Septimus

ure of its foul iniquity that Zora was convinced that the earth had never harbored s

n the cool light of her own reason it appeared at the worst to be but a pushful patent medicine of an inferior order which, on a

ules strangled the dog-he

Hercules didn't strangle. But a man can be at once u

hing of a divine sanction," said Zo

hat," said Sypher solemnly, "do you thi

n these things to ma

vinced her of the diabolical noisomeness of the Jebusa Jones unguent. H

nd Jebusa Jones's Cuticle Remedy, siding loyally and whole-heartedly with her astonishing h

h his mistress after lunch, while Sypher was away putting the fear of God into his agent, during which hour he had unfolded to her his scientific philosophy of perambulators-"after

Life? To get to the heart of the color of the world? That was rather

d that my mission was to

on our missions for

is wonderful in scenery like this, in paintings, architecture, manners, and customs of other nations, in people who have other ideas and feelings f

ances. "But you, with your color and your build and your voice, seem somehow to me to stand for Force-there's something big abo

se, as you call it. Then I had a knock-down blow. I am a widow-I supposed you've guessed. Oh, now, don't speak. It wasn't grief. My married life was a six-weeks' misery. I forget i

ned her heart to this prime apostle of quackery. As he made no immediate reply, the silence grew tense and she clasped her han

he earth, or as much of it as you can get, and when you've got it and foun

way of throwing her back on to esse

a friend? I'm strong

said, dominated b

ant. You've just got to keep a thing in view and go for it and never let your eyes wander to right or left or up or down. And

an air of profound reflectio

he came by, made use of her, and plast

d then a spell of rest in the lavender of Nunsmere. That was her programme. Septimus Dix was to escort her as far as Paris, in defiance of the proprieties as interpreted by Turner. What was to become of him afterwards neither conjectured; least

eld men in high contempt-returned with an indignant tale. After a series of parleyings with Mr. Dix through the medium of the hotel chasseur, who had a confused comprehension of voluble English, she had mounted at Mr. Dix's en

er," he said as she ente

ow; her mistress's instructions we

generally have to do so. I tell the hotel people to give it to widows an

everything, sir,

s his professional training, Turner. I

on, she did not catch the allusion. Nor did Zora

nce they'll go in

hey never do,"

inferior, that he awoke her contemptuous pity. Besides, her trai

aid resolutely, regardless of the proprieties. On

he top of an unprotected bottle of hair-wash; he had tried to fit his brushes against a box of tooth-powder and the top had already come off. Tu

you take away half the hotel linen," and sh

ked the magic of Wiggleswick.

go to the station at once and sit o

do it, Turner,

Zora flushed, triump

journey, you're very much mistaken. He'll lose his ticket and he'll lose

Mr. Dix humorou

ll, ma'am." And Turner snorted v

Septimus had received as a parting guerdon an enormous package of the cure, which he embraced somewhat dejectedly. It was Sypher who looked after the luggage of

would lock me up. I once i

nterference. Sypher claimed her attention u

England? You ha

ere, Surrey, wil

the railway carriage window. "I nearly bought a house there last year. I was look

on Co

at was t

nsold," laugh

it at once

e," cried

out his mas

e are friends. I never

he station. Zora took he

ieve he'll do

ha

" said Zora. "Tell me

he women were charming, cultivated and eager for new sensations. They found Zora a new sensation, because she had that range of half tones which is the heritage of a child of an older, grayer civilization. Father and son delighted in her. Most men did. Besides, she relieved the family tedium. The family knew the Paris of the rich Anglo-Saxon and other rich Anglo-Saxons in Paris. Zora accompanied them on their rounds. They lunched and dined in the latest expensive restaurants

the Callenders, and they were quite prepared to receive him into their corporation. But he shrank from so vast a concourse as six human beings; he seemed to be overawed by the multitude of voice

a proposal to join the party on a Versailles excursion. "I want you to enjoy yourself for

" he asked seriously.

himself in Paris Zora could not imagine. A Cambridge acquaintance-one of the men on his stairca

t the Owl! What

ng," said

asionally. When she asked him where his friend lived he waved an indeterminate hand eastwards and said, "There!" It was a friend, thought

you going to

see hams hanging up in a shop I always

ngs less tangible. Long afterwards she discovered that the friend was an old woman, a marchande des quatre saisons who sold vegetables in the Place de la République. He had known her many years, and as she wa

A quiet talk with Septimus was an hour in a backwater, curiously restful. She began to worry. Had he been run over by an omnibus? Only an ever-recurr

at has become of him

o him, ma'am?" T

of his hotel," said Zor

uincamboeuf, where he l

I knew," sh

he shock of revelation; then she laughed to herself, half amused, half indignant. The preposterous absurdity of the suggestion! But i

in the courtyard of the Grand Hotel, patiently awaiti

, wh

heeks were hollow and white, his eyes sunken The man was ill. His

friend, what

I came to say good-bye. I've

open letter. Sh

wn. You're ill. You have a high t

said Septimus

of course you haven't. Oh, dear!" She wrung her hands. "You are not fit to be trusted al

us. "I'm going to catch the eleven

t eleven now. You have los

travel. I told you." He rose, swayed a bit, and put his hand on the table to steady him

y?" cri

t down and everything in it. The only thing he

he fa

kept him in bed for a fortnight. Zora and Turner nursed him, much to

ed to the beholder as the most helpless thing whic

weeks," said the doctor. "If he gets a relapse I won't a

o his own initiative he would probably go and camp with Wiggleswick amid the ruins of his

ere, at any rate," sh

doorstep and expect it to earn its livelihood. She al

s in Nunsmere. What d

ner, "that would be the le

" mused Zora, knowing that Cousi

t he comes down to his me

settled,"

e would be a nuisance. Since his boyhood he had never lived in a lady's house. Even landladies in lodgin

ra, conclusively. She noticed a shade of anx

on't know what's

and lodge with the loca

m Paris she received a letter addresse

sa Jones people off the face of the earth they blacken. I hope you are finding a vocation. When I am settled at Nunsmere we must talk further of this

very fa

M SY

said Turner, who had brought up the letter.

tter and Septimus's ticket lay side by side on her dressing-table, and they appeale

Emmy say? What would be the superior r

conversation with the execrated male sex, to have this ironical adventure! It was deliciously funny. Not only had she found two men in the Heart of Life, but she was bringing th

tscript to a lett

have fallen in love with me. You'll be wrong. If they had, I shouldn't h

ked and closed the envelope w