Mortal Coils

will be down

to him, malignantly, criminally ugly-that he could not bear to look at her more than was necessary. The door closed. Left to h

he had paid half a crown for (and thirty-five shillings for the frame). How often his had heard her tell the story, how often expatiate on the beauties of that skilful imitation of an oleograph! "A real Artist in the streets," and you could hear the capital A in Artist as she

er his moustache. It was as curly, as freshly auburn as it had been twenty years ago. His hair still retained its colour, and there was no sign of baldness

bout him. He was what the women, would call a manly man. That was why they liked him-for the curly auburn moustache and the discreet redolence of tobacco. Mr. Hutton smiled again; he enjoyed making fun of himself.

and resumed his peregrination. Damn the Rom

taken in some felonious act. To make these silent and spectral appearances was one of Janet Spence's peculiar talents. Perha

Mr. Hutton, recovering his smile and adv

ttery. Miss Spence had taken the compliment seriously, and had always tried to live up to the Leonardo s

ll," said Mr. Hut

line. Eyes large, lustrous, and dark, with the largeness, lustre, and darkness that seems to invite sties and an occasional blood-shot suffusion. They were fine eyes, but unchangingly grave. The penholder might do its Gioconda trick, but the eyes never a

e"-he indicated with a wave of his hand the flowers in the vases, the sunshine and greenery be

sat down, pointed t

en-" He broke off and coughed, so as to hide the fact that he had uttered. He was about to say that women with weak digestions ought not to marry; but the remark was too cruel, and he didn't really believe it. Janet Spence,

ght that he detected a certain reddening of the

ou think Emily's really wel

l do us both good. In married life th

u're cy

last word was spoken. It irritated him more than any other word

But that doesn't make me believe any the less in the ideal. Indeed, I believe in it passionately the

ered; she had her charms. And there was something really rather enigmatic about her. Miss Spence made no re

t were, in a narrower snout. Mr. Hutton made a Cinquecento gesture, and kissed her extended hand. It was t

yo

ed her hand, then turned to go. Miss

our car?"

t the gate o

e and see

but determined. "You must do no

Miss Spence protested, thro

ted and turned round. Miss Spence was still standing on the steps, smiling her smile. He waved his hand, and this time quite definitely and overtly wafted a kiss in her direction. Then, breaking once more into his magnificent canter, he rounded the last dark promontory of trees. Once out of sight of the house he let his high paces decline to a trot, and finally to a walk. He too

, prosperous-looking motor was s

ads on the way, as usual," Mr. Hutton added, as he opened the door of t

h and childish voice that spoke the words. There was the

darted into the car with the agilit

e. "You must have missed me a lot if you found the time so long.

ng little head declined on to Mr. Hutton's shoulder. Rav

ctures of Louise de Kerouaille." He passe

atever-it-is?" Doris spo

shall all be 'was' one of

ar rushed smoothly along. McNab's back, through the fr

. "Oh, you mustn't touch me.

ility of the words. How late in one's exis

ed the throat, she offered him, white and extended like the throat of a victim awaiting the sacrificial knife. The sea-mouse was a sausage with iridescent fur: very peculiar. Or was Doris the

e was only a land animal. His poor lit

id Mr. Hutton

ere right. Tell me, Teddy

what I've been wondering f

ight that I should be here with you and that we should love one ano

ld have electric shocks rather than sexual repr

e I am sometimes, thinking it's not right. Perhaps, you know, there is a hell, and

on, confident in the powers of

ld run away, I could hide from you, I could loc

hing!" He tight

wrong. And there are times

eek against her hair and so, interlaced, they sat in silence, while the car, swaying and pitching a li

ye, goo

nd weak with the languor born of those kisses and the electrical touch of those gentle hands. She had to take a deep breath, to draw her

ly found himself the pre