The Devil's Garden

s. Cleaver informed her that the London firm who were acting in the matter of Mr. Barradine's will had instructed them to communicate with her, because certain documents-such as attested copies o

en they met at breakfast, and he

suppose it

ns that you're on

reath. "It came into my mi

e what else

and expressionless, and

and see Mr. Cle

d. "But I mus

ay? I don't think we

r's avoidable delay. I'll ta

itement, her eyes large and bright, a spot of poppy color on each cheek; she longed to burst out into al

the roundabout journey thither by rail offered such difficulties that D

y on the day of the funeral. All the country looked so warm and rich in its fulness of summer tints-corn ready to cut, fruit waiting to be picked, cows asking to be milked; everywhere plenty and peace; nature giving so freely, and still promising to give more. It seemed to her that as surely as there is a law under which the seasons change, sun

that stood isolated and forlorn in a narrow banked enclosure among flat pasture fields-and Mav

even, Will! That's

s back-that takes one. Year

here-such a way from everybody-s

they are now. It was before people began to understan' the meanin' o

so, W

nd within reach o' th' village. Shoved 'em off as far as they could, to please M

s speaking on historical or sociological subjects; but then a clo

an excrescence, on the other side, seemed as if it had gone as far as it could in the direction of making a quadrangle and had then given over the task to a broad low wall. The square piece of garden, though untidy and neglected, derived a great air of dignity from its stone surrounding, and importance was

Mavis, still making conversation. "I

orcing-pits at a market-gardener's-and the tale goes that they were orig'nally placed

a funn

year after year till he made a laughing-stock of himself. Anyhow, that's the tale. Mr. Bates has shown m

em in his gig pulled up, an

. Dale. "Your servant, madam. Turn head about, William

. Bates. Not to-da

s. Dale. I don't care to see those I count

d Dale cordially; "but we're for Ol

. But look in on your way

d there was something very pleasing in his old-fashioned mode of address, his cour

drove on, "I believe Mr. B

hen after a long pause s

it and crumb of him. There's no one between the downs and the sea

now you've alwa

erily believe that Mr. Bates is fond of me." Then he laughed

re's lots are

my lesson last month in London. I g

il

, saw that it had become fearfully somber. She guessed that this indicated an unfortunate turn of th

bey estate rolling downward on their left in wide, sylvan beauty as far as the eye could see. From this higher ground, the park showed like an irregular pattern of lighter color on a dark green carpet, and a few of the main rides were visible here and there as truncated straight lines that began and ended capricio

way, isn't it? Oh, that's a new

, just a waste of sand and heather, with naked ridges and boggy hollows, one or two wind-swept hillocks that bore a ragged crest of blackened firs, and in the farthest distance massive contours of

that's a hawk. Must be! Nothing but a hawk could stand so still in the air. He can see something down under

ng, she did not obliterate her own real thoughts. Inside her there seemed to be a running chorus of unutt

erpetually repeated. "A hundred pounds? Perhaps more than that. He gave me

shops, pavements, and nicely dressed young ladies, had a most exhilarating effect on Mavis when, after putting up

is hat held between his knees, his eyes lowered; while Mavis sat on a chair close to the solicitor, talking, flushing, throbbing, gra

ted any day now; minor legacies would then immediately be cleared off; and, since Mavis would have no difficulty in satisfying the executors as to her identity, she might really consider the

ll a spinster. About your own age, and living abroad. Thank you. That is all you can tell me? There seems to be doubt as to her

em, and Dale, rising slowly and still looking at the crown of

s a complete sur

d, "but not by any means as an

ince childhood would be naturally one to be thought of by the head of th

," said M

Cleaver's time by telling him our histor

ll pardon me for desiring to learn h

t might be premature to go into matters

nervously, "we must

you mentioned-especially for her aunt, Mrs. J.E. Petherick, who is now past her youth, and to whom it would be a comfort. Also my wife's cousin

ch as this. No one who had the smallest grounds for exp

r for expecting to be singled out for special rewards. On the contrary, it was never in my wife's power to render the long and faithful service rendered by the others; so that if a bequest had fallen to us whil

stic. "It is a beautiful will. You'll see all the particulars in the newspapers before a week is over, and you'll say t

ith renewed thanks for the courteous way you wro

le; and one word of advice, free gratis. Invest your legacy wisely, and don't confound capital wi

ldn't be so foolis

, and they were half-way home again before Mavis ve

of what you were saying to Mr. Cleaver, and when I tried to stop you it was because I was all on ed

s in both hands with the conscientious care of an unpractised coachman, he

would be nothing to cause talk. I don't myself believe people would have really noticed if I had been t

did not

t me take the mo

know. I m

hink of the use-to both of us. If it's mine in name

ow. Don't go on

you going to sto

N

very p

him-or any one else-what

without causing him difficulty in driving, "you said we were to look forward, not back. Don

's what the heathens used to say

st preached mercy-ye

and peace. But never mind religion-don't let's drag that in.

one thing. Keep this befor

you to hold

ofty you choose to look at it, it can't b

lofty or low-take it or leave it-this cursed l