A Chance Acquaintance

their consultation I went

vet hangings and heavily upholstered furniture. Our whole room was lighter in effect, but the Pembroke drawing-room, while harmonious in coloring and design, was almost oppressive in its multitude of appointments. Tall pedestals supported

han that of Miss Pembroke, for, though I had not seen her often, her general ap

an old rose color. There was a big black satin bow effectively attached somewhere-I can't describe its location, but it had broad streamers that fell gracefully to the floor. The simply cut garment and the soft dull c

a lighted gas log gave a co

k, but her manner was quiet and composed as she asked me to be seated. I had no wish to intrude, but I thought there might be other ways in whi

excitement which she determinedly suppressed. She showed no sign of grief at her uncle's death, but her calmness and self-control were unmistakably the result of a strong will power. Had she been broken-hearted, but for some reason determi

roken by a sudden, quick gesture

o you stay here? You may as well go to

ively toward Mr. Pembroke's room, as if

ff my myse'f alone, M

roke nervously, but not unkindly; "you mu

ad yo' breakfast,

eat any breakfast. Clear it al

e speaker's face, and the quick, sharp accents of her voice

meet the day if you would eat something. Charlotte, if you will bring just a

nearly every one did, into the way of ob

onding to my observations. But though Miss Pembroke tried to join the conversation, it was impossible for her,

to stop her crying. She let the nervous and overwrought gir

, "and that's why I feel so bad. I tried to love him, but he

ands as she spoke, an

; "don't think about that now, Miss Pembroke. I'm

le, you know, and he took me on sufferance-because he couldn't help himself-and he never let me forget it. He told me a dozen times a day that I

with her arm still around the quivering

forget it. You see, he was

enly remembered my presence. She straightened up with a start, and seemed to recove

that moment Charlotte, the maid, returned

ss. She hovered about her, arranging the tray on a small table at

umpin, Miss Janet

Miss Pembroke looked kindl

rlotte lingered. After a moment of hesitation, she volunte

aid, slowly, "ain' yo' gwi

I hadn't thought of it! Of course we must send for G

room, and Miss Pembroke t

t-Uncle Robert. He used to live with us, but a few months ago he moved to bachel

the drawing-room. This was apparently a sort of music-room here, while my corresponding

n and ask him to come at once. She did not tell him what had hap

orge sooner," she said. "I ought to h

t what would ordinarily be the most na

stion almost eagerly-"yes, that must

d Laura soothingly. "Y

old me that Uncle Robert was dead. It was such a shock. I could

sudden shock was quite eno

d; "a shock like that would make anybody faint, wouldn't it? I just couldn't beli

that you would like to

at all. Of course we must tell Milly Wari

d, "is there no one else who ought to be notifie

ow seemed to desert her again. But instead of weeping her emotion was of a different nature; she seemed intensely angry. A red spot appeared

imed, in a tone of scorn; "he's th

but not nearly so much so as the scathin

id Laura, in her soothing way. "

stion. Moreover, my sister's change of base somewhat surprised me. She it had been who denounced Miss Pembroke as being deceitful, melodramatic and untrus

arn that Janet Pembroke

turned to me, and said: "You are quite right, Mr. Landon. I am sure it is a case where my uncle's lawyer

Had I paused to think, I should not have spoken t

He has full charge of my uncle's financial affairs; and, too, he has long be

on were entirely because of

an. I know him slightly, as a brother lawyer, and I knew that from a feminine point of view he was a most fascinating man. He was a bachelor, and though not young, was handsome, brilliant and exceedingly distinguished in effect.

of myself how it could possi

us factor as Graham Leroy into the case. Being a lawyer, the absurdity of my own mental attitude was perfectly clear to me, but being a man, I didn't care if it was. Of course, my sentiments toward her were nothing more

and I collected my scattered wits wi

he said, a little impatiently, and I

umping up and looking

n a few moments I had Leroy's call. But he was not in his office, so le