The Paying Guest

on that they live in the country. It was of red brick, and double-fronted, with a porch of wood and stucco; bay windows on one side of the entrance, and flat

w lawn, bordered with flower-beds, and sha

pon the surrounding houses and their garden foliage. Occasionally she walked along the asphalte pavement of the Brighton Road-a nursemaids' promenade-as far as the stone which marks twelve miles from Westminster Bridge. Here, indeed, she breathed the air of the hills, but villas o

ce of rural inclinations, but had a great liking for tree-shadowed asphalte, for

he garden. 'It's quite big enough, unless, of course, you have a very large family, which must be rather a bore.' She laughed ingenuously. 'A

, then?' asked Emmeline, reflect

es the bother each time, and you have a sort of feelin

to Miss Derrick's gratification. She herself appeared in a dress which altogether outshone that of her host

e married lady, with a good-nat

han't be offended. I'm not so silly. You know I've come here to learn all sorts of things. To-morrow you shall go over all my dresses with me, an

m to speak plainly, and so I will. How is it that you haven't made friends long ago wi

ey're much better educated than I am, but they make their own living, and so I can't see very much of them, and I'm not sure they want to see much

meline began in protest, b

and I didn't get on well at school. They used to say I could do much better if I liked, and perhaps it was more laziness than stupidity, though I don't care for books-I wish I did. I've had lots of friends, but I never keep them for very long. I don't know whether it's their fault or mine. My oldest friends are Amy Barker and Muriel Featherstone; they were both at the school at Clapham, and now Amy does type-

ld not hide

t on well with most people. I used to quarrel dreadfully with some of the girls at school-the uppish sort.

would make upon their friends, but on the whole it seemed probable that Louise would conscientiously submit herself to instruction, and do her very best to be "

ed a decided preference for Emmeline's society out of sight and hearing of nursery affairs. On the afternoon of the second day they went together to call upon Mrs. Fentiman, who lived at a distance of a quarter of an hour's walk, in a house called "Hazeldene"; a semi-detached house, considerably smaller than "Runnymede," and neither without nor

never to marry unless they can keep a lot of servants. Not long ago I was rather fond of so

o doubt y

f the things I want to tell you about. He has about three hundred a year. It isn't much, of course; but I suppose Mr. Hi

ially if they learnt that Mr. Higgins was disposed to 'behave handsomely' to his stepdaughter; but the Mumfords had no desire to see Louise speedily married. To the bribe with which the letter ended they could give no serious thought. Having secured their "paying

tea brought out into the garden, unde

except Mrs. Fentiman?' said Louise,

nds from London will be coming on Sun

, two lumps of sugar. I've known him for about a year and a half. We seem quite old friends, and he writes

be if you seem

as he understands. I'm sure you wouldn't like him. He's

us! What is

ave one's husband always at home. Just now I believe he's in Ireland. I shall be having a letter from him very soon, no doubt. He doesn't know I've left home,

'How can you have anythi

etimes,' answered L

mean that he is "

ouldn't wonder if they are a horrid lot. His last letter was quite insulting. He said-let me see, what was it? Yes-"You

How can he write to you in that way i

nd-and that kind of thing. I'm afraid you're shocked, Mrs. Mumford. I kno

r mother

aves himself when he's at the house. I've a good mind to ask him to call here s

ouise. But-I can't help think

a regular brute w

osed softly, 'that isn't q

le. Then there's something else I want to tell you about. Cissy Higgins-that's Mr.

I would use t

lwich, though he isn't thirty yet. Well, now, what do you think? Mr. Bowling doesn't seem to know his own mind, and just lately he's

listener, with a loo

should try to cut Cissy Higgins out; but it was getting very awkward for her, I a

en you say that Miss Higgins and

sake; but he knows very well she means to have him. Pe

certain private reminiscences. 'And am I to understand

e lau

ut I can't fancy myself marrying him, He has a long nose, and talks through it. And he s

se individuals were "cads." Small wonder, he said, that the girl wished to enter a new social sphere. His wife, on the other hand, had a suspicion that Miss Derrick would not be content to see the last of

other merely to pass the time. They seem to be just one degree above the roughs who come to blows and get into t

ation stopped too soon. I doubt if it's possible to change her v

roke into

l feminine. You'll have h

. And we've talked enough

ulse Hill. Emmeline observed the eagerness with which this epistle was pounced upon and carried off for private perusal. She saw, too, that in half-an-h

resume her practising, and to-day she had spent hours at the piano, with painful effect upon Mrs. Mumford's nerves. After dinner she offered to play to Mumford, and he, good-natured fellow

She came down when Mumford had left the house, and Emmel

petite this morning, and I want to catch

ll you b

uite know. To

ent, and her lips showed the less am