The Odds

usually noisy and crowded, and, unlike Adela, she found little to amuse her in the type of men who thronged it. Fletcher Hill always stayed there when he came to Trelevan. The police court was close

tion that vastly tickled Adela's sense of humour. As she t

She and Dot never had anything in common, and as for Fletcher Hill, he was the driest stick of a man she had ever met. But s

ed to secure for them led out of each other, and the smaller of them, Dot's looked out over the busiest part of th

itated to invade her privacy if she felt so inclined. Her chief consolation was that Adela was

she would pace to and fro like a caged thing for half the night. She was not actively unhappy, but a

d her somewhat. He was so perfectly self-controlled and steady in his demeanour.

la was frankly interested in them all. As she said, it was so seldom that she had the chance of studying the human species in

d a conservatory. But anyhow I should think you might find a seat and solitude there, and that, I conclud

te-à-tête in a strange place, where she could not easily make her escape if she desired to do so, embarrassed her. And Hil

d at last. "Carry her off, Mr. Hill! You'

in words and smile. Dot stif

and outside the roo

y?" she asked, with

rshalled by a policeman. She almost uttered a remark to that effect, but, glancing up at him, decided that it would be out

ot a very artistic corner. A few straggling plants in pots decorated it, but they looked neglected and shabby. Yet the thought wen

-room. The window was closed, but the rattle of the balls and careless voices of

is place?" aske

little nervous laugh. "It's as

lightly, looking into her face. "I've

s look, but failed. "What about?

ot, are you afrai

with a jerk. "I-I-no-of course n

sure?"

," she told him with decision, and met his g

the man's grim mastery behind the iron of his patience

it escaped again Dot turned white to the lips. His close scrutiny bec

ade no further effort to restrain her,

ocking of the balls, and a voice cried, "By Jov

on edge. Fletcher Hill's hand was like a steel trap, cold and firm and mercil

his very silence making her aware of a compu

in desperation. "What-have

ready at the end of the we

nd of the week! But of course no

cher said. "Sit down a m

her down upon the seat under the closed win

a good fellow, and I know he is on my side. But I have a fancy for scoring off my own bat. Listen

spered, breath

y dear child, what is the point of spinning it out in this fashion? You are going through agoni

as si

again, and laid his h

nk so," she

"You don't think so. Well, there is every reason to su

immense effort. "I haven't

all about it." His hand moved a little upon her shoulder; it almost seemed to caress her. "I haven't studied human nature all these years for nothing. I know you're in a perfect fever of doubt, and it'll go on till you're married.

er and her eyes downcast like a prisoner awaiting sentence. "I don't know-what

was a very curious thing. He went down upon one knee on the dusty floor, bringing his face on a level with hers, clasping her t

trying to trick her. Then, reassured by something in the harsh countenance which his voice and words utterly failed

he said, in muffled tones. "I

r she was trembling, and held

ellow's luck is positively prodigious. He can't help sco

the clash of the billiard-balls, follo

Jack can manage to join us at the end of it. Your sister-in-law is already he

to the farm and get the re

of the places I have to go to would be too rough for you. But I shall be at Wallacetown for some weeks after this job. You h

But you didn't know the

r Hill. "I've been getting

-took a good deal for gran

ly humorous. "I knew my o

r had-any doubts

said Flet

hy gesture. "I hope you won't be drea

his keen eyes pierced her. "I don't think that is v

ut she did not return it; nor did h

and she wondered with a little sense