From out the Vasty Deep

even o'clock-when young Donnington got up from the comfortable chair whe

ter his dramatic bolt from the drawing-room-had disappeared some time ago. But Donnington had stayed

s fell on the fo

been the prie-dieu on which the Princesse de Lamballe knelt during the whole of the night preceding her terrible death. In a document which was sold with the chair in 1830, her servant-who, it appears, had smuggled the

"That's strange!" he mutte

d found it, he stood and looked round the splendid apar

h which he had made acquaintance in the last two or three years; and it was awfully good of Bubbles to have got him a

adfast heart. Since he had first met Bubbles-only some eighteen mon

elf to tea, her constant comings seemed quite natural. Sometimes she would be accompanied by a friend, either another girl or a man, and they would form a merry, happy little party of three or four. But of course he was far, far happiest

her for some considerable time before she had allowed him to know it. Even now she tried, ineffectually, to keep him outside all that concerned

nd yet he had to admit that even now he could never make up his mind-he never knew, that is, how far wha

and troubled he felt about the matter-Bubbles would very seldom discuss with him any of the strange happenings in which she was so absorbed. And yet, now and again, almost as

occult gifts were really very remarkable and striking. They had become known to the now large circle of intelligent pe

itated with Miss Farrow, whom he had never liked, and also with Lionel Varick. He knew that Bubbles' father had written to her aunt; he had himself advised it, knowing, with that shrewd, rather pathetic insti

candlesticks which illumined the beautiful old room; and, as he moved about, he suddenly became aware that nearly opposite the door g

by the sudden darkness, he groped his way up the broad, shallow

stomed to the grey dimness of a winter night, for the great window above the staircase was u

-only Bubbles! He felt her dear nearness rushing, as it were, all over hi

g ago-but I thought some of the others were still there. Oh! I wish I'd come down! I've been waiting up here so long-and

intively. "It's horrible talking out here, on the landing. I

Bubbles-would you like to go downstairs again, into the hall?

old-I'

ther ordered. "Put on your fur coat. Is

om-I know where it is. I know

wrapper covered with large red flowers-some kind of Eastern, wadded dressing-gown. He heard a cupboard door creak, and then she came out

"and put some shoes on, Bubbles-

en a year ago! But it seemed quite natural now-simply wilful Bubbles' way

It might wake someone up. Just blow ou

arm-again blinded by the sudden obs

id fretfully. "Somehow I feel as

eated. "What on earth

u know perfectly well what I mean.

your fault. Why couldn't you leave the thing alone just

et who it was who said 'Temptation is so p

atient exclamatio

e pleaded, "I'm warmer now. I think t

Oh, Bill," she whispered, "it is a comfort to be with you-a real comfort. You don't know what I've gone through since

said shortly. "You oughtn't to ha

age during which Donnington had tr

ngry, and the food here is very good. It must be costing a lot of money-all

ly. "Varick doesn't look parti

nt Blanche woul

e he'd give her

y, or hear said, and Bubbles pinched hi

s ago-someone asked her to marry him for the thousandth time! But of course sh

in about thirty years from now-a plain, good, priggish old fellow. Of course you know who it is? Mark Gi

p in with you, Bill, however tiresome and disagreeable you may be! Just because

along the polished step till she leant against the banister. He could ju

rather coolly, "I think we'd both better go

quite comfortable in that room. I wonder if they'd give me a new room to-morrow? It's funny, I'm not a bit frightened at what they call the haunted r

ut it in a book downstairs. I shouldn't care to sleep in

rtled him. "Bill," she whispered, leaning yet cl

mean?" he a

had already been here a week and nothing had happened. And

e put his arm round her again. "Rot!" he exclaime

it, Bill, but I have got t

aid slowly. "And I-I sometimes wonder if you bel

trange tone: "'Tisn't a question of believing i

ou only believe it's true, what on ear

dly dull!" She yawned. "You see, I can't h

rkness her co

lso I felt as if I wanted to know something m

said que

s Aunt Blanche." The words

ou want to do that?"

cool unbelief of hers stings me. She's alw

mes," he said

ut I don't now: it

quickly. "Hones

a pause. "What do you think of

ly, "is a thoroughly nice sort of chap. I like

and somehow Donnington felt that something else was on the tip of

d Christmas. They sent up to-night to know if Mr. Varick would allow some of his holly to be cut

id penitently. "

he word-in a crowd of careless people. Now, when Bubbles called him "dearest" it did not thrill him at all, for he knew she

e said good-humouredly, but there was a gre

ick and lightsome and free. There was a touch of Ariel

o him. And then, when they were opposite her door, she exclaimed, but

What do you m

w," she

Mark, Luke

bed that

ter that?"

e quaint words very ser

rners to

els roun

tch and o

ep all fe

at I say. I don't want my poor little soul to go wandering about this b

and kissed her, as he might have kissed a wilful, naughty child

. "God bless and keep you from a