The Weird Sisters, Volume I (of 3)

ny's river passenger-boat the Rodwell, they had two reasons for the refusal: first, they were not prep

y was made that her condition was far from satisfactory. Many of her plates were no thicker than

an unsatisfactory condition, and the

fore the fine weather; so she was patched for the time, the intention being to lay her up the fo

egan running as usual with passen

went wrong with her machinery, and she had t

ason there were few passengers, and littl

ast seven in the morning, and from Daneford to Seacliff at half-past six in the afternoon. Many of the business men of the city kept their families all the season at Seacliff, they themselve

y condition, they took off five pounds of steam. "Better to be sure than sorry," they

e Rodwell made a report to the owners, and was directed

ore than the money asked for, and as no mortgage existed upon her he felt he should be quite secure if the company ensured her, and handed him a policy for five thousand pounds. His position was that if the compan

the boat hundreds of times. He knew all the men employed on her; he knew every exterior brass plate and hinge and bolt. He could go about her blindfold, and steer her

n the pretty town and picturesque scenery of Seacliff and the faithful Rodwell, the town being regarded as

there. It had been his custom to rent a small white cottage that hung half-way down a red cliff sur

l broad river. The morning swim in the strong sea-water brought the sense of health and vigour and power into his frame. The breakfast, ample, well cooked, appetising, with blithe company, full of inspiriting talk and resolute happiness, in the st

rl of the water at the bow, and the far-off wash of the steamer's swells upon the shadowy shore; to watch the crimson sunset, and the coming of the pale-blue stars, and the red moon that, slowly ris

ear by year the chasm between them widened; and that above that chasm hung a spirit of evil, the bad angel of a terrible weakness, which might at any m

eacliff in the summer if by any possibility he could safely avoid it. But all the well-off people of Daneford went every year to the little town, and to depart from the custom would be to attract a dangerous at

in the morning he was always weighed down by the dread that in this little town of much gossip something might leak out while he was away. She might

ber of Commerce windows, or the members of the Club, or his own staff at the Bank, looking after him with compassionate eyes, and sayi

ollowed him during sleep; and although the habit of Mrs. Grey had not yet become so confirmed as to justif

he was threatened by two discoveries. Someone might find out about her, and blast the fame of the Manor House; someone

evening brought him home. The husband and wife sat down alone to dinn

and penurious landlord of it to-day. It's not occupied this month, and he wanted me to take it from the 20th. I'm half inclined to accept his offer. He says we can have it from the 20th of this month to the end of S

pair of brass stair-eyes, one lost and one damaged, 2d.," quo

age was the general observation: 'The same being in excess of reasonable wear and tear.' Didn't he make us whit

s,

paid, Bee, for cracking that soup

hat crack, but he has charged us with the l

h cheek with his white hand. After a moment's enjoyment of his recollections of Parkinson, he returned to the question. "Well, Bee, will you go down in

. Of course I'l

from this to the boat. Be on board at a quarter-pas

, W

rget?" Of late Mrs. Grey's memo

u don't think my memory is so bad I am likely to forget anyth

not be able to get away from the office until just half-past six. I shall b

lowing evening, Grey lapsed into

fears and subtle agonies when he had no company. The necessity all through the day for showing a fair front to the world

s 16th of August, was he safe over all the wreck of that awful month of May, but at what a

cent days of over-trading, when money was dear, the deposits in the Daneford Bank had been more than during the past few months. Things were not likely to mend in time for him. At the present rate twenty years could not bring in half the sum he wanted, and he might be called to disgorge within

y: There is nothing to save you from

e him like an indictment seeking her life. She was

urce of no pleasure to herself. If the Powers of go

nation whatever would only

pinched, his hands clutched, his eyebrows dragged down over his eye

ws relaxed, his whole face changed character, put on holiday attire. With a ligh

the man entered, "bring

e been very thoughtless about that press in the Tower of Silence. I have left claret and

with the bottle, drew the cork

ower-room, the first-floor room in the Tower of Silence upon the top of which th

earth, in Asian desert open to the glittering stars and the pale radiance of the moon, on the dark peaks of mighty

ew feet separate him from the door he pauses suddenly, and looks earnestly forward. There are two keys for that door, one is on his rin

sently the door opens, and with a cry of

the smile to relax, "is this you?

looking down, "but I could not sleep. I was very nervous

s, in a soft voice. "I was just going to put t

sks, in a voice full

nake or a petard that you need be afraid

g up her hands as though she saw some fearful object in

ave some brandy here. Suppose one of the servants, or any chance cal

God's sake, don't put it there!" She covers

uld never be able to forgive myself if any harm came

es the end of the short corridor, throws up her hands to heav

ile upon his face deposits the decanter of cognac in the cupboard of the room on the first floor