The Philanderers

d occasionally varying his consolation by a pat on the shoulders. The puffed sleeves

ing so soon. But really there's nothing to fear-nothing.

ach sob jerked at his heart; he began to walk restlessly about the room. The storm, from its very violence, however, wore itself quickly out; the sobs became less

to her. She anticipated his speech

n't seen

But I wrote a note saying I would call a

crumpled envelope and

the name, 'there's something I ought to

rds her. She felt grateful to him for the action, and w

' he

off,' she continued; '

he inte

members of a family. I think it's the same with all land there. It must go-what's the word?-unencumbered to the eldest child. So it must come to me-all of it. That leaves my sister still to be provided for. Father explained the whole thing to me. As it is, he has a

marry some one with means. But, Clarice, it won't be long

e I know you will be successful,' and

r father and you. The weight of it would fall on you. He might distrust me

keep it to ourselves,' she said diffidently. She saw Drake's forehead contract. 'For my sake,' she said softly, laying a hand upon

d she dropped the l

s voice in the hall speaking to him, and felt a momentary pang of alarm. The next instant,

ppeal. Once alone, however, he saw clearly all-the deception that it implied-deception which involved the girl, too, as well as himself. He rose the next day in no more equable frame of mind, and leaving his office at three o'clock in the afternoon, walked along Cheapside, Holborn,

,' she said, and laughed wit

ere as clear, her forehead as sunny, as though she had clean wiped yesterday from her consciousness. The conjecture, however

little pattern on the pavement wi

re they were blocking the way. 'Isn't there anywher

N

walked in a throng. She remembered enough of yesterday to avoid even the makeshift solitude of a

need of doing that, trifle though it was, increased his sense of responsibility towards

is voice was repeated in the expression of her fa

e your father to

lly; and, after a moment's p

el

. I shall not change. It will be better for y

while Drake stood with brows knitted, revolving the proposal in his mind. 'B

did,' sh

You are not to stay away'; and without waiting for an answer she lifted the trap, gave the cabman his order, and drove off. Drake watched the hansom disappear, and absently retraced his steps down the street. He stopped once or twice and stared vaguely into the shop-win

ause she was finding it difficult to keep the peace between her two visitors. She understood Clarice's embarrassment when Percy Conway arrived close upon her heels. Clarice, however, quietly handed him ove

'I will come and call-some

a loss,' she answered pathetically; and then

thi

wo

inson shoo

hy

entive-nothing

's cr

nt with a luxurious earnestness for a littl

eaned forward as he spoke from the embrasure of the second window, which was

lushed, and asked,

open. Mallinson

d with it Fielding's enjoyment. He

w?' said Conway, with a sneer. 'I

a sort of reflex pity for herself as the inappropriate instrument of his suffering. She was consequently altoget

Fielding pre

emperament,' she exc

ed across the room and said good-bye to Mrs. Willoughby. Conwa

that man is!'

asked Mrs.

cause he had no incentive. As a matter of fact,

id Clar

expect. She melt

Conway immediately afterwards,' she said, and then laughed

cture, an impression, very vivid, very accurate, of something that is actually happening. Then some one pulls a string and you get a totally different picture, equally vivid, equally accurate, of something

y and Miss Le Mesurier walked together

Drake?' she asked, after

e would wish to. H

hen?' she asked

following him. I believe even Fielding finds that as well. When Drake first came back I used to stand up for him-well, because, perhaps, I ha

to his words, owing to its contrast with the flighty enth

d Mr. Fieldin

in Matanga Concessions, and largely for

ct irritation in her voice, 'I suppose it all comes from the fact that Mr. Drake d

wonder if you are right. Drake, I should think, would find his incentive in the work itself. Yes; I believe you are right. It's just his single-min

ting upon massive knees, and works out its own schemes behind indifferent eyes. The sight of him, and the sound of commonplace words from his mouth, would at times make her laugh at the conception and restore her to her former familiarity with him. But the fancy ret

y and Stephen Drake. The former accepted, the latter, being on the eve of floating the Matanga Concessions, declined for the present to Clarice's great relief, but promised to come later. The company was floated

ming,' said Cl

his daughter's anxiety

e replied; 'but only f

ment he speaks of. He wi

for a f

te or two. Then she asked: 'Did you

e. 'No, my dear,' he said. 'I forgot all about i

ortnight. I think we ought to ask him. We always have, and it will look rather s

igneurie at an hour which gave her sufficient time to dress for dinner, but no margin for welcoming visitors. In consequence she only saw Drake at the dinner-table. She saw little of him afterwards, for Mr. Le Mesurier pounce

the Seigneurie, he had owned to silver-running on the coast of Mexico. Mr. Burl and Drake passed most of that evening smoking together in the garden. Similarly on the next day Clarice avoided a private interview with Drake. On the other hand, however, he made no visible effort to secure one. Mrs. Willoug

ne can be too previous. I made that mistake

tell you about it, Mrs. Willoughby. You have guessed some part of

Mrs. Willoughby's esteem, he confided to her the history of his proposal and its lame re

, 'surely there

is next fortnight will, I think, make everyt

e unwise.' Drake turned

. Of course I don't know. Clarice has given up co

t in conjunction with the reappearance of the emerald ring upon Miss L

however, and for a while they stood side by side looking seawards across the breadth of the island. The ground stretched away broken into little hollows and little hills,-downs in vignette. A cheery yellow light streamed from the windows of a cottage in a dip of the grass; the slates of a r

eams broken into sparkles

of silver coin

o hear them clink?'

he girl turn swiftly to face him-'I leave Sark to-morrow morning by

ickly; 'I shall see you, of course, wh

an mine, and I know that some people are after it. It wouldn't help me if another company was to be started; and as the President of the Matanga Republic

'Then we are to expe

and he laid a significa

e. It was spoken with

itself seemed to have slipped by. She had but to say 'No' at the end of the fortnight, she assured herself, and she knew that she would only have

eived a bundle of letters which had been forwarded to him from his chambers in London. He slipped them into his coat, and went at once on board the Guernsey steamer. At Guernsey, the next morning, he embarked on the little boat which runs between Guernsey and Sark. The sun was a golden fire upon the water; t