The Return

him an impostor, or something worse, the night before. That was at least something gained. He realised, too, in a vague way that the exuberance of mind that had practically invented Dr Fer

at jaunty theatrical pose so many

ad happened at Widderstone was now distinctly weakening in effect. Why, now, perhaps? He stole a thievish look over his shoulder at the glass, and cautiously drew finger and thumb down that beaked nose. Then he really quietly smiled, a smi

e a chance; if only he kept cool and collected. If the whole mind of a man was bent on being one thing, surely no power on earth

he best possible thing he could do would be to walk quietly over to Widderstone to-morrow and like a child that has lost a penny, just make the attemp

Simon had said, mainly an affair of the nerves, like Indian jugglery. He had heard of dozens of such cases, or similar cases. And it was hardly likely that cases even remotely like his own would be much bragged about, or advertised. All those mysterious 'disappearances,'

lent joke it would be to confess meekly to his escapade, and to be scolded, and then suddenly to reveal hims

t pocket, said his prayers, and got shivering to bed. He did not feel hurt at Sheila's leaving him like this. So long as she really believed in him. And now-Alice was home. He listened, trying not to shiver, for her voice; and sometimes heard, he

re fell a lull. And another, as it were, from afar said quite clearly and distinctly, 'But surely, my dear, you have heard the story of the poor old cha

f, she tells me, except for just this-this touch of facial paralysis. And I think, do you know' (the kind old creature stooped over the bed, but still, Lawford noticed bitterly, still without his spectacles)-'yes, I really think there is a decided improve

usk. Lawford turned his head and saw Sheil

t told Alic

think. And no more of these jaunts, eh? That Ferguson business-that was too bad. What are we going to do with the fellow now we have created him? He will come home to roost-mark my

o off?' Lawford manage

Art that has kept me out of an apron. Now look here; quiet, quiet, quiet; no excitement, no pranks. What is there to worry about, pray? And now Little Dorrit's down with influenza too. And Craik and I will have double work to do. Well, well; good-bye, my dear. God bless you, Lawford. I can't tell you

iet sleep, from which not even the many questions she fretted

mind, like a cloud at evening. He rarely dreamed, but certainly something immensely interesting had but a moment ago eluded him. He sat up and looked at the clear red cinders and their maze of grottoes. He got out of bed and peeped through the blinds. To th

ago covered over with the leaves of numberless hours. A vague exultation fumed up into his brain. Still on the borders of sleep, he unlocked the great wardrobe and took out an old faded purple and

ila have said to see him there? The unearthly beauty and stillness, and man's small labours, garden and wall and roof-tree idle and smokeless in the light of daybreak-there seemed to be some half-told secret between them. What had life done with him to leave a reality so clouded?

s. Then once more he crept stealthily on. He stooped and listened at a closed door, until he fancied that above the beating of his own heart he could

cle of life. He could just dimly discern the darkness of her hair against the pillow. Some long-sealed spring of tenderness seemed to rise in his heart with a grief and an ache he had never known before. Here at least he could find a little peace, a brief pause, h

oked the narrow hand and gazed into the shadowiness. Her fingers lay quiet and pas

earest, how you frightened me. What is wrong? why

Alice, not worse. I could

only so very little. I didn't even know you had been ill.' She pressed his hand between her own. 'B

ouldn't help it; I felt much I wanted t

one soft finger. 'You mustn't be miserable. You and me have never

ttle hoarse, and it sounds so melancholy in the dark. And oh'-she squeezed his wrist-'you have grown so thin! You do frighten me. Whatever should I do if you were really ill? A

-face like?' came t

s; you know those long faces one sees in

'Perhaps, dear, if you find my voice different, and my hand shrunk up

illy; I should love you more than ever. Your

n, these last few hours would not have been spent in vain. Like the shadow of death they had been, against whose darkness the green familiar earth seems beautiful as the plains of paradise. Had he but realized before h

to-morrow?' she pleaded

nxious, and every word the doctor says is law. How would you

closer. 'Yes, yes, come,' she said, clutching his hand and hiding her eyes; 'it

saw his face as it were in dim outline against the dark. Rage and rebellion surged up in him; even his love could be turned to bitterne

ed. Anger, resentment died away. '

had come, in the clea

her formidable figure he looked, descending the stairs in the grey dusk of daybreak. The breakfast-room was at the back of the house. He tilted the blind, and a faint light flowed in from the changing colours of the sky. He opened the glass door of the little bookcase to the right of the window,

m up, it had with so furtive and sinister a quietness broken in on his solitude, that for a moment he dared not move. A cold, indefinite sensation stole over him that he was being watched; that some dim, evil presence was behind him biding its t

s of life, from A to I; and Lawford turned ba