The Westcotes

eneath its tiny cupola. A midsummer moon-ray fell through the uncurtained lantern beneath the dome and spread in a small poo

and she felt grateful for it as she leaned back thinking her own thoughts. It was a whole week now since Charles had visited Bayfield, but she had encountered him that morning in Axcester High Street as she passed up it on horseback with her brothers. Narcissus had reined up to put some question or other about the dra

arose and kissed her brothers goo

with that great book these next few evenings I will have the t

ven before I take in precisely what has happened." He smiled. "In that I resemble my old friend Vespasian, who would have no alterations made whe

corridor she stayed a moment to look down upon the hall. Endymion had dropped his newspaper and was yawning; a

xclamation of annoyance. For some mysterious reason Polly had for

t sounded like Polly's voice, though its tone was strangely subdued and level. "Talking to herself," Dorothea decided, and smiled, i

out of the open window, and at the sound of the door s

were you

k lay spread to the soft moonshine, but the moon did not look directly into

talking?" Dorothea

second or two, then her

aoul," sh

s M. Raoul-Oh, for goodness sake speak, girl! Wh

a movement to hide it in her pocket; but

it. I was shutting the window, when he whistled to

nly became saucy,

were burning; she felt the blood rushing into them and singing in her ears. Yet in her abasement she kept her dignity

y A

window this evening and let me, at least,

otedly and

ehaved selfishly. "See what I risk for you!"- but to what risk was he exposing her! He was breaking their covenant too; demanding that which he must know her

g its creases. Suddenly-"You hav

elf admirably, and now stood in the attitude proper to a confidential servant; solicitous,

up the hill after me and slips this into my hand. To tell you the truth, it rather frightened me being run after like that. And he said something and ran back-for nine was just striking, and in a moment the Ting-tang would be ringing and he must be back to answer

ssage, Polly. I cannot think what he means

se she added: "I suppose you'd like me to go no

ou to stay. Is he-i

ss. Oh, yes-for

n your staying with m

you wish me to stay he

se again. "For the moment, stay here. I will leav

stood some feet lower than the slope out of which they had been levelled, and she looked down upon a

alled, but scarce

the dark angle below and

ther night and no word wit

breaking your parole a

amed me already.

understands. A word, then,

r pa

let down your hand to me. I can reach it from the parapet here-with m

ached to touch it, and she leaned her face towar

d report banged in her ears and echoed across the park; and Raoul, after swaying

, and stood there upright and shook, wit

ave sho

. All was still now. Polly stepped

doing?" Dorothea aske

ithout that," said the practic

ish to think of that now! Hush- th

indow, but Polly dragge

en, M

ice calling for Mudge, the butler. A bell pealed in the servants'

ll never find him, under the slope there.

"They'll find him safe

k!-at the backdoor b

am

eally,

f treachery, she pushed the girl from her. "Was Zeally mounting guard

of Sam's movements. But he might be hanging about the house; a

and danced on wall and ceiling of the dim boudoir. A sharp exclamation announced that Raoul was discovered. A conf

m, assure her; say there has been an accident-a Frenchman overtaken out of bounds and wounded-I think, n

roped for it, pulled open drawer after drawer, rifled them for lint and linen, and by the time Mudg

coming at once; take the chest, run, an

owed-with Polly behind h

the wounded leg, with Narcissus in close attendance, and the others standing respectfully apart-Mudge, the two footmen (in their shirt sleeves), an under-gardener named Best, one of the housemaids, and Corporal Zeally

her distress Dorothea could not help admiring how he conquered this aversion; how he knelt in his spick-and-span

seless; but Dorothea had the nursing instinct, and her brothers recognised it. The sig

above the ankle-the tendon cut, b

ere." A footman brought the towels. She knelt, folded two on her lap, and, resting Raoul's foot there, drew the stocking gently from the wound. "A basin and warm water, not too

r lap. She heard him groan twice, but with no pain inflicted by her fingers; if their slightest pressure had hurt him she would have known. She went on bathing the wound-she, who could have bathed it with her tears. As time passed, and st

other dose of brandy might set him up. I gave

ing to faint,

es round a bit. You, Zeally, had better step into my

and took a step forward, t

enged. I did not answer, but ran around a corner of the house and jumped the parapet, thinking to double along the trench there and put him off the scent-at least to dodge the bullet, if he fired. But as I jumped for it,

e, gratitude, pride, even while they entreated against the sacrifice. He was smiling down with an air of faint amusement; yet beneath the lashes she read a command which mastered her will, imposed silence. He had taken on a new manliness, and for the first time in the story of their loves she felt herself dominated by something stronger than passion. He had swept her off her feet, before now, by boyish a

by Polly's explanation of her meeting with M. Raoul at the Nursery gate, he had nursed a dull jealousy and set himself to watch, and had dogged his man

ily, forgetting military forms of addres

you to represent that the whole thing was accidental and you don't deserve to

his ears. "Reckon this is my affair," she announced, with an effrontery at which one of the footmen guffawed openly. "Be modest

ss. His mouth was open, but upon the word "sergean

what such a confession commits you? I do not see what other construction the fact

emptations you cannot judge. Of the shame I am as profoundly

his chair as Dr.

ther in the great hall. He had lit his candle an

him and that girl Polly? For a moment-from Zeally's manner-" He gulped down the drink. "His confession was honest enough, anyhow. Poor foo

ean?" Dorothea

ans Da

and the extinguisher fell on the floor.

on assures me he could not have tied the bandage better himself. I felt proud of my sister." He kissed her gallantly and pulled out his watch. "P

tairs she heard the sound

m, and in her prayers that night she began to seek it. But while she p