The Yellow Book

ary happy circumstances of life do not pass unnoticed as inevitable. She was pleased to be living at home with her father and sister, pleased that her father

her when, according to elderly advice, it would have been useful. In no trouble, great or small, could she gain comfor

orderly house: how she placed the lighted lamp on the table at her side, then went to the windows and let down the blinds and drew t

ading superior books. She knew that Asphodel was bad, and saw its inferiority to the books wh

atched the whole proceeding with pleasure, sitting still in the arm-chair. Three soft raps on the gong and Gertrude appeared. She made the tea, and they talked. When they had finished, Gertrud

ing for some minutes w

s a visitor! Janet said,

n the stairs. Gertrude's desk was just opposite the door, and directly the maid opened it she saw that the visitor was an awkward

id her book down open on the table behi

very slightly acquainted, and they never got beyond that subject

e Saturday Aft

nished her letter, left the room: she was engaged to be married, and was theref

rectly her visitor had gone. She did not know quite why, but she was dissatis

would be down in the drawing-room to talk for a quarter of an hour before dinner. When she heard him on the landing, she put away her book; Gertrude met him just at the door; they both came in together, and then they all three chatt

im laugh, and he was not fond of her. She would find still more difficulty when Gertrude was married, and she was left alone with him. His health was failing, and he was growing very cantankerous. She dreaded the prospect, and already the doctor was mo

fternoon. Now she was as fully miserable as she had been content four hours before, and her trouble at the moment mingled with her unsatisfactory