Moth and Rust; Together with Geoffrey's Wife and The Pitfall

u sagst, 'Ic

ch weinen b

treating footsteps, and

nipulation, except a horse's mouth. If a lock resisted, she used force, generally shooting it; if the hinge of a door gave, she jammed it. But in this instance, contrary to her usual experience, the lock did turn at last, and t

he ceiling, and a few drops had penetrated down to the inner dr

out a little way, and then stuck. It was quite full. Janet gave another pull, and

se be they? Evidently they had not been touched for a long time, for the grime of London air and fog had settled on them. Janet wiped the topmost with her handkerchief, and a few words came clearly out: "My darling. My treasure." Her handkerchief had touched something loose in the corne

at the back of the drawer to make sure, and found a few more, with a little gilt heart rusted into them. Then she replaced the needlework directions, pushed to the drawer-which resisted again, and then went b

e door and listened. All was quite still. She came back. On the chimney-piece stood a photograph of Monkey Brand grinning smugly through its cr

nelt down, and held it

ife, and after that no feebler fire can reach them quickly. The fire shrank from them, an

pled some of them to let the air get to them. The handwriting was strangely familiar. She observed the fact without reaso

f yesterday. How familiar the handwriting was! How some of the sentences shone out as if written in fire on black sheets: "Love like ours can never fade." The words faded out at once, as the dying letters gave up the ghost-the ghost of dead lov

ce! Fred'

e smoke was no longer going up the chimney, but was filli

t was not of those who see behind their backs. The painter, alarmed by the smoke, stood for a moment, brush in

he grate seemed to Janet more black with horror than the appalling scene of havoc in the next room. She kne

he smoke, and her

work was warped by the heat. It would not open. She wasted time trying to force it, and then broke the glass and let in the air. But the air only

ing the telltale smoke curl

ps in th

by an alert, spectacled young man, notebook in hand. The lift man bore the embarrassed expression of one whose sense of du

his spectacles turning all ways at once. "I don't lik

ight of Janet, and the sight

id confusedly. "There's a deal more

ily. "We'll go there next"; and h

d imperiously, "Number Two, wh

ing of heavy, has

n and the lift man had dis

thout perceiving him. She flew on, recognising by instinct the once familiar way to the central hall on each landing. He

etermined aspect, who bore the unmistakable stamp of those whose unquenchable des

ith passes is admitted,"

can I get

iceman cautiously, "but I know it must

rn, and I am an intimate

o restrictions about persons going out, only about those trying to get in

me was waxing short; wa

s nurse. Monkey Brand took him in his arms at

ing' to Mammy," he said, in a st

ithin the radius of her fading sight. She suffered the cool, flower-like cheek to

urse, holding him closely

anced a step nearer with

aited for i

said Cuckoo at last.

, and crouched hunched up upon it, h

he door?" she asked, a

rest; we are

to see Janet to

o and loo

lly safe. It is all you will have to remembe

any picture o

er si

low her breath; but he heard it. "Are you

on

nce

said Cuckoo faintly. "Isn't

on

s both," said Cuckoo again

onkey Brand coul

make the time pa

ly, his mind throwing back thirty years; "I shall n

r steps," inte

, though I walk"-the voice broke down-"thou

now," said Cuckoo, in

is J

plainly. Tell her

oned to

wide eyes, which stared vacantly where Janet was not; "at leas

es

was destined to shed s

dear Janet,

bye, C

. Is she quite

dear

that your cheek against mine? How cold it is! Hold your dear hands to my face that I may kiss them too. They have been kind, kind hands to me. How my poor Arthu

ove me, li

es

ly

ly

to a passio

ving doubted you,"

ever do

nown better. I can't forgive

h was hard upon her, he

you,'" whispered her husb

Cuckoo with a sob. And her h