The Yellow House

ared what he might have to say. Already I was beginning to reckon those few hours as an epoch in my life. Never had I met any one whom in so short a time had attracted me so much.

fe, her surroundings, that air of quiet, forcible elegance, which seemed to assert itself alike in her house, her dress, and her conversation, were a revelation to me. She was original too, obviously intellectual, a woman who held her life well within control, and lived it fearlessly and self-reliantly. I had never met any one like it before, and I

able we saw no more of him. He went straight to his study, and I heard the door shut and the key turned-a sign that he was on no account to be disturbed; and though I sat in the drawing room until long after my usual time for retiring, and afterwards remained in my room till the small hours commenced to chime,

hools, but he seemed scarcely to hear. We all became silent. As we were on the point of rising, the unusual sound of wheels outside attrac

ng away!" I

ained himself. The effect of her appearance upon him was very evident to me. His under lip was twitching, and hi

"If a tithe of what people say about her is true we ought to rejoic

ak. He changed his mind, however, and left the r

d. "In all probability you will only hear a pack of lies. I had tea with her yester

open eyes, and an expression

een to see her, that you have been

odd

coolly. "Afterwards I liked her so much that I was glad to

ked at me

on tell you about her? Surely

my shoulder

do not make a point of believing everything disagreeable whic

eir time. She was the vicar's daughter, in whose eyes the very breath of scandal was like a devast

ports of that woman besides Lady Naselton's. Depend upon it there is no smoke wi

red, "is a matt

is not a nice woman,

answered. "I know her and you do not, and I can assure you that she is much

getting an

ting woman to a good o

f the good women whom one meets are so uninteresting," I answered. "Goodness seems so sat

e to face with my father. He looked at me in stern disappr

y sayings, Kate," he remarked, st

uppressed irritation of manner seemed like the thin veneer beneath which a volcan

ttle packet to him. "There is one for you from a place

ughtful face was transformed. Like a flash the gleam of a dark passion lit up his brilliant eyes. His lips quivered, his fingers were clenched together. For a moment I t

ncheon time he had quite recovered his composure, but towards

don this afternoon

n?" we bo

usiness there which requi

es Alice was even mor

dly. "We were to meet him at the schools at five

he schools have done without them for ten years so they can go on fo

th perplexed face, but my thoughts were elsewhere. I was wondering whethe

going West?"

me and hesitat

city," he said, coldly.

treet," I

ered a fe

u require. Do not be disappointed if I should happen to forget

hering you," I told him. "There is some money to

had gone into his study. I followed him there, and, entering

up at me a

want?" he s

, listening to the details of my commissi

ll have other and more important matters to take up my attention. In the meantime,

me. At half-past three a fly arrived from the Junction, and h

aid, "on Friday. Goodby

and I remained upon the doorstep looking at one another. We both f

ea what it means

ok my

"Didn't you say that he used to go to L

oked ver

ace. The people did not like it. He went away very often; a

rked, leaning against the door-post with

wrote to the Bishop. A good many other people used to complain about it. Y

all why he went so often? You don't know what he

ry me a great deal, and when I came here I hoped it was all

hat I know what took hi

Alice crie

odd

s a le

he had thi

es

o you

or father. One was from Mr. Hewitt-that was about the schools you know, and the oth

tted brows, and a general

never heard father sp

was a large square envelope, and the

r we have any relatives out there of whom we do no

rrupte

ly. "The notepaper, or rather the envelope, was expensive, and

especially if the letter was from South America

corner there were three words, writt

anged g

fifteenth," A

e. My sister's eyes

what will be the end of it all?

with a double personality one side of whose life and actions must necessarily be a wholesale lie. The fear of something of this sort in connection with my father was gradually laying chill hold upon me. He fulfilled his small parish obligations, and carried himself through the little routine of our domestic life with a stern air of thoughtful abstraction, as though he were performing in a mechanical manner duties contemptible, trivial, and uninteresting,

as a diversion. Our gate was flung open. A tall figure came u

" she remarked. "We

the confines of our little demesne. Yet there he was, walking swiftly up the gravel walk-tall, untidy, and with that habitual contraction of the thick eyebrows which

asked me. "I should like

s question f

Mr. Deville," I

so insensible as he tried to appear,

y. "I should like a word with your father-if I coul

to have missed you," I answered, sm

he was obviously annoyed

he will be in?" he ask

" I answered. "We expect him home on F

change on his face. His curiously co

e has gone away?" h

ternoon," I answered. "Can I g

looking me through and through. Then he

ncras, 7.50," he muttered to hi

his heel, but I

Dev

round. "I beg your pardon,

. You dropped something when you took out your time-table, an

on the ground almost at my feet. As he stooped to pick it up I too glanced at it for

g the matte

ok my

ning Mr.

desirous of knowing why I had uttered that e

some remark," he s

"You are in a hurry, I think y

. Alice came out of the low window to me

ordinary man!"

here was no possibility of any mistake. The handwriting upon the envelope which Mr