his stride, clutched at a jutting stone, flung his foot at another, and, just as his pursuer arrived and sat panting below, pulle

compensation-equipped with a number of extra pairs of legs, had begun to fit out exploring expeditions over his body. They roamed about him as if he were some newly opened recreation ground, strolled in

Bennett's manly spirit broke a

a voice spo

said th

as standing beneath him, gazing up from under a tam o'shante

re?" said Jane. "I say, do you

It ha

is ill. Oh, well, I'll have to walk. Come along, Smith!"

t sinister word "ill" held him like a spell. Eustace Hignett was ill! He had

bellowed Mr. Bennett after J

ried Jane

matter wit

n't k

infec

xpec

lowering himself cautiously to the grou

s tapping the barometer with the wrist action of an a

npour, sir,"

house all the time?"

s,

u hear me

I heard som

devil didn't y

a sort of harsh, hooting howl, sir. I have sometimes wondered," said Webster, pursuin

ich he had penetrated, there was a grinding of brakes on the gravel ou

ad accomplished half the homeward journey. For the last ten miles Mr. Mortimer had been nursing a sullen hatred for all created things; and, when entering the house, he came

napped, shaking off the other'

's voice quivered with

oughtn't to have come into the house after bathing

thing! I'm trying

ocence, coming in at the tail-end of

into the arms of Webster, who had been preparing to drift off to the servants' hall. Linked together, the two proceeded across the

you doing, you fool?

lad if you would accept my week'

t's

xpiration of the current week. I cannot

o to b

anded his papers on the declaration of war, and Mr. Bennett, sprang to i

rti

what

f yours. I insist on

it bee

e garden and kept me sitting up on that

't get excited. You know it's bad for you. I don't expect poor old Smith meant an

snapped Mr. Mortimer. "

one end of the garden to the o

humorous was simple and childlike, was not

ream helplessly.

you that if you think you can laugh at me with-with-er-with one hand and-and-marry m

culated Bream, a

ng the other as he was about to mount the stairs.

do

our doing so.

n bite you once. And every dog is allowed one bite by law. Th

the case of Wilberfo

you have to. It is

the angriest man. Mr. Bennett felt, as every layman feels when

t...." began Bre

snarled M

but, s

the end of the hall open

eon will be served within the next few minutes. Po

ay in my room," said Mr. B

good

Bennett...."

and bounded up the stairs like a portion of the su

t lightened by a bit of luck. It was so with Mr. Bennett in his hour of travail. There were lobsters for lunch, and his passion for lo

her. Had a

a little at the recollection. "Ther

ch had been working its way silently into the tip of his tongue, was settling down under the

"was excellent. Lobsters!" He

"I suppose that boy Bream has told you

es

ennett, who was in the mood for a drama

atalist on the subje

underst

lly at the counterpane. "Do you know, father, I'm beginning to think tha

n as regards that Mortimer boy. You

nking of Bream

till imagining yourself i

in love with poor Eustace. I was thinkin

stared incredulously at his surprising

mewhere and I haven't seen it. But for a moment you gave me the

d

me," he demanded, having brought out the answer to his satisfaction, "do y

Billie in a

Godfrey

only

back on to his pi

doesn't know how one is going to feel about it afterwards

d Mr. Bennett with austerity. "You oug

all never get engaged again. I

are still in love w

came over me that I had thrown away my life's happiness. It was as if I had been offered a wonderful jewel and had r

onsense!" sai

had thought she had be

an exclamation. The mention of Eustace Hignett had stirred hi

um

! One of the most infectious ... this is awful!... Oh, heavens! Why did

on't be silly. If I were you, I should try to get

Mr. Bennett, and did so five mi

itary brass band, clad only in a bathing suit. As he sat up in bed, blinking in the dazed fashion of the half-awakened, the band seemed to be playing still

ess irritability. There was only one instrument in the house which could create this infernal din

he bell f

that-that damned gas-en

s 'Good-bye.' A c

ell him t

good

sently the valet returned. The music

ir," said Webster, "that Mr. Mortime

aid that,

gist of his r

en give me my

pinion, the guv'nor was not a force, and that, if he were a betting man, he would put his money in the forthcoming struggle o

d lying at full length on a sofa, smoking a cigar, a full dozen feet away from t

infernal thing off

id Mr. M

now!" sai

n the doorway with a look o

ow!" said Jane Hubbard. "Yo

finger, pushed something, and the orchestrion broke off in the middle of a ba

re urged Mr. Bennett to tr

ut it!" he sai

rtimer, chafing beneath defeat. "I

verting to the phraseology of his van

Oh well," he said, "there are

?" exclaimed Mr.

id Mr. Mortimer,

ack to bed in an u

iration of that period, rang for Webster and

Mortimer is annoying me in every possible way and sheltering himself behind his knowledge of the law, so that I can't get at him. Ask Sir Mallaby to

m sure

w do yo

if he does!" said Billie ha

elf. I want you to go up to-night, so that you can see him first thing to-morrow m

train in about an ho

rouble," said Mr. Bennett,

only too glad to be able to