The Keeper of the Door

such a prig

" observed Nick, from the depths of the hammoc

for several seconds. As he was wont pathetically to remark, everyone bullied him because he was small and

e other than polite to him in her hearing. But then she and Nick had been pals from the beginning of things, and this su

ubbing her, she returned with s

really is a bit of a genius. And one can't sit on genius-wi

nt, I should thi

if-as if one were miles beneath his notice," proceeded O

age!" sa

im another jerk which set h

little sense any

reatment after muffins for tea is calculated to produce indigesti

a laid a restraining hand upon the hammock

r like anyone till I'v

manners never

tirical. It's like having a stinging-nettle in the house. I believe-just because he's

't everybody who does. Now this young man apparently knows how to make the

" said Olga. "I'm sure

his restless eyelids. "I begin to think you must b

not even trouble to look up. She

it often begins that way." Nick shook his head wisely. "I should take

shall never make a fool of myself over any man, Nic

Nick. "How old di

h to know my own

k. "You wouldn't be a wom

better than that. I assure you the antipathy is quite mutual. He regards everyone who isn't desperately ill as superfluous an

fiend!"

stand it. The poor people like him too in a way. I

emarked Nick. "He wouldn't turn him

a father to him ever since. In fact, I don't believe Dr. Wyndham would ever have come here if Sir Kersley hadn't made him. He was overworked and wouldn't take a rest, so Sir Kersley literally forced him to come and be Dad's assistant for a while. He told

ng man," said Nick. "I must really cultivate his

m. It's very horrid," said Olga, upon whom, in consequence of her mother's death three years before, the duties of housekeeper had devolve

I deserved it. Help me to get out of this like a good kid! I see James the Secon

eless agility, his one arm encirc

s much too hot. Don't waste your energies amusing the c

roughly. When old Jim comes home he'll find a model household awaiting him. By the way, I had a letter from him

uestioned Olga. "It would be much more

to be had out of that too," he assured her. "I tak

r face impulsively. "I shall write and te

liffe for one of the keenest politicians of his party, a man whom friend and foe alike regarded as too brilliant to be ignored? He had even been jestin

ng point which Nick lacked. What with him was an impish grin of sheer exuberance, with her was a smile of rare enchantment, very fleeting, with a fascination quite indescribable but none the less capable of imparting to her pale young face a charm that only the greatest artists have ever been able to depict. People were apt to say

erfectly aware of the fact. He could not well have been otherwise, but he was by no means disconcerted thereby. It even seemed as if he took a malicious pleasure in devel

ghter was always frigidly polite to the unwelcome outsider, and the outsider acc

n August, but Nick and his three playfellows had only just settled down to a serious sett when the doctor's assistant emerged from the house with his hands deep in his poc

pe was out of the question; but she would not have retreated in any case. It

ays been an offence to her. It was so obtrusive. But she could have borne with that alone. It was the green eyes that mocked at everything from under shaggy red brows th

wholly unaware of her

erved as he did so. "But since there was none but

He was exceedingly British in build, possessing in breadth what he lacked in height. There was a bull-dog strength about his neck

y. She was inwardly wondering what he had come for.

the hammock. "I am deeply touched by your solicitude for my

There was quick surp

r. He sat and swayed in the hammo

s were instantly upon her, alert and critical, holding that glea

said Olg

" he responded, w

ble to explain herself, and he did it upon every possible occasion, with unvaryi

pions'?" she asked, barely

olly responded, "is a qu

ecline t

" she said quickly. "Dad w

e doctor's assistant, w

er, fai

d by my name if you h

in Olga, wit

lga. It saves trouble certainly. Would you like to

arlet. "I am Miss Ratc

to be true. Pardon my presumption! When you are as old as I am you will realize

ork, conscious of unsteady fingers, conscious als

k your pulse must be about a hundred. Leave of

could feel herself becoming hotter every moment. It was maddening to feel those ironical eyes noting a

hen, because she would not, he la

ore she realized the nature of the impulse that possessed her. Straight into the back of

ette remained between his lips, and not a muscle of his face moved. His hand w

She threw a frightened glance into his grim face. Her anger had wholly evaporated and sh

the ash from his cigarette, "perhaps you will

d Olga, turni

y. I hope the sight of blood doesn't make you feel green," said M

, and stood up. Olga stood up too

am, please!" She glanced round desperate

s a job that requires

did the mischi

. It was the most painful predicament she had ever been in. She knew that there was no escape for her, knew, moreov

shall do more harm than g

'll enjoy th

in tears by this time. "Couldn't you

not,"

tle containing something which he measur

aid, handing it to her, "while I s

ly. "I don't want it

l you have extracted that bit of needle

she watched him, fascinated, as he made h

low that stuff soon, I s

feeling as if she had no choice,

volatile," she said, as

in abeyance. Yes, I know it's bleeding; but you needn't shudder like that. Give me your hand!" She gave it, trembling. He held it firmly, looking straight into her quivering face. "We won'

n eyes watched her mercilessly, and under their un

length, and released her han

nvolved. She obeyed his instructions herself with a set face and a quaking heart, suppressing a sick shudder from ti

ase don't faint till you have bandaged me up! I can't attend to you properly

d the day. Olga bandaged th

ax Wyndham, "tell me

ainly because she had known that she had deserved it; but there was a limit. S

red with indignation. "If-if you hadn't interfered

it!" said Max. "Shall I tell y

She was longing to go, but stood her gro

d it," he said very deliberately, "as a piece of spiteful mischief for which you

carlet. Her eyes flashed

, with witherin

what ab

he did not care in the smallest degree what answer she made. And so Olga,

and worse," she declared vindi

the other. "Oh, no, you wouldn't," he said. "For one thing, you wouldn't care to

you think I am

ne who had ever seen her thus would have described her as colourless. She was as vivid in that moment as the flare of the sunset; and into the eyes of the man who leaned a

am and took it for ridicule. The situation wa

oice pitched rather low, "do y

answered. "It's a question

peaking rather quickly

openly. "Now I wonder why! Sit

e in thus assailing him, and already she knew it. He only laughe

id I should like to give you a whipping? But you would like to tar and feather me, I gather. Isn't that even more b

eemed to have left her cold. She looked rather small and pinched-there

am, I beg your pardon for hurting you, and for being rude to you. I can't help my thou

yet. You've taken all the wind out of my sails, and left me stranded. What is one

door, but at his words

entment still sh

lace," she said, "I

you wished to achieve the desired effect

man!" excl

g naughty, if that's what you want. And I'm sorry I can't grovel to you, but I don't feel justified in so doing, and it would be very bad for you in any case. By the way-er-Mis

s at him with surprise that turned almost

it, is it?

Quite sure you don't wan

e smoke upwards an

n't you have said s

r quite seriously. "Oh, that was

er curiosity impelled her to

in his green eyes. "You know, it isn't

eaned back, holding to the edge of the ta

s many drawbacks, was turning out to be