Madcap

d Hermia. "I'

't get on wi

ungry," sh

eel ill?

ade me feel faint. I've never done such a thing in all my lif

the cigarette a

long all morning wit

of the mainland where the towers of "Wake-

can," she

resently emerged carrying a tray which bore a cup of steaming coffee, some toast and an egg. Before she was w

" he said

ember, had she been addressed to peremptorily. His lips smiled, but there was no denying the note of c

r in it," he added, "an

e no

care for cr

oment and then went in at the door, returning in a moment with another cup of coffee and another dish. Without a word he sat on the step of the p

ith a good grace. He had offered to fill her coffee cup and to bring more toast, but, beyond inquiring politely how she felt, had asked her no other questions. When he h

ing that tobacco smoke is

qui

of a smile. There was humor in the man, afte

ering where I dropped

orms of suicide may be less picturesque than flying, but they doubtless have other-homelier-virtues to recommend them. If

h more from a desire to be poli

ort. You know

ack of my head I've not a notion that somewhere

e where," said

head and thatc

t couldn't have been

had met, I probably would have remembered it.

id slowly. "I've got the w

cellent," p

he flashed a bright smile up at him. "Of course it doesn't mat

t. I don't see how it can be

ere a boa

nfortunatel

ward predicament

been if there had been no one here," he

won't think me ungrateful. I'm n

d at her

you c

tted, "but I'd

r leave that to me,"

ession her looks or her personality had made upon him was the slight one of having met and forgotten her-hardly flattering to her self-esteem. He was quite free from self-consciousness and at moments wore an air of abstraction which made it seem to Hermia as though he had forgotten her prese

the lines into which his face fell in moments of repose were almost unpleasantly severe; but his eyes which had formed the painter's habit of looking critically through their lashes had a wa

ssed, won't y

sm

shall. They'll see

e could have been wa

bothered a lot by the curiosity of my nei

pity to wor

knocked out the a

course there's a chance of one coming within hail. I'll keep a watch and do what I can, of course. In the meanwhi

t this moment Hermia was sure that she didn't dislike him at all. The clatter continued, mingled with the sound of splashing water and a shrill piping as he whistled

is shoulder at h

nything?" he a

xcept to wash

t be a minute. It

s why I insist

ves of her waist with a business-like air and el

ash them properly. You ma

h. Having found it he stationed himself beside her and

Markham, isn't

u know?" he ask

n the corner which was address

said. "Of

Mr. Markham,

out that. I'm th

the portra

hat I pro

not

in, wiping the cup in his fin

rchist?" she as

lau

t I'm aw

gori

athers was-once a

misogy

wha

uch. A

know. Per

did at first. You can loo

en cross with

idn't like bei

k a dish from her fingers. "You know you did drop

ction. One hears such things. Are

amusedly, "now tha

a moment before

all. But you are unco

tandards of your wo

t do you know

told me by your

expressed m

ed of your exp

sh another dish." But she handed the las

"I wish you'd please

ide!

order. Ugh! I've never in my lif

rather a mess on the floor-and around," and then as though by an in

d the shelves over which sh

ates-?" She took one down and inspected it minu

if I

do it

corners, from one of which she trium

not going to l

atter. I'm going to clean up, and if you don't w

water run into the bucket, while sh

d-soap, if you have it. A

he said lifting the

am didn't. He found it more amusing to watch her sm

rward, she brought the wet mop out of the bucket with a threatening swee

door jamb, but

lentless scorn. "This is n

o agree with her and r