The Paying Guest

e loss if he's able to make it good? He seem

s-Well, after all, you know, he didn't really cause the damage. I

behaviour. If we had been insured it wouldn't matter so much. And pray let t

now a hint of diversity drove her at once to the female weapon-angry and iterative assertion. Her native delicacy, also, seemed to have

ven Emmeline did not wish to save appearances by making an excessive demand. The one costly object in the room-the piano-was practically uninjured, and sundry other pieces of furniture could easily be restored; for Cobb and his companion, as amateur firemen, had by no means gone recklessly to work. By candle-light, when the floor was still a swamp, things looked more desperate than they proved to be on subsequent investigation; and

rged his wife to take her summer holiday-to go away with the child until all was put right again-a phrase which included the removal of Miss Derrick to her own home; but of this Emmeline would not hear. How could she enjoy an hour of mental quietude when, for all she knew, Mrs. Higgins and the patient might be throwing

the event an insoluble mystery, and, in familiar talk with Mrs. Mumford, breathed singular charges against Louise's lover. 'She's shielding him, my dear. I've no doubt of it. I never had a very good opinio

se the servants have spread nice stories. And the Wilkinsons'-these were the people next door-'look upon us as hardly respectable. Even Mrs. Fen

irritation at this purposeless talk, 'hadn't we better

could. I don't think I shall

g to himself about the absurdi

on her face would not leave a permanent blemish. Mrs. Mumford came into the room once a day and sat for a few minutes, neither of them desiring longer communion, but they manag

the money! I'm v

umford answered with reserve. 'We cou

d never set eyes on me, Mrs. Mumford; but that's only natural: in your place I'm sure I should

d undergone, and one of her arms was completely swathed in bandages. Emmeline did not soften toward

you every happ

ing to quarrel a little-did you hear us this morning? I try to keep down my voice, and I shan't be here much longer, you know. I shall go home at first my stepfather has written a kind letter, and

of the wish to be married from 'Runnymede.

er of the house had been left at his servants' mercy. On her return, late in the evening, she

r, in the l

sh to speak to

ondering in gloomy resignation what new annoyance was prepared for her, Emmeline sat with eyes averted, whilst the stout woman mopped her face and tal

'ome to her yet. I dropped in to see some friends of ours-I shouldn't wonder if you know the name; it's Mrs. Jolliffe, a niece of Mr. Baxter-Baxter, Lukin and Co., you know. And she told me in confidence what people are s

yes flashing, b

s. Higgins, and I had very much rath

I'm sure nobody that knows you could say a word against your respectability, and, as

hope,' said Emmeli

ng a mystery, d'you see, of Lou leaving 'ome and going off to live with strangers; and Cissy's been doing her best to make people think there's something wrong-the spiteful creature! And there's only one wa

Higg

rd-not a farthing. I'll provide everything, and all I

to me. This is quite impossible. I ca

n astonishment, wh

t's for your own good as well as ours? D

eople think or speak of me?' cried E

talking about, Mrs. Mumford. You'll let me tell

member that already I've had a great deal of trouble and annoyance, and what you

here you gave a very different account of yourself to what it's turned out. You told me and my daughter distinctly that you had a great deal of the very best society, and that was what Lou came here for, and you knew it, and you can't deny that you did. And I should like to know how much society she's

impelled her to undignified altercation. To withdraw in silence would be like a shamed confession of the cha

rom her lips, 'that I ever consented to receive your dau

suggestion startled her by its novelty. 'You thi

ed a figure which startled her into silence. It was that of Louise, in a dres

at this silent hour the voices of the angry ladies had been quite audible to

her parent indignantly. 'How did you know Mr. Mumf

Mr. Mumford had been here

ine, with anxious thought for Louise's health, due probably to he

shall have to sit down.' She did so, on the nearest

u two. Mrs. Mumford, don't mi

eginning with the calumnious stories she had heard at Mrs. Jolliffe's, and ending with

nd wants to see our backs as soon as ever she can. I don't say it to offend you, Mrs. Mumford, but you know it's true. And I tell you what it is: To-morrow morning I'm going back home. Yes, I am. Yo

ctor's given you leave,' sai

will give me leave. So there's an end of it. And y

responded with a certain kindness. Still smarting under the stout lady's accusations,

ything imprudent. But it will be much better if Mrs. Higgins regards me as a stranger during the

ouise and her mother pass upstairs, both silent. Mumford, too well aware that yet another disturbance had come upon his

said severely. 'She may perhaps go before lunch; but in

ed, studiously refraining

neral self-restraint during these last hours. Louise's mother might, without transgressing the probabilities of the situation, have made this a memorable morning indeed. She confined herself to a rather frequent ringing of the bedroom bell. Her requests of the servants became orders, such as she would have given

e, and, with exercise of all obvious precautions, she might travel as soon as she liked. Anticipating this, Mrs. Hi

e cab yourself?' she said to her

bout the charge. A nice expense you've been to

ou say so, and n

eline, her back turned, stood before the fireplace, as if considering some new plan of decoration; she did not hear the girl's light step. Whitewashers and paperhangers had done their work; a new

, I want to s

civilly, but without a smil

ed forward to

into her face good-humouredly. 'You shal

was the embarrassed reply. 'And-I sha

ou won't talk-unkindly about me wh

ndeed we s

's time arrived the vehicle Mrs. Higgins had engaged; without delay mother and daughter left the house, and were driven off. Mrs. Mumf

proached, and they were making arrangements for a visit to the seaside, when one morning a carrier's cart delivered a large package, unexpected and of unknown contents. Emmeline stripped off the matting, and found-a drawing-room scre

Cissy and I quarrelled so dreadfully that I went off and took a lodging. And then Tom said that we must be married at once; and so we were, without any fuss at all, and I think it was ever so much better, though some girls would not care to go in their plain dress and without friends or anything. After it was over, Tom and I had just a little disagreement about something, but of course he gave way,

was a wed

he middle, and across the right-hand upper corner ran 'Lo