Leonora

an unfit phrase I should deprive her of your sympathies, and fearing als

for a time, and their resumption seemed to point to some renewal of his difficulties. He had called at Church Street on his way to Knype, and Carpenter had brought back word that Miss Myatt was wonderfully better; but when Leonora herself called at Church Street later in the morning and at last saw Aunt Hannah, she was impressed by the change in the old creature, whose nervous system had the appearance of being utterly disorganised. Then there was the difficult case of Ethel and Fred Ryley, in which Leonora had done nothing

pposite each name a little hole had been drilled, and in many of the holes little sticks of wood stood upright. Leonora uprooted a stick, exiling it to a long horizontal row of holes at the top of the tablet, and then wrote in a pocket-

at the small clock which she usually c

s '

wo. I'm going to shop in Hanbridge and then to meet Mr. Stanway at Knype. We shall be in b

n to write about them n

aid Leonora, and sh

ther heavy footsteps. 'I don't think mother will want you to wait to-day, Bessie,' Ethel's voice said. Then followed, after the maid's exit, the n

mother,' Ethe

eonora, putting the

aid Rose's vo

d Milly's voic

ed as she wrot

s wonderful opera you're positively ridiculous. I almost

st didn't, and s

o do than watch a pack of amateurs--'

p it up, k

tly certain father

hall

and you may be absolutely certain, my

speak to

, you

I? You

him the night before last. And he's making inquiries a

ew aside t

protested benevolen

not bereft of the finer feelings which distinguish humanity from the beasts of the jungle; sometimes they could be almost affectionate. There were, however, moments when to al

Rosie?' Leonora asked in a voice soothi

' The girl's tone implied that what she had said to Le

n Oldcastle who was studying for the same examination as herself had gone to

that you wanted to go

forget. I'm sure I shan't pass if I don't go. So I a

d he say?' E

make inquiries thi

tured derision. 'Yes,' she ex

ar utterance, Rose merely

rn amateurs who had become professionals and made great names on the stage. Millicent knew that all Bursley was talking about her. And yet the family life was unaltered; no one at home seemed to be much impressed, not even Ethel, though Ethel's sympathy could be depended upon; Milly was still Milly, the youngest, the least important, the chi

aid Leonora cordially to Ros

rain isn't that sort of brain. It's another sort. Only

y lengthened period, and she wondered that Rose could be so blind as not to perceive this. As for Millicent's vague notions, which the child had furti

nterfeit. That elaborate and irksome pretence that a man is present, with which women when they are alone

or a walk,'

id Milly,

lled from the dra

, and the rhododendrons; Bran, his white-and-fawn coat glittering with minute drops of water, plodded heavily and

awn. And Milly's running was so girlish, simple, and unaffected, that Leonora seemed by means of it to have found her daughter

rather embarrassed air; and they looked at eac

ther. The social atmosphere was rendered bracing by this invasion of

from Oldcastle to Bursley,' said Ethel, after th

ouse, the situation was somewhat awkward, an

oing out?

ly, 'do let me go and meet fat

onora exclaimed i

too,' s

you have th

d. 'I'll run and tell him to put his overcoat on

ng the dog with an

ady noticed with the keen eyes of youth that she and Arthur Twemlow enjoyed each other's society, and na?vely wished to give her pleasure? Would Arthur Twemlow, but for the accidental encounter on the Marsh,

ing?' she smi

said Ethel, and took the mo

ng prey. She wished to remain, and politeness to Arthur Twemlow demanded that this wish should n

y stupid I am!

girls departed than

'that this is a plant. Those two daughters of yours

rmured, still

arsh, of course I began to pay her compliments, and I just happened to say I thought she was a bo

nd a feeling of exquisite relief surged into her being. Mingled with that relief was the deep joy of realising that

y day,' she remarked, impelled to offer some sort of conve

ming girls,' h

e played like a flying fish the thought: 'Was he m

tality had been irretrievably shattered. Then there was a pause, followed by some remarks on the weather, and then another pause. Bran, after watc

an!' Twem

glected. He'll go to his kennel and nothing will bring him out o

isitor exclai

e in the drawing-room. Leon

you still think Milly ought to

ill go on the

me even to think of it.' Leonora

knew exactly how you felt? But you've got to get over that, I guess. Y

been talking about it

's bound to go her own way. Why not make up your mind t

ut

; 'will you tell me just why it upsets you t

I can't explain

ing out her gloves one af

tion, you know,' he said g

mitted. 'I su

e collar, the dark tweed suit obviously of American origin, the thin silver chain that emerged from beneath his waistcoat and disappeared on a curve into

o parents can see things from

re times when I feel so like

believe that. You're an exception. If I hadn't sort of known all

e case in order to mask the confusion caused by the sincere flattery in his voice. 'It was on

ay-in another it isn't. If you look at your own life, for instance, you'll find it's been s

lly, and put her chin in

t the parents of fifty per cent. of all the actresses now on the boards began by thinking what a terrible blow it was to them that

hough to outward semblance they had much freedom, had never listened to anything but 'No,' 'No, dear,' 'Of course you can't,' 'I think you had better not,' and 'Once for all, I forbid it.' She wondered why this should have been so, and why its strangeness had not impressed her before. She had a distant fleeting vision of a household in which pare

,' she said, when she

imitated her tone. 'Well

ouble for Milly?' she asked

ass,' he replied lightly, stan

er eyes said, '

to you, and after all I didn't see why I shouldn't. It's no earthl

pointment to keep?'

an appoi

med playfully to indicate that, as she had submitted to his domination, so he must submit n

wemlow's conversation a definite argument; nevertheless she felt that he had made her see something more clearly than heretofore, that he had induced in her, not by logic but by persuasiveness, a mood towards her children which was bright

run down to the office for an hour this afternoon, b

not the first guest in that house whom the apparent heartiness of the host had failed to convince. Always there was something sinister, insincere, and bullying in the invitations which John gave, and in his reception of visitors. Hence it was, perhaps, that visitors did not abound under hi

s demeanour as she served the high-tea at six o'clock might be observed the symptoms of the agreeable excitation which all felt. Even Rose unbent, and Leonora thought how attractive the girl could be when she cho

ay, speaking thickly wit

was following Twemlow out of the door.

t is

inquire a

en thinking it over, and I've come to the conclusion that it won't do for you to go. I don't like the idea of it-you

gs as Sarah Fuge. The house is kep

's the expense,

to put you to any expense. I've got thirty-seven p

no!' he e

t I go?' she de

in-but I don't like it,

day to waste, fathe

red to clea

eathed out smoke, and departed. Rose set her

lking in low voices on the hearthrug. Ethel lounged on the

convenient number they all played. Twemlow and Milly were the best p

low asked, when the other thre

hn, cautiousl

Twemlow went on, l

cried. 'It's awfully gamb

As for Leonora, though she lost and gained counters with happy equanimity, she did not like the game; it frightened her. When Milly had sho

y sing?' Tw

you wish,' Le

something,' said

,' to Ethel's inert accompaniment, and she gave it exactly as though she had been on the stage, with all the d

retty. I didn't hear it the other night.' Twemlow merel

isappeared. Twemlow looked ro

e said. His tone was extremely serious. It implied that, now

startled, and more th

' he que

sing still further his seriousn

her up here at Hillpo

lessons from a fi

ed Stanway

ow said, 'you

h cultivating?' John demanded, impell

not only

here's no first-class m

ho comes down to Knype once a week to give lessons. He used to sing in opera. They say

ra said cheerfully. She had been amaze

that

Twemlow glanced at Leonora with eyes full of a private amusement which he invited her to share. 'Can't I just handle him?'

ed, 'and wet through! What's he doing

up this afternoon. I forgot,'

d deafening bark, his tail thwacking

rdered, and then, on the step, he sho

rose to

room. 'Carpenter shall drive you. Yes, he shall, so don't argue. And while he's about it

a large driving overcoat. They stood in the hall together, while Tweml

n are you coming in to look

wemlow answered, some

ll do-I'll send you

s I shall write to my sister, and tell her I can't see any use i

e copies all the same. And when you write to yo

could dimly be seen the rounded form of the buggy; the cob's flanks shone in the glittering ray of the lamp

ght,' sa

Twemlow,' said

re you leave, Twemlow?' s

merica just yet, are you?'

me from wit

o America just yet, are you, Mr. Twe

t yet, I think,' he called. 'See you ag

' said C

d Cissie Burgess, having with fine cruelty chosen that particular night because she happened to know that Harry wo

ix weeks clear,'

ted his poc

you would only have a mon

she repeated. 'The exam isn

out Christmas? You must

demande

rotested.' You can't b

girl demanded

arents

said John angrily.

e it,' Rose

elivered himself. 'A

cated the near a

at Bessie opened the door

ficent great-coat,' he said. 'It's hang

t he would at once return the overcoat in person; she had counted on him doing so. As he came towards her she languorously lifted he

ake cold last night?

lied, sitting d

d to appear unconscious of it, he did not succeed in the impossible. Moreover, Rose

you'll let me go at once I'll com

go alone. And you know perfectly well that I only came back yesterday.' He r

n't go alone!'

morrow by the midday flyer, and could look after any lady that happened to b

ously inadequate expression of her profound passionat

ready, my dear?'

ady,' sa

e shall meet at the dep?t. I can't stop anothe

urney would really end at Euston, or whether he was not taking London en route for New York. But she cou

morrow, of course,' was he

reditors' meeting at Hanbridge. All the women felt rather mournful amid that bustle and confusion. Leonora had said to herself again and again that it was absurd to regard this absence of Rose for a few weeks as a break in the family existence. Yet the phrase, 'the first brea

to miss it,' said Ethel, voicing

, anyhow,' Rose r

y descried Twemlow coming out of the booking off

enially. 'Here you a

en't coming, Mr. Tw

minutes at the hotel. You see I o

think any such thi

sation fel

and seeming to occupy the entire station. It had the air of pausing nonchalantly, disdainfully, in its mighty rush from one d

llesden,' yell

ng the luncheon-car attendant by the sleeve, '

ow? Ye

' he said, '

at the steps of t

emlow. 'I hope to see you aga

aren't--' Le

ickly, 'I sail Satur

Ethel and Milly c

issed the pale girl madly, pressing her lips into Ro

e!' she

ily, addressing all three of them; and Ethel

ared at a window, one on either side of a table co

as going!' Milly excl

Twemlow, her lips moved, she smiled. She was a wo

scornful whistle, and lo! the luncheon-car was gliding away

ill talk to her abo

wait twenty minutes for a squalid, shambling local train whi