Mortal Coils

e warmth of the July evening a wood fire was burning on the hearth. A black Pomera

t in here?" Mr. Hutton as

." The voice seemed breaking on the

re better th

ch, I'm

oe of his right boot he rolled the little dog over and rubbed its white-flecked chest and belly. The creature lay in an inert ecstasy. Mrs. Hutton contin

ought to go to Llandri

dear-go, mo

and he, up to the hanging wood, had left the car to wait for them under the shade

er, and he thinks I ought to have m

bious flower with a motion that was like the flickering of blue fire. The blue fire burst a

will do you g

g if you'd come

ing to Scotland at t

ht of it is such a nightmare. I don't know if I can manage it. And you know I can't

usurping the place of the healthy one. He was being dragged back from the memory of the sunlit down

nk I shall b

doctor tells you to. And, besid

't thi

so, and he knows wha

alone." Mrs. Hutton pulled a handkerchief out

ear, you must m

peace to die here." She w

Hutton only sobbed more violently. "Oh, what is one to

Once, as an undergraduate, he spent three days at a mission in the East End. He had returned, filled with a profound and ineradicable disgust. Instead of pitying, he loathed the unfortunate. It was not, he knew, a very comely emotion; and he had been

his show of exasperation he went up to his wife's room and offered to read to her. She was touched, gratefully acce

Hutton spoke of the language of Racine

The effort of pronouncing perfectly absorbed his whole attention. But how good his accen

ago, the sight of it, the recollection of it, had moved him with an emotion profounder, perhaps, than any he had felt before or since. Now it was lined and cadaverous. The skin was stretched tightly over the cheekbones, across the bridge o

tte était

eureux de

ttle, and tiptoe

d was always said with intensity. She leaned forward, aimed, so to speak, like a gun, and fired her words. Bang! the charge in her soul was ignited, the words whizzed forth at the narrow barrel of her mouth. She was a machine-gun riddling her hostess with sympathy. Mr. Hutton had undergone similar bombardments, mostly

ss, that every woman's small talk was like a vapour hanging over mysterious gulfs. His wife, for example, and Doris; they were nothing more than what they seemed to be. But with Janet Spence it was somehow di

od after all," Miss Spence was saying. "If you

ed, I do really feel

m feeling well every day? But he comforted himself by reflecting that it was only a case

e you," he said, suddenly solicitous. "You know that

" Mrs. Hutton protested, "

fe. "Let the poor invalid have what she fancies; it will do her good." She lai

s. Hutton helped herself

me me if they ma

r blame y

or," Mr. Hutton answered playfu

r the old cypress tree they looked out across a flat expanse of lawn

f the warm and fragrant air. "I

hoed, stretching one pale, knot

ts and the little blue cups were set on

on. "Run in and fetch it, Clara, will

n. "I've got to go and fe

across the lawn. His wife was sitting up in her deck-chair, engaged in opening her white parasol. Miss S

in your coffee?" Mi

lot. I'll drink it after my m

ering the sunshade over her eyes, so as t

as making a delicate clin

uls. That ought to take the taste

, carrying a wineglass, h

," he said, as he ha

off at a gulp, shuddered, and made a grimac

t it. "You've made it like syrup. But it's

to lie down. Her husband would have said something about the red currants, but checked himself; the triump

e said. "By the way, I shan'

Where are

this evening. We have to disc

ton was almost in tears. "Can't you stay

a bother having to lie like this. "And now

nt out again into the garden. Miss S

adfully ill," she

heered up so muc

ng her closely. With a heart in that condition and her

." Mr. Hutton held open the gate that led from the garden int

ntry doctor. You ought

aughing. "You have a macabr

m serious. I think poor Emily is in a very ba

or. The chauffeur started the engine and c

t?" He had no desire to c

oconda in his direction. "Remember, I ex

noise, and, as the car moved forward, w

de hotel. It was one of those bad, expensive meals which are only cooked in country hotels frequented by motorists. It revolted Mr. Hutton, but Doris

rk inside the car, but looking forward, past the motionless form of M'Nab, they could see a bri

minine. His brown eyes were large and melancholy. He used to waste a great deal of time sitting at the bedside of his patients, looking sadness through those eyes and

tton in surprise. "You

holy voice replied. "It was thought you were at M

," Mr. Hutton answered irritably. It w

nted to see y

." Mr. Hutton moved

nd on his arm. "I am

ng with his watch; it would

assed away hal

id not deepen. Dr. Libbard spoke of death as he would speak of a loca

t Spence's words. At any moment-at any mo

he asked. "What

something of an irritant nature. Red currants? Mr. Hutton suggested. Very likely. It had been too much for the heart. Ther