The Devil's Garden

It was addressed to himself; and for a few moments his heart beat quicker, with sharp, clean percussions, as if it were trying t

e long the letters and parcels were neatly arranged in compartments near the postmen

ough, Mr

nd glanced at the clock. Five f

my lads, of

ting-room, and were packing their

's the

went through the public office, stood on the ou

of common land stretching away boldly until the dark barrier of woods stopped it short. To his right the ground lay level, with the road enlarging itself to a dusty bay in front of the Roebuck Inn, turning by the churchyard wall, forking between two gardened h

ds down wherever he looked-lazy, money-greedy tradesmen not yet alive to their selfish enterprises-only the poor laborers of the

l like this? Could it be possible that th

folio sheet of paper that it contained, began to read-and imm

control would arrive at Rodchurch Road Station by the eleven o'clock train; that he himself was to come to London on the morrow, and immediately call at the G.P.O.;

harge of his chief clerk, or if they had given charge of it to a competent person from Rodhaven, and not sent a t

ess neck of his shirt, and felt the perspir

libly wins his way from the cart-tracks and the muck-wagons to office stools and black coats. Not yet dressed for the day, in his loose serge jacket and unbraced trousers, he looked what was termed locally "a rum customer if you had to tackle un." His da

marnin

the Roebuck stables ha

ornin',

" Especially if, like that fellow, they had known him as a boy. But he thought now

heart was fond of them all, and craved their regard; although he was

n is rarely a popular man. He had had the success in full measure-if it pleased them, let the

probably still fast asleep; and when, presently, he went up-stairs

vant, who sprang to attention at the appearance of her master, brought him shaving-water, arranged the square of look

stion when Mr. Dale was a

news,

ernly. "What news should there be-a

ce and attitude expressed the confusion proper to a subordinate who has t

s sternly. "You just attend

eautifully polished silver; it flashed on the rims of white teacups, and, playing some prismatic trick with the glass sugar basin, sent a stream of rainbow tints across the two rolls and the two boiled eggs. An appetizing meal-and as comfortable, yes, as luxurious

I'm lat

ention i

ce brightened, softened, grew more comely. Yes, he thoug

y n

them to-morrow;" and he moved to t

te in a satis

wn, my dear, and

l was crisp and warm, the bacon had been cooked to a turn, the tea wa

satisfied with their answer. Do tell me;" and she stretched her hand across th

eyebrows, and a white skin; and she carried her thirty-two years so easily that,

ctation of carelessness, laughed jovially. "They've app

ew round and big; in a moment all the faint glow of color had lef

" said Dale firmly. "However

and her lips trembled before she uttered

et yourself, Mav. I te

This is serious-now." And once more she hesitat

e, with great

e to him? She said she kn

id so himsel

thing in

nt, and when he spoke aga

owerful gentleman. That stands to reason; but

got his let

letter? What di

re it

fe in surprise, and spoke rather ir

to him without permission-so I didn't wish the l

ed his irritation. "Don't you see, lassie, I'd 'a' liked to know the precise way he worded it. I'm practised to all

do what was in his power.

nd I don't hold with bothering gentlemen in and out of season. Besides, this is a

en food, stood up, and s

u, you won't be hasty w

I'm sorry, for your sake, that this little upset should have occurred. But don't you fret. I'm coming out on top. Maybe, this is like touch-and-go. I don'

, b

hat I'm going to do in the General Post Office of all England." As he said this the blood showed redly, and every line

ed up at him with

the road to promotion than what I've ever been. When I get back here again, I shall be li

e was busy insta

h a pride that did not pretend to conceal i

said Mr. Ridgett.

e possible in rather difficult circumstances. During the afternoon he listened with an air of interested

him the gross error that had been committed in placing the whole telegraphic apparatus right at the front, close to the window, merely screened from the public eye and the public ear by glass partition-work, instead

y while Miss Yorke, the telegraph clerk, despatched a message. And all at once the soldier, who was well versed in the code, began to recite the message aloud. The postmaster peremptorily ordered him to stand

Ridgett looked at Dale critically.

ale; "and I was all three mi

" and Mr. Ri

delayed. That was the time it took me to renew the service with the confidence and secrecy provided by Her Majesty's Regulations. And I

people in the o

e. If it had been only one-or hal

lf of a particularly priv

s. But the princi

st

ale appeared before the magistrates, the soldier had changed his mind again-he did not appear, he allowed the charge to fall to the ground. And there the matter might have ended, ought to have ended, but for the fact that the local Member of Parliament suddenly made a ridiculous fuss-said it was a monstrous and

irm, declined to budge an inch from his position; he was

oked at it. But I don't quite follow how it got lifted

ther by a pack of funking old women-for that's what they are, at Rodhaven. And

ey sugg

ation, "that I should write regret that I had per

didn't see

o. No, thank you. I sent up my formal request t

you're quite a classical scholar, Mr. Dal

n at the bottom, and I've been trying to impr

being assured that they are entirely in the right. But Mr. Ridgett, who had been sympathetic from the moment of his arrival,

"I should have a doubt that you've made this one fal

o you

ow-that you've let Number One overshadow the situa

almost hotly. "It's the principle I sta

rfully. "Don't think I'm establishing myself-but one may as well be comfortable, if one can. And I do give you this tip. You're in for what we used to call the devil's dance up there. C

f the visitor, and hospitably insisted that he

"and we make it a meat tea; but you are

than good enough

so kind as to honor us without ceremony." And, as if to demonstrate the

pened conversation in a v

tiously, "I hazard the guess that you t

e," said Dale. "We're qui

expressed admiration and surprise. "Appearances are deceitf

years,"

Any ch

aid Mrs

"We haven't been bless

" Mr. Ridgett laughed, and bowed gallantly to Mrs.

l sat down t

when it was over, they spoke of the bus

sband that perhaps he has been

d Mavis Dale, with her elbows on the table, lean

the persona

es

ccidents happen to all o

contracted. "Mr. Ridgett! The way you say that

It's just a check. In Mr. Dale's place, I should be philosophical.

they almost touched; her eyes appeared darker, smaller, more opaque. Mr. Ridgett continued ta

say to myself, 'Old chap, if you're in for a jolly good wigging, why, just

not goin' to crawl on my belly any more. I've done it in my time, when perhaps I f

ts had been burst by the

king uncomfortable, "then I m

elves at the corners of her mouth; and her eyelids fluttered as if she were on the verge of tears. "Will," she murmured,

," said Ridg

mastered his emotions and was calm and polite again, a

dam pe

ind. She's s

everie. The golden sunlight came no more into the room; bright colors of oleograph pictures, hearth-rug, and window-curtains imperceptibly faded; the whole world seemed to

perhaps an ugly and unexpected turn that her thoughts had suddenly taken. She gave a little shiver, look

untry-especially the forest side. Lots of artists and

patently admired Mavis. "Yes," he thought, "it must be an eye-opener for him or anybody else to come up those stairs and fin

straightness of her nose; and he also greatly liked the broad black ribbon that was tied round her slender neck. The simple decoration seemed curiously in harmony with something childlike pertaining to its wea

welfare that she had shown just now quite touched

own mind was still under debate, "they can't pretend but what I warned them. I said it's madness to go an

n," said Mr. Ridgett. "

he persona

said-how many years ago?-isn't going to govern th

on record. It is on r

n't Rodhav

gers, and narrowed eyes, the deadly anxiety that she was suffering. With that face opposite to one, it would

you Latin for Latin, Mr. Dale. I understand your attitude, and I appreciate it

in her breath wi

als-well, I should get them to do it. You see, from what you tell me of the case

at personage was the Right Honorable Everard Barradine, an ex-Cabinet Minister and a large landed proprietor, who lived over at

's not for me to let fall any remarks about wire-pulling. But naturally there's a freemason

iven a promise-of a sort-and

telling Mr. Ridgett of the splendors and beauties of the Abbey House. It was a show-place. Its gardens surpassed belief; royal persons came hundreds of miles to look

d her animated face with undisguised admiration; and p

It was not that he entertained the faintest doubt of her loyalty and devotion, or of her power to protect herself from improper assiduities; but he loved her so passionately that his blood began to boil at the mere thought of anybody's having the audacity to court her favor. Instinctive

d, rather grimly, "we mustn't detain Mr. Ridgett from his duties." Then he forced a laugh. "I'm nobody; and so it d