The Paying Guest

was surprised to see her back so soon; they met near the railway

g to the grocer's? Oh, do let me go with you, and see how you do that kind of thing. I never gave an order at the grocer's in my life-no

of Mr. Cobb's call unti

pudence! I shall at once write and tell him that his

was vehemently eager to learn all that ha

tinence! Well, and now that you've seen him, d

re about it, Louise. It

mpest. As Emmeline was moving a

him to come when I wasn't at home; and I don't think you ought to

was offended,

do so. Please don't let us quarrel.

haughty countenance. To Mumford's remarks she replied with curt formality; he, prepared for this state of things, b

he house is upset. I'm afraid w

aid we must. It's my fault. I ought t

doors in the dark. Emmeline, wishing to lock up fo

ou better

you are very unk

ything but leave you alone when you

I sulk, and that's bad for all of us. If you would just get an

"nice" people. Nice people d

here, and we might have made it up hours ago. I won't ask you to tell me what yo

y more. And if you could be a litt

will! Let me say good

up her mind to have a house, some day, at Sutton. She hoped the Mumfords would "always" live there, that they might perpetually enjoy each other's society. What were the rents? she inquired. Well, to begin with, she would be content with one of the s

red her disappointment that the Mumfords saw so few people. Emme

nversation I mentioned the Kirby Simpsons and Mrs. Hollings, and I feel sure she r

rtain she has someone in mind who

t can be. She had a letter this morning in a man's

y, put a point-

you knew some peopl

carelessly. 'The Kirby Simps

here anyone else we could go

ly Mr. Bilton will co

interest. But she dropped the subject, and see

ine received a letter which gave her much an

ety! Just the kind of thing Mrs. Powell would delight in talking about-she is so very malicious. Where she got her information I can't imagine. She doesn't give the slightest hint. "They tell me"-I copy her words-"that the girl is all but a savage, and does and

them the kind of men to make mischief. Who else knew anything of the affair? Searching her memory, Emmeline rec

l of her acquaintance with important people. It's far more likely to have co

atisfaction when she had to go unaccompanied. She stayed till late in the evening, and came back with a gay account of her calls upon two or three old friends-the girls of whom she h

I am wondering what is going on there! Not a lin

letter which had arr

t me before?' Louise e

uch to tell me. I wait

the girl, after a glance at

oom door. Entering the room, Mrs. Mumford saw the open letter

few minutes. This letter is from Mr. Bowling. Yes, and I'

they are lo

t time last week. Such a silly letter! I wish you would read it. Well, he said that it was all over between him and Cissy, and that he cared only for me, and always had, and always would-you know how men write. He said he considered himself quite free. Cissy had refused him, and wasn't

hink

such a lot of rubbish! I can hear him saying it all t

to the letter, or reply so that he

names, y

ear L

I suppose you never were bothered with t

urse, and soon left Miss

ress of things at Coburg Lodge. She had not long to wait for a reply, and it was of so

st tell you about. What do you think mother

ine inquired, knowing not

went and asked him about his intentions, as he couldn't help doing, because Cissy is fretting so. It's all over, and of course you're the cause of it; and, though I can't blame you as much as the others do, I think you are to blame. And Cissy said she must go to the seaside to get over it, and she went off yesterday to Margate to your Aunt Annie's boarding-house, and there she says she shall stay as long as she doesn't feel quite well, and dada has to pay two guinea

,' asked Mrs. Mumford, 'if Mr

the old man and tell him I'm getting on so nicely in every way th

y good opportunity for getting rid of their guest. They would wait till Louise made known the upshot of her negotiations. It seemed probable t

have our home upset in this way. It isn't like home at all. Lou

y, and he asked after Miss Derrick. I didn't like his look or his tone at al

day or two, and it'll be a les

sband replied, rather irritably. 'But it wasn'

ned Emmeline. 'You will please to r

rangling about it. There you are; people of that class bring infection into the house.

rself. Shortly before luncheon that lady drove up to "Runnymede" in a cab, and he

face. 'I've promised to have you back by this afternoon. Dada's right down angry; you wo

the kind,' answered Lou

d through the hall. Miss Derrick gave as good as she received; a battle raged for some minutes, differing from

ad my journey for nothing, have I? Then just go and fetch

bold mendacity. 'And a very good thing too. I should

'ave a 'ome. For all I know, you'll have to earn your own living, and I'd like to hear how you mean to do it. As soon as I get back I shall write to Mrs. What's-her-name and tell her tha

he girl. 'I shall stay here as long as I like, a

t engaged in laying lunch could hear distinctly Mrs. Higgins's coarse and violent onslaught. When the front door at length closed she r