The Paying Guest

ks, sat awhile by the open window, listening to a piano in a neighbouring house,

he manner of a very young and timid girl; save when addressed, she kept silence, and sat with head inclined; a virginal freshness breathed about he

o payment must be expected from Coburg Lodge. Emmeline awaited the disclosure of her guest's project, which had more than once been alluded to yesterday; she could not dream of permitting Louise to stay for

. I was guilty of false pretences. Fortunately, we have the excuse of her u

eparture, Louise begged for

it is. What pains you must have taken in furnishing it! I never saw such nic

mmeline replied, complacently regarding the obje

?' Louise asked sweetly. And she added, with a d

dee

to marry M

marry Mr. Bowling. She might or might not have consciously helped to bring about the rupture between Mr. Bowling and Miss Higgins; she might, or might not, have felt genuinely reluctant to take advantage of her half-sister's defeat. But a struggle had been going on in the girl's conscience, at all events. Yes, this explained everything. An

ke up your mind

my abominable temper. This morning I'm going to answer Mr. Bowling's la

lly wished for thi

he arm of her chair, and replied

the other-of Mr. Cobb. But I knew that I couldn't marry him. It would be dreadful; we should quarrel frightfully, and he would kill me-I feel sure he

in her conviction and to

coldly, 'that your marri

re I shall go. When Mr. Higgins knows I'm going to marry Mr. Bowling he won't have me in the house, even if I wanted to go back. Cissy will be furious: she'll come back from Marg

tion, and before she could comman

married, Mr. Bowling

tly, 'if you think that the money matter has an

ford. You shall hardly know I'm in the house. If once it's all settled I shall never be out of temper. Do, plea

Louise-I'm re

rn me out that very moment. Dear Mrs. Mumford! Oh! what shall I do if you won't

n ever to rid herself of every shadow of responsibility for the girl's proceedings. The idea of this marriage taking place at "Runnymede" made her blood run cold. No, no; t

you a definite answer till I

ill do me this kind

n the table near her. Presently Louise became silent. Before either of them spoke again a postman's knock sounded at the house-door,

. Mumford's hand. 'Well, I'm a trouble to everybody, and I don

k nonsense

once, Mrs. Mumford?' the girl

a day or two. Perhaps you haven't

ppened to have business at Croydon unexpectedly, and ran over to Sutton just on the chance of seeing you. And I have no objection to tell you all I said to your friend there. I am not in the habit of saying things behind people's backs that I don't wish them to hear. All I did was to ask out plainly whether Mrs. M. was trying to persuade you to have nothing to do with me. She said she wasn't, and that she didn't wish to interfere one way or another. I told her that I could ask no more than that. She seemed to me a sensible sort of woman, and I don't suppose you'll get much harm from her, though I daresay she thinks more about dress and amusements, and so on, than is good for her or anyone else. You say at the end of your

lines of her face, though they made no approach to smiling, indicated agreeable thoughts. Te

ay you wish. I must have a long, long time to think over such a very important question. I don't blame you in the least for your behaviour to someone we know of; and I think, after all that happened, you were quite free. It is quite true that she did not behave straightforwardly, and I am very sorry to have to say it. I shall not be going home again: I have quite made up my mind about that. I am afraid I must not let you come here to call upon me. I have a particular reason for it. To tell you the truth, my friend Mrs. Mumford is very particular, and rather fussy, and has a

egan to think it more than probable that Miss Derrick would hold her ground until her actual marriage with Mr. Bowling. Whether that unknown person would discharge the debt his betrothed was incurring seemed a

planation was offered or asked, but Emmeline, it being Saturday, said she would put the dinner-hour earlier

time appointed. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy even

o stood waiting at the exit from the station, and showed more satisfa

rain much, and I've brought my umbrella, a

ter than that in which he had called the other day at "Runnymede." For some minutes they walked towards Streatham Common without

d to see you,'

t ab

They're very nice people, but they're not exactly my sor

f course. The be

but it did not come. After a momen

em too badly. You haven't seen mother lat

talking with Cobb, Louise seemed to drop a degree or so in social status; her language was much less careful than when she conversed with the Mumfords, and even her

Cobb, when he had listened attentively. 'I dare say you

bout paying them? I shall owe thr

to feed you very well for it,' repl

you think I ought to live

ut look here: why should you be quarrelling with your people now

and Louise answered with a

n me, all the same. I shouldn't wonder

to fall; they pattered on Cobb's hard felt hat, a

g over you. If you just put your arm in mine, it'll be eas

b struck along a path most likely to be unfrequented. No wind was blowing; the

,' sounded the masculine voice. 'Yo

le laugh, rather t

wkward way. It would be rather like

later,' asserted Cobb,

her arm petulantly. 'You always speak as if I couldn

oubt,' was th

n of tone. 'I never knew a man who behaved like you do. You seem to think the way to make anyone

, why do we keep meeting? And I don't want to bully anybody-least of all, you. It's a way I have of talking, I suppose. You must judge a man by his actions and his meaning, not b

ompanion, and only succeeding in directing moisture down the back of his

ou make t

, I should very likel

l me that before?-Don't let me stand in your way. I dare say he's just the ki

carelessly. 'There's plenty of

me a rattling of thunder, like quick

You're getting wet, and th

im, her eyes cast down, whilst Cobb looked at the darkening sky. 'I want to know what's going to b

alk down

the thunder rattled again. But only light dr

do. If you can't help me, say

honest with me. I want to know, first of all, w

I hav

rrangements, and I'll pay all you owe, and see that you are in comfortable lodgings until I've time

hort silence, 'just as if you were

d I'm not good at saying it. Look here, I don't think it's very wise to stand out in the middl

you much if I were st

t so. I shan't tro

ke until they were in the high road again. A strong wind was driving the rain-clouds to other regions an

e would you take?' L

ugh house. What k

so large,' she added quickly; 'but a house with a

n, but you're very much mistaken. I'm doing pretty well, and likely, as far as I can see, to do bette

but because other people were near. Upon Louise,

in the same subdued tone. 'The

l. Louise became light-hearted and mirthful; her companion, though less abandoned to the mood of the moment, wore a hopeful countenance. Through all his roughness, Cobb