Robert Kimberly

owers itself, Dolly ordered a roundabout drive which gav

ong pleasing successions of hills, followed up valleys with occasional brooks,

y overtreatment. The car finally brought them to the lower end of a long, formal avenue of elms that made a setting for the amp

ct, from which its name derived, implied a strength of uncompr

garden which lay toward the lake. At the garden entrance

a che passa

che batte,

che viene,

en of the Kimberly villa on Lago Maggiore," Dolly explained.

as afforded views in every direction of the surrounding country. Retracing their way to th

paciousness and still somewhat untamed in its oak ruggedness. But gli

southern exposure of its wing and at one end Alice saw a fireplace above which hung a great Dutch mirror framed in heavy seventeenth-century style. Dolly pointed to it: "I

ently suggestive of the old-fashioned. This she satisfactorily accounte

ant notes. The carpets offered the delicate restraints of Eastern fancy,

tal, but nowhere were effects confused, and they had been

er seen anything comparable to what she now saw, and

ng, she could not have told what, of uneasiness, and it was of this that

stro here yet

s with Mr. Kimberly. I thi

e. We will go up and

he stairs: "Sha'n't I wait

e head of the family, you know," Dolly adde

led at Dolly's earnestness. As she ascended the stairs with he

ct of the room, confusing at first in its arrangement, was, in fact, that of a wide and irregular reception hall for the apartment

en he saw his sister with Alice, and came forward to meet them. As he did so, a door mid-w

y without seeing the visitors, but his ear caught the tones of Dolly's voice and she waved a h

was so nearly without a smile th

o see Uncle John a moment, Rob

nd it is a pleasure to s

conscious that Kimberly was looking at her and that his eyes were gray, that he wore a suit of gray and that she now, exchanging compliments with him, was clad

offensively appearing to do so, took in the slightest detail of her appearance. His words were of a piece with his man

Dolly, at length, "yo

mberly. "We will go this way for Uncle John,"

stening forward, greeted him in elevated tones. Kimberly turned to Alice with a suggestion of humor as they waited a little way fro

ing to her, and beckoned her to come nearer. Alice saw the old man looking at her with the slow care of the paralytic--of one who has learned to distrust his phys

gether too spry, Uncl

talkative niece quizzically: "Am I?" Then, with the mildly suspicious s

inued Dolly, jocularly. He looked at her ag

every time you come over, Dolly." Dolly waved her hand with a laugh. Uncle John this time did not even take the

ought to get better here very fast, Mr. Kimberly," she said to him briskly. "Th

olunteered, knowing that Uncle John woul

ce came to his side, pointed out the features of the landscape. Dolly sat

uld from the visitors. Dolly, greeting him warmly, turned to Alice. "Mrs. MacBirne

dark eyes looked as if his thoughts might be away, they were kindly. His eyes, too, fell almost at the instant Dolly spoke and he only bowed his g

ude of a gentleman who, in meeting a lady in passing, and being himself an attendant, desires to be so considered and s

mured Dolly, in concluding a eulogium, delive

e his feelings?" s

nder a bushel," returned Dolly, vigorously.

rid of what there is,

hink it a duty to recogn

ee danger even if one should possess a gift so precious as modesty," he continued, raising his finger this time in mild admonition; "when you--how do you say in English--'trot out' the modesty and set it up to look at"--Francis's large eyes grew luminous in pantomime--"the first thing you know,

tempt Brother Francis's

ringly. "You are a Catholic?"

ed: "How di

nd toward his inform

sed Alice. She lo

enly," Kimberly said slowly, "that I gave him the news about you as a bracer--ju

mor, "that a Catholic lady was coming th

not do," interposed Kimberl

oked deprecatingly

kept on your old one out of humility," said Alice. "But how did yo

chance to slip a

lprit," answered Kimberly.

e a good

r tea for Mrs. MacBirney, Dolly

e into the house, t

isappeared with Kimberly. "You know Madame De Castro went to school in Paris with her mother, who wa

t this information, but did look remi

ll. He and her mother both are d

arshall--he w

et with reverses

e looking," he muttered, still looking after her much as the toothles

u're always thinking about

iled undismay