From out the Vasty Deep

y house party; and if this is true when most of the people know each other, how far more s

very soon after they had sat down, told herself that there was something to be said, after all, for the old-fashioned, Victorian mahogany. Such a party as was this party would have sorted themselves out, and really enjoyed themselves

ered with the soup, and already it was having an effect. She was relieved to see that the oddly asso

e fact that she wore a cap. It was made of fine Mechlin lace threaded with pale-blue ribbon, and, to the woman now looking at her,

consisted of a high black silk dres

f substantially to the delicious sole which was one of the special triumphs of the French chef who had come down for a month to Wyndfell Hall.

e of the host sa

ect health, and her alert, intelligent expression of face. Miss Farrow, who was well read, and, indeed, had a fine taste in literature, told herself suddenly that Miss Brabazon was rather her idea of Jane Austen's Emma! Her dark-blue velvet dress, though it set off her pretty skin, and the complexion which was one of her best points, yet was absurdly old, for a girl. Doubtless Miss Brabazon's

ween Helen Brabazon and Bubbles Dunster! Yet they were probably very much of an ag

f a little group round the font of St. Peter's, Eaton Square. She remembered what an ugly baby she had thought Bubbles, and how she had been an

ch it was covered had been copied on a Lyons loom from one of those eighteenth century embroidered waistcoats which are rightly prized by connoisseurs. The dress was cut daringly low, back and front, especially back, and the

ompany, looked as if she had wandered

had heard that she had been placed next Donnington, Bubbles had pouted. "I'd rather have had Sir Lyon," sh

arrange a party of four ladies and five men. She had suggested more than one other pleasant woman to make up the party to ten, but Va

clusion of her tiresome uncle and aunt? And then she felt a little ashamed of herself. One of the best points about Lionel Varick was hi

talk going on round the table than might have been expected. But now and again the hostess caught a fleeting interchange of words. She heard, for instance, old Miss B

t for her infectious high spirits and vitality, how very heavy and stupid the meal they were now ending would have been! She asked herself, for p

s at Miss Burnaby, and g

rning your Christmas present right royally!" and the girl's eyes flashed up into her host's with a mischievous, not over-friendly glance. Miss Farrow was aware that Bubbles did not much

naged to mutter into her niece's ear: "I want you to take on Miss Bur

ffee and of liqueurs proved a welcome diversion. Miss Burnaby smiled a pleased smile as she sipped the Benedictine which a footman had poured into a tall green-and-gold Bohemian liqueur-glass for her. She, at any rate, was

room, as to the way everything was being done, and her heart warmed to the g

lly sat herself down by Miss Burnaby. Soon she was talking to that lady in a way which at once fascinated and rather frightened her listener. Bubbles had a very pretty manner to old people. It was cares

delicate, faded Chinese paper; and against the walls stood a few pieces of fine white lacquer furniture. The chairs were

ten stayed here?" bega

ore!" she exclaimed. "How could I have been? I've only known Mr. V

riend of his wife's-at

been told by Lionel that Miss Brabazon and "poor Milly" had been intimate frien

suddenly Blanche Farrow realized that there was a good

teady, well-modulated voice-"but our friendship was not an old friendship, Mis

surprise she felt out of her voice. "What an extraordinary mista

Walmer. I took a house there, and Mr. and Mrs. Varick had the house next door. We made friends, I mean Mr. Varick and myself, over the garden wall, and he asked me if I would mind coming in some day a

ne measures time, I on my side soon got very fond of Milly. Though she was a good deal over thirty"-again the

erested in what you tell me, Miss Brabazon! I have never liked to say much to

ans as to what she and 'Lionel' would do when she got better. I myself thought it very wrong that all

che Farrow shortly. "Why disturb he

even after she was grown up. When she met Mr. Varick, and they fell in love at first sight, s

ty?" asked Bl

ain. Poor Milly was sallow, and, when I knew her, very thin; but I believe she'd never been really strong, never really heal

what to say. "Yes, indeed,"

quite impossible to believe that he could ever have been that.

't give himself enough air and exercise. I hired a car for part of

rick really die of?"

from what I can make out. The doctor told me he thought she had had it for a long ti

was a

come and live here?" sai

ssible. It was in a dreadful state when he inherited it from an old cousin; yet he was offered, even so, an enormous sum for some of the

han we do now, Miss Brabazon. Instead of beautiful old Persian carpets, there must have been rushes on all

place. She told me once she had never known a day's real happiness till her marri

owly, "that they were married

use at Redsands. They chose it because Mr. Varick knew something of the doctor there-he didn't know him very well, but they became very great friends, in fact such friends that poor Milly left him a legacy-I think it was five hundred pounds. Dr. Panton wa

unds evidently did not seem

e had a good

at last, "I think she had about twenty thousand pounds-at leas

now had five thousand a year. "This place must be worth a good deal," she observed. She told herself that perhaps

ldn't leave Wyndfell Hall to Mr. Varic

uriously decided way, as if

its very valuable contents belonged to Lionel Varick absolutely. "Are you sure of that?" she began-and