The Devil's Garden

knew that he would not sleep

d regularly, just touched his face; and he edged away cautiously, seeking space in which to turn without disturbing her.

rom an oppressive sense of unreality. This disruption of the routine of life was so strange as to seem incredible. They were making up the two big bags for the

reason were they waiting for now? Then at last he detected the movement of shuffling footsteps; he heard voices-Ridgett's voice among the others; a wheel grated against the curbstone, and the cart rolled awa

profuse perspiration had broken out on his neck and chest. To give himself more air he p

uty would render Perkins, or his employer, liable to a heavy penalty; and again and again Dale had reminded him of the risks attending misbehavior. But unwatched men grow bold. This would be a night to bring temptation in the way

with the inviolable nature of a mail-cart, where are you to stop? Suppose your chance passenger proves to be not an honest subject, but a malefactor-one of a gang. "Take that, ye swab." A clump on the side of his head,

ay dusk, heavy and impenetrable beneath the trees, but quite transparent on the heath and in the glades; and then it would become all silvery and trembling; the wet bracken would glisten faintly, high branches of beech

from the engine, guard and porter with lanterns, and a flood of orange light streaming from the open doors of the noble Post Office coach. Perkins hands in his up bag, receives a bag in exchange, and half his task is done. Forty minutes to wait before he ca

e would not sleep un

y were taking in the bags; bolts shot into their fastenings, a key turned in a lock, and the clerk went back to bed at the top of the house. All was over now. Nothing more would happen until the other clerk came down in a couple of hours' time, until the bags were op

I'll have to tell them what I think o

in fairness to her he must exercise discretion. She and he were one. With extraordinary tenderness he me

t a lout among the woodside louts, an orphan baited and lathered by a boozy stepfather, a tortured animal that ran into the thickets for safety, a thing with scarce a value or promise inside it except the little flame of courage that blows could not extinguish! And yet out

up the entire labyrinth of his brain; each sense-message came inward like a bomb-shell, reaching with its explosion the highest as well as the deepest centers, discharging circuits of swift fire through every area of associated ideas, and so completely shatterin

'clock. With the thought came the luminous pictures, and he saw again, as clearly as fifteen years ago, the splendor of the Abbey House-that is, all one can see of it as one approaches its vast servants' offices. Here, solidly real, were the archway, the first and the second courtyard, grouped gables and irregular roof ridges, the

arrying a metal skimming dish, something ineffably refined and superior in her deportment led him to believe that she was some lesser member of

orn far below the level of gentility. She belonged to the Petherick lot; and, living with her aunt at North Ride Cottage, she came every day to the Abbey to do some light and delica

in the copse, and he showed her their distorted reflections on the curves of

ever received enough of them. He used to say, "Good morning, miss. My mate started off with a tremendous heavy

if she made an unanticipated answer he was baffled and confused

anguage. Beginning the old cumbrous facetiousness about her correspon

d you wouldn't-not if I was your letter-writer.

ed, almost terrified by his hardiness; and what he detected of i

of fluttered helplessness, a mingling of beauty and weakness that sent fiery messages thrilling through and through him, a pale tremor, a soft glow, a troubled but not offended frown; and from beneath all these surface manifestations the undeveloped woman in her seemed

ed into hard metal. And, moreover, the stimulus of love seemed to induce a vast intellectual growth; things that had been difficult of compre

, of his greater care for costume and his increased employment of soap and water, Mavis was still enormously above him. The aunt, a smooth-tongued little woman whom for a long time he regarded as implacably hostile to his suit, made him measure the height of the dividing space every time that he called at North Ride Cottage. Plainly trying to crush him with the respectability both of herself and of her surroundings, she showed off all the presents from the Abbey-the china and glass ornaments, the piano; the photographs of Mr. Barradine on horseback, of the late Lady Evelyn

id me the pretty compliment of saying that I made him more comfortable than he ever is in his own

dfather had been second coachman at the Abbey; her aunt's husband had been valet to Mr. Everard and made the grand tour of Europe with him; aunt herself was of the Petherick blood, and

had been done and who yet expected so much more. She said Mr. Barradine had charged himself with the musical training of another niece, and he would probably not hesitate to send Mavis to Vienna

hough, if she doesn't pip

smouth, he and Mavis were not engaged. Sh

hen I've made my way, she'll come

ive any promise. I must do whatever Auntie

letter to his sweetheart on every day of the year for three years-except on those days of joyous leave when he could get away and talk to he

er opposed the marriage; Mr. Barradine, at the zenith of political power, exerted his influence; the postmastership was obtained. To top up, Dale made the not un

s still rather broad, more particularly the Hampshire "a"; and one or two unchanged words, such as "boosum." But these microscopic faults were of no consequence, and Mav had stopped teasing him about them. She o

ratively recent public speeches and the praise that he had received from them. After the Parish meeting last January the Rodhaven District Courier had said, "With a few happy remarks Mr. Dale adverted again to the fallacy of plunging the villag

t, the pin-prick of illogical fear which during the last eighteen hours had again and again pierced his armor of self-confidence. Suppose things went

mes were white instead of gray; the sun had

her husband. To wake her, fold her in his arms, and then, pacified by the embrace, perhaps obtain a few hours' sound sleep? For

let himself out of the house. The open air refreshed him almost as much as sleep could have done. He walked nearly

his newest bowler hat and black frock-coat, with a light overcoat on one arm and his wife's gloved hand on the other;

g-office the news had flown up and down both sides of the station, round the yard, and even into the signal cabi

ressing a social equal; then they received greetings from old Mr. Bates, the corn merchant, and from young Richard Bates, his swaggering good-for-nothing son.

and made a last appeal to him. Would he recollect what the deputy had

gett's advice Dale displayed

nd not bother himself about mine. And look here," he added.

u're wrong

my absence-but you may have a little trouble in keeping Mr. R. in his proper place. You'll be quick to twig if he supposes

t so attractive as you think me. I may be the same to your eyes-but not to others. It'

she proposed to relieve his mind of any silly jealous fancies abo

re, Will, while you were away-whereas

ight go that very afternoon, and safely promise to stay three days. H

sweetheart. G

ll. Good luck,