The Keeper of the Door

own room and this entailed a search, for her possessions were always in the wildest disorder. Olga waited for her in the hal

disapproval in every line of him. Olga felt decided

free pass," his reference to himself as "gaoler." Was it possible that she had formed a wrong impression of him? And if in this matter, perhaps in others also. Perhaps after all she had mistaken his attitude towards Violet. Perhaps after all he was human enough to feel the strong attraction of the girl's beauty. Perhaps after all he was beginning to care. And if so, what then? She felt her face burn in the coolness

wn apace during the past few days. And Violet knew so well how to wield her power, when to scorn and when subtly

d to the list of victims. Cynical and even overbearing though he might be, she no longer desired to see him

lga shrank from discussing Max with him. She had an uneasy dread lest Nick's intelligence should leap ahead of her and disclose to her with disconcerting suddenness facts and possibilities with which she was quite unprepared to reckon. She visualized his grin of amused comprehension over the me

defence; but now that it seemed that her point might pierce his armour, she wanted to withdraw it. She shrank unspeakably from seeing him vanquished. It would have hurt her to find him at

a hopeless case did not appeal to him and that he had not therefore greatly cared how soon or in what manner Mrs. Stubbs had passed out through the prison-door which it was his work to guard. She realized vaguely that this form of callousness was not so hideous as she had at

ne. But the fact remained that she had delivered him to Violet to be tormented, and that before he had given any sign of suffering she had repented

oke from her reverie with a start to exclaim upon the late

to scorch," l

ticulately almost throughout the journey. They met with no mishap, h

irection of the sur

ew her into her father's little smoking-room at the s

y reminiscent of the note she had left in hi

en eyes studied her without mercy; but when he s

-Goring is here. Do you min

. Olga gave a sharp, in

tammered. "Why-what

It's some way back to The Warren, and he's a bit used up. I fancy your father would make hi

ly from Olga's face u

breathlessly, "do

you don't want him, he can go to 'The Swan.' He is in the surgery a

re right. Dad would certainly keep him. Oh, why isn't Nick

ical lift of the shoulders. "I

uestion: it was alm

aresay he won't eat you. And you'll have Miss Campion to

gain. Did he know, then? Had he guessed why Violet was in the house? Was that the reason of his curious vigilance, his guarded acc

n the act of opening the do

a conscious effort, and

idle curiosity. Do you like her?" She saw the rough red brows go up, an

"It would be interesting

answer him, or perhaps

h her head bent,

er, and-and-I should be sorry if that happened, because I kn

ok at him. She could only watch with fascinated

ld you that

was horribly difficult to answer.

a moment in silence; then: "Isn't it possible," he said in a very level ton

Violet,"

er," sa

y something in his tone. His eyes, ale

I was falling in lov

hesit

s so?" he

e answered. It was as if h

est in Miss Campion, as you seem to have divined. But the danger of my falling a vict

ssed out, uncertain whether to be glad or s

olet and acquainted her

s presence a

d been here," she

ever so long. I don't know

no means dismayed by t

said. "You leave him to

man!" s

and pinched her cheek.

im!" said O

s standing in the hall with one arm in a sling when she and Violet descended the stairs, an immense

novel feeling of relief to see him there. She

have had an acci

rack my thumb tinkering at my old motor. Dr. Wyndham tells me that you have been kind enough to ask me to

nother word for imprisonment to me. I told Bruce I

to a form of yachting that is no

hould have to be mistres

e rejoined s

on board with the exception

tain," said

o! I would be m

st week was out," observed the major, a

of my acquaintance in whose company I shoul

ou don't speak from experien

l too well," l

ll," declared Hunt-Go

the sort of man

have time to be bored with anyone. Will you sit here,

he three boy

e gone for an all-day paper-chase with th

go too?" he as

she return

y an excuse

him. "It's a so

ng to do this aft

en

d wh

ngs," s

"Do you mend the stockin

g yours,"

the contract, was it? Pitch 'em into my r

" said Olga. "As to doing without,-well, of course,

. "I think you might remember that I am hardly respo

den brief smile, bu

his meal for him, were engrossed in a frothy conversation w

before he abruptly star

l

Mrs. B

tly. "Oh, she se

ointedly. "Well? What had

you?" s

it was something you would rather not repeat. I had alread

ulse to escape from a difficult subject. "You have su

y?" sa

ious!" she said quickl

my misfortune than my fault. If my patients elect to make me the butt of

s want of sympathy, you know. You go and do a

ax. "Let's hear my goo

to mention it," she said. "It just slipped out.

ly. "Who told you

ic

ring his skinny lit

u?" said Olg

fraid of you, do you?"

ink you are afraid of anyone or anything. But it

rs. Briggs's behalf or

ng of reluctance. "Well, I do

rrel," said

exclaimed. "How can

to stop me, well, they get knocked down and trampled on. I don't call

le don't like y

like me?"

died her critically. Olga poured out some water with a hand so shaky that i

?" he

he murmured somew

don't try to drink that yet!" he said. "You'll choke if you do. Go on! Tell me some more

licious," declared Olga.

off the effects that afternoon, when you caught me in Uncle Nick's library. It

We went to the Prior

What

ngs Viole

ings?" s

e I don't know. I'm not so inquisitive

Violet, detaching he

ing for

wondering how many glasses of rhu

fancied he had; and if so, why was he so anxious to inform himself of her most trivial doings? It was a puzzle to Olga-a puzzle that for some reason gave her considerable uneasiness. Against her will and very deep down within her, she was aware of a lurking distrust that made her afraid of M

im. In fact, he seemed wholly unaware of any change in her demeanour, and Olga noted the fact with relief, the while she determined to exclude him rigidly