The Beetle: A Mystery

e, was in the shadow of a palm in the hall. Before I had got into my stride she c

, ple

to go, and I went it. No man knows how he can talk till he does talk,-to the girl he wants to marry. It is my impression that I gave her rec

ton, I am

did l

s,-even in mine? The one thing precious,-the one thing to be altogether esteemed! Is it so common for a woman to

like this, though I confess

!-I tha

, Mr Atherton, that

me!-

king you,-though

to like me,-I wa

-that is yo

ting you to love me

I can't help thinking that y

orce of my being! What do you want me to do to prove I love you,-take you in my arms an

't mind not talking quite so loud. Mr Challoner

ldn't tor

she looked down at it I am dis

ittle explanation, because, o

ot your

me, yo

can't be something el

y ignoring me,-pla

in rather a delicate position,

Who's been worryin

ot,-as yet; but

in the

essin

her eyes. For the moment

ha

end, Mr L

o means sure that anyone is entitled t

n I am going t

ee anything desirable in a stick of a man like that. Not to speak of a hundred and one other considerations,-Lessingham on one side of the House, and her fath

what I felt,-if I did,

te moment, Miss Lindon, to ma

to disrega

se now you will understand wha

my hearty con

n the spirit in which they are offered, b

f me I could not tell how sh

announcement has been made

,-as my greatest friend; because a husband is something mor

ed,-and I st

de,-or Mr L

d my side is his side;-y

that I altogeth

e will be trouble,-as you know. He thinks so much of you and of your opi

ther,-it is just possible that Lessingham is stronger than you; t

iend,-are you

u offer me an

did not think

al of my love, and, straightway, you ask m

ad no notion. You have known me all your life,

d spoken

ight movement of her shoulder

d that it would. But I do know this, I believe that you yourself have

less. It was a fact that only during the last few minutes had I really realised how things were with me,-only since the end of that first waltz that the flame had burst

you only discovered to me the state of your mind a little soone

sider it ter

hat you have so long been innocent, I beg that you will continue so no more. At least, your innocence shall be without excuse. For I wish you to understand that I love you, that I have loved you, th

wide open eyes,-as if I

hat was what I

Athe

s Li

ot like yo

each other's acquainta

to be candid, I found it difficult to meet. On a sud

rs! I know you, and though I daresay you're not fla

ng to claim his dance gave me an opportunity to escape with such remnants of dignity as

ss Lindon, thi

and rose to take his arm. I got

of fluster, and was gaping about him as if he had mislaid the Koh-i-noor, and won

n, have you see

hav

ll over the place, except in the cellars and the attics,-a

se, she's s

mistake's mine. Fact is, I've made a mess of my programme. It's either the last dance, or this dance, or the next, that I've booke

s ball programmes are studies in impressionism, Percy's seemed to me to be a study in madness. It was covered with hieroglyphics, but what they m

iform writing. If you have any doubt as to which dance is

get into the open air; as for dancing I felt that I loathed it. Just

otten that thi

e face, I felt that I deserved well kicking. She is an angel,-one of the best!-but I was in no mood for angels. Not for a very great deal would I h

am not feeling very well, and-I don't thi