The Yellow House

who seemed, according to Lady Naselton's report, to remain entirely outside the ordinary society

he woman condemned to isolation by a whole neighborhood-the woman on whose shoulders lay the burden of Bruce Deville's profligacy? I looked into the clear,

atter of course. Her voice completed my subjugation. One may so o

Won't you come in for a few minutes? You will scarce

n drops began to fall. I gathered up my

id, breathlessly. "I am dreadf

d-fashioned engravings against a background of dark oak. There were rugs upon the polished floor, and several easy chairs and lounges. By the side of one

the door open and watch the storm. Or perhaps y

asy chair op

m not really nervous, but those trees look horribly unsa

th a faint smile, k

articularly nervous,"

r drowned the res

reason or other she seemed suddenly to have developed a new and strong interest

zed it, and broke

nk me a very rude person. It is odd to meet any one in the woods about he

ok my

s you were at church

not attend church," she answered. "

aug

told her. "My name is Kate Ffolliot. I am the daugh

all was filled

crashing over our heads. When it was over she was leaning forward

heard it more directly overhead. I am afrai

nds or answer me. I ros

I cried. "Are you ill?

erves. Her face was paler than ever save where her clenched fingers seemed to have cut into her cheeks and left red livid marks on ei

lish. That last crash was too awful. It was silly of me to mind, thoug

was still regar

ors, Miss Ffollio

"There is only a little

ugh, it did not occur to me. You are not," she said, with a faint s

in Berlin and Heidelberg. My sister has always been my father's h

disposition to interest one's self in those things, and, withou

o much for granted," I remarked. "If I were a philant

. "Work amongst people who have learned to th

ussion, so I did not attempt to carry it on. I turned a little in my chair to wa

en the possibility of its being occupied again. The vicar used to live several miles away. I wond

s plainly dressed, but with a quiet elegance which forbade any idea of a country dressmaker. She was too thin for her figure to be considered in any way good; but she was tall and graceful in all her movements. Her thick, brown hair, touched here and there with grey, was parted in the middle and vigorously brushed away from a low, thoughtful forehead, over which it sho

my face at Mr. Deville's name. At a

e you came here, or near a large city?" sh

bs there. It was very horrid; I was not there long, but I hated it. I think

ommunity at any rate you are closer to the problems of life. I w

chester!" I repe

oneering. I came t

Socialist

hat the corners of her mouth

We polled over four thousand votes. I think if we had another wee

lpers!" I repe

ome stump orators. You cannot teach them to hold their tongues. They make silly speeches, and of course the newspapers on th

ch of cornflower in my gown, and talked amiably to a lot of uninteresting people. I had a dim recollection of a one-horse wagonette which we had passed on the wa

and that sort of thing?

ghed ou

hat you are beginning to think that I am a very terrible pers

red at the very mention of the word both here and abroad, and I daresay that I have a wrong i

nt she loo

l men and women," she said, quietly. "It is a religion as well as the very core of politics. But we w

get all the new novels, b

which she was interested. We began to discuss them, casually at first, and then eagerl

said, with her hand on the bel

ake my consent for granted, and

my den while t

window was covered with loose sheets of paper and works of reference turned upon their faces. For the rest the room was a marvel of delicate coloring and refined femininity. There were plenty of cosy chairs, and three-legged tables, with their burden of dainty china, rare statuettes,

did not immediately look up. He spoke to her, and I scarcely recogni

he said. "You will drive him out of his senses if you s

ed, smiling, "I shall be glad to know how you got

ndiluted astonishment. "Well, I came in at the window," he answered. "I was i

. She was in no way d

he said. "Will you come down after dinner, ab

t he seemed about to speak. He contented himself, however, with a parting bow, to which I

ut some of the treasures of her room, elegant little trifles, collected

ation of yours?" I as

statuette for my inspection, and she re

I have known him fo

the hall. She came across the ro

a so much after a thunderstorm. I will show you

vant. With the Dresden cup between my fingers a sudden thought flashed into my mind. I

ing came into my mind. It was too

rough a terrible illness solely because of his sense of humor. There are so many things to la

n delicious. I wonder whether I might ask you a q

ly may," she answe

had been writing. Do you write fiction? I think it is so delightful for wome

ondent for several years for one of the dailies. I write more now for a purpose. I am one of the '

what I have heard about Socialism I should never have dreamed of associating it with

eas about us and our beliefs, I suppose. I am not sure that, if you were a pr

way, and a familiar voice, stern, but tr

er will do, madam! At once, and w

od out with almost startling vividness against the sunlit space beyond. A deep red flush was on

go at any time," she said, coolly. "I pr

become like dull stones. Her face had grown strangely hard and cold. There was a brief period of intense silence, broken only by a slow, monotonous ticking of the hall clock and the flutter of the bi

rci

silence. He took a quick step across the threshold. She he

" she said. "You ha

a word; but he would have fallen several times if it had not been for

earily. "I must be alone. S

y to him? What had he to do with them? Where had their lives touched? I pressed my hot forehead against the window-pane, and looked across at the Yellow House. The sunlight was flashing and glistening upon its damp, rain-soaked front. In the doorway a woman was standing, shading her eyes