第2章

ItwasaboutthethirdweekinMaythatMrs。Mullet，relictofthelateSylvesterMullet，andmotherofTobyandabunchofdaughters，assailedClovisSangrailontheoutskirtsofthevillagewithabreathlesscatalogueoflocalhappenings。

"Youknowournewneighbour，Mr。Penricarde？"shevociferated；"awfullyrich，ownstinminesinCornwall，middle-agedandratherquiet。He\'stakentheRedHouseonalongleaseandspentalotofmoneyonalterationsandimprovements。Well，Toby\'ssoldhimtheBrogue！"

Clovisspentamomentortwoinassimilatingtheastonishingnews；thenhebrokeoutintounstintedcongratulation。IfhehadbelongedtoamoreemotionalracehewouldprobablyhavekissedMrs。Mullet。

"Howwonderfullyluckytohavepulleditoffatlast！Nowyoucanbuyadecentanimal。I\'vealwayssaidthatTobywasclever。Eversomanycongratulations。"

"Don\'tcongratulateme。It\'sthemostunfortunatethingthatcouldhavehappened！"saidMrs。Mulletdramatically。

Clovisstaredatherinamazement。

"Mr。Penricarde，"saidMrs。Mullet，sinkinghervoicetowhatsheimaginedtobeanimpressivewhisper，thoughitratherresembledahoarse，excitedsqueak，"Mr。

PenricardehasjustbeguntopayattentionstoJessie。

Slightatfirst，butnowunmistakable。Iwasafoolnottohaveseenitsooner。Yesterday，attheRectorygardenparty，heaskedherwhatherfavouriteflowerswere，andshetoldhimcarnations，andto-dayawholestackofcarnationshasarrived，cloveandmalmaisonandlovelydarkredones，regularexhibitionblooms，andaboxofchocolatesthathemusthavegotonpurposefromLondon。

Andhe\'saskedhertogoroundthelinkswithhimto-

morrow。Andnow，justatthiscriticalmoment，Tobyhassoldhimthatanimal。It\'sacalamity！"

"Butyou\'vebeentryingtogetthehorseoffyourhandsforyears，"saidClovis。

"I\'vegotahousefulofdaughters，"saidMrs。

Mullet，"andI\'vebeentrying-well，nottogetthemoffmyhands，ofcourse，butahusbandortwowouldn\'tbeamissamongthelotofthem；therearesixofthem，youknow。"

"Idon\'tknow，"saidClovis，"I\'venevercounted，butIexpectyou\'rerightastothenumber；mothersgenerallyknowthesethings。"

"Andnow，"continuedMrs。Mullet，inhertragicwhisper，"whenthere\'sarichhusband-in-prospectimminentonthehorizonTobygoesandsellshimthatmiserableanimal。Itwillprobablykillhimifhetriestorideit；anywayitwillkillanyaffectionhemighthavefelttowardsanymemberofourfamily。Whatistobedone？Wecan\'tverywellasktohavethehorseback；

yousee，wepraisedituplikeanythingwhenwethoughttherewasachanceofhisbuyingit，andsaiditwasjusttheanimaltosuithim。"

"Couldn\'tyoustealitoutofhisstableandsendittograssatsomefarmmilesaway？"suggestedClovis；

"write\'VotesforWomen\'onthestabledoor，andthethingwouldpassforaSuffragetteoutrage。Noonewhoknewthehorsecouldpossiblysuspectyouofwantingtogetitbackagain。"

"Everynewspaperinthecountrywouldringwiththeaffair，"saidMrs。Mullet；"can\'tyouimaginetheheadline，\'ValuableHunterStolenbySuffragettes\'？Thepolicewouldscourthecountrysidetilltheyfoundtheanimal。"

"Well，JessiemusttryandgetitbackfromPenricardeonthepleathatit\'sanoldfavourite。Shecansayitwasonlysoldbecausethestablehadtobepulleddownunderthetermsofanoldrepairinglease，andthatnowithasbeenarrangedthatthestableistostandforacoupleofyearslonger。"

"Itsoundsaqueerproceedingtoaskforahorsebackwhenyou\'vejustsoldhim，"saidMrs。Mullet，"butsomethingmustbedone，anddoneatonce。Themanisnotusedtohorses，andIbelieveItoldhimitwasasquietasalamb。Afterall，lambsgokickingandtwistingaboutasiftheyweredemented，don\'tthey？"

"Thelambhasanentirelyunmeritedcharacterforsedateness，"agreedClovis。

Jessiecamebackfromthegolflinksnextdayinastateofmingledelationandconcern。

"It\'sallrightabouttheproposal，"sheannouncedhecameoutwithitatthesixthhole。IsaidImusthavetimetothinkitover。Iacceptedhimattheseventh。"

"Mydear，"saidhermother，"Ithinkalittlemoremaidenlyreserveandhesitationwouldhavebeenadvisable，asyou\'veknownhimsoshortatime。Youmighthavewaitedtilltheninthhole。"

"Theseventhisaverylonghole，"saidJessie；

"besides，thetensionwasputtingusbothoffourgame。

Bythetimewe\'dgottotheninthholewe\'dsettledlotsofthings。ThehoneymoonistobespentinCorsica，withperhapsaflyingvisittoNaplesifwefeellikeit，andaweekinLondontowindupwith。Twoofhisniecesaretobeaskedtobebridesmaids，sowithourlottherewillbeseven，whichisratheraluckynumber。Youaretowearyourpearlgrey，withanyamountofHonitonlacejabbedintoit。Bytheway，he\'scomingoverthiseveningtoaskyourconsenttothewholeaffair。Sofarall\'swell，butabouttheBrogueit\'sadifferentmatter。

Itoldhimthelegendaboutthestable，andhowkeenwewereaboutbuyingthehorseback，butheseemsequallykeenonkeepingit。Hesaidhemusthavehorseexercisenowthathe\'slivinginthecountry，andhe\'sgoingtostartridingtomorrow。He\'sriddenafewtimesintheRow，onananimalthatwasaccustomedtocarryoctogenariansandpeopleundergoingrestcures，andthat\'saboutallhisexperienceinthesaddle-oh，andherodeaponyonceinNorfolk，whenhewasfifteenandtheponytwenty-four；andtomorrowhe\'sgoingtoridetheBrogue！IshallbeawidowbeforeI\'mmarried，andIdosowanttoseewhatCorsica\'slike；itlookssosillyonthemap。"

Cloviswassentforinhaste，andthedevelopmentsofthesituationputbeforehim。

"Nobodycanridethatanimalwithanysafety，"saidMrs。Mullet，"exceptToby，andheknowsbylongexperiencewhatitisgoingtoshyat，andmanagestoswerveatthesametime。"

"IdidhinttoMr。Penricarde-toVincent，Ishouldsay-thattheBroguedidn\'tlikewhitegates，"saidJessie。

"Whitegates！"exclaimedMrs。Mullet；"didyoumentionwhateffectapighasonhim？He\'llhavetogopastLockyer\'sfarmtogettothehighroad，andthere\'ssuretobeapigortwogruntingaboutinthelane。"

"He\'stakenratheradisliketoturkeyslately，"

saidToby。

"It\'sobviousthatPenricardemustn\'tbeallowedtogooutonthatanimal，"saidClovis，"atleastnottillJessiehasmarriedhim，andtiredofhim。Itellyouwhat：askhimtoapicnicto-morrow，startingatanearlyhour；he\'snotthesorttogooutforaridebeforebreakfast。ThedayafterI\'llgettherectortodrivehimovertoCrowleighbeforelunch，toseethenewcottagehospitalthey\'rebuildingthere。TheBroguewillbestandingidleinthestableandTobycanoffertoexerciseit；thenitcanpickupastoneorsomethingofthesortandgoconvenientlylame。Ifyouhurryontheweddingabitthelamenessfictioncanbekeptuptilltheceremonyissafelyover。"

Mrs。Mulletbelongedtoanemotionalrace，andshekissedClovis。

Itwasnobody\'sfaultthattheraincamedownintorrentsthenextmorning，makingapicnicafantasticimpossibility。Itwasalsonobody\'sfault，butsheerill-luck，thattheweatherclearedupsufficientlyintheafternoontotemptMr。PenricardetomakehisfirstessaywiththeBrogue。TheydidnotgetasfarasthepigsatLockyer\'sfarm；therectorygatewaspaintedadullunobtrusivegreen，butithadbeenwhiteayearortwoago，andtheBrogueneverforgotthathehadbeeninthehabitofmakingaviolentcurtsey，aback-pedalandaswerveatthisparticularpointoftheroad。

Subsequently，therebeingapparentlynofurthercallonhisservices，hebrokehiswayintotherectoryorchard，wherehefoundahenturkeyinacoop；latervisitorstotheorchardfoundthecoopalmostintact，butverylittleleftoftheturkey。

Mr。Penricarde，alittlestunnedandshaken，andsufferingfromabruisedkneeandsomeminordamages，good-naturedlyascribedtheaccidenttohisowninexperiencewithhorsesandcountryroads，andallowedJessietonursehimbackintocompleterecoveryandgolf-

fitnesswithinsomethinglessthanaweek。

Inthelistofweddingpresentswhichthelocalnewspaperpublishedafortnightorsolaterappearedthefollowingitem：

"Brownsaddle-horse，\'TheBrogue，\'bridegroom\'sgifttobride。"

"Whichshows，"saidTobyMullet，"thatheknewnothing。"

"Orelse，"saidClovis，"thathehasaverypleasingwit。"

THEHEN

"DORABITTHOLZiscomingonThursday，"saidMrs。

Sangrail。

"ThisnextThursday？"askedClovisHismothernodded。

"You\'veratherdoneit，haven\'tyou？"hechuckled；

"JaneMartlethasonlybeenherefivedays，andsheneverstayslessthanafortnight，evenwhenshe\'saskeddefinitelyforaweek。You\'llnevergetheroutofthehousebyThursday。"

"WhyshouldI？"askedMrs。Sangrail；"sheandDoraaregoodfriends，aren\'tthey？Theyusedtobe，asfarasIremember。"

"Theyusedtobe；that\'swhatmakesthemallthemorebitternow。Eachfeelsthatshehasnursedaviperinherbosom。Nothingfanstheflameofhumanresentmentsomuchasthediscoverythatone\'sbosomhasbeenutilisedasasnakesanatorium。"

"Butwhathashappened？Hassomeonebeenmakingmischief？"

"Notexactly，"saidClovis；"ahencamebetweenthem。"

"Ahen？Whathen？"

"ItwasabronzeLeghornorsomesuchexoticbreed，andDorasoldittoJaneataratherexoticprice。Theybothgoinforprizepoultry，youknow，andJanethoughtshewasgoingtogethermoneybackinalargefamilyofpedigreechickens。Thebirdturnedouttobeanabstainerfromtheegghabit，andI\'mtoldthattheletterswhichpassedbetweenthetwowomenwerearevelationastohowmuchinvectivecouldbegotontoasheetofnotepaper。"

"Howridiculous！"saidMrs。Sangrail。"Couldn\'tsomeoftheirfriendscomposethequarrel？"

"Peopletried，"saidClovis，"butitmusthavebeenratherlikecomposingthestormmusicofthe`FliegendeHollander。\'JanewaswillingtotakebacksomeofhermostlibellousremarksifDorawouldtakebackthehen，butDorasaidthatwouldbeowningherselfinthewrong，andyouknowshe\'dassoonthinkofowningslumpropertyinWhitechapelasdothat。"

"It\'samostawkwardsituation，"saidMrs。Sangrail。

"Doyousupposetheywon\'tspeaktooneanother？"

"Onthecontrary，thedifficultywillbetogetthemtoleaveoff。Theirremarksoneachother\'sconductandcharacterhavehithertobeengovernedbythefactthatonlyfourouncesofplainspeakingcanbesentthroughthepostforapenny。"

"Ican\'tputDoraoff，"saidMrs。Sangrail。"I\'vealreadypostponedhervisitonce，andnothingshortofamiraclewouldmakeJaneleavebeforeherself-allottedfortnightisover。"

"Miraclesareratherinmyline，"saidClovis。"I

don\'tpretendtobeveryhopefulinthiscasebutI\'lldomybest。"

"Aslongasyoudon\'tdragmeintoit-"stipulatedhismother。

****

"Servantsareabitofanuisance，"mutteredClovis，ashesatinthesmoking-roomafterlunch，talkingfitfullytoJaneMartletintheintervalsofputtingtogetherthematerialsofacocktail，whichhehadirreverentlypatentedunderthenameofanEllaWheelerWilcox。Itwaspartlycompoundedofoldbrandyandpartlyofcuracoa；therewereotheringredients，buttheywereneverindiscriminatelyrevealed。

"Servantsanuisance！"exclaimedJane，boundingintothetopicwiththeexuberantplungeofahunterwhenitleavesthehighroadandfeelsturfunderitshoofs；"I

shouldthinktheywere！ThetroubleI\'vehadingettingsuitedthisyearyouwouldhardlybelieve。ButIdon\'tseewhatyouhavetocomplainof-yourmotherissowonderfullyluckyinherservants。Sturridge，forinstance-he\'sbeenwithyouforyears，andI\'msurehe\'saparagonasbutlersgo。"

"That\'sjustthetrouble，"saidClovis。"It\'swhenservantshavebeenwithyouforyearsthattheybecomeareallyseriousnuisance。The\'hereto-dayandgoneto-

morrow\'sortdon\'tmatter-you\'vesimplygottoreplacethem；it\'sthestayersandtheparagonsthataretherealworry。"

"Butiftheygivesatisfaction-"

"Thatdoesn\'tpreventthemfromgivingtrouble。

Now，you\'vementionedSturridge-itwasSturridgeIwasparticularlythinkingofwhenImadetheobservationaboutservantsbeinganuisance。"

"TheexcellentSturridgeanuisance！Ican\'tbelieveit。"

"Iknowhe\'sexcellent，andwejustcouldn\'tgetalongwithouthim；he\'stheonereliableelementinthisratherhaphazardhousehold。Buthisveryorderlinesshashadaneffectonhim。Haveyoueverconsideredwhatitmustbeliketogoonunceasinglydoingthecorrectthinginthecorrectmannerinthesamesurroundingsforthegreaterpartofalifetime？Toknowandordainandsuperintendexactlywhatsilverandglassandtablelinenshallbeusedandsetoutonwhatoccasions，tohavecellarandpantryandplate-cupboardunderaminutelydevisedandundeviatingadministration，tobenoiseless，impalpable，omnipresent，and，asfarasyourowndepartmentisconcerned，omniscient？"

"Ishouldgomad，"saidJanewithconviction。

"Exactly，"saidClovisthoughtfully，swallowinghiscompletedEllaWheelerWilcox。

"ButSturridgehasn\'tgonemad，"saidJanewithaflutterofinquiryinhervoice。

"Onmostpointshe\'sthoroughlysaneandreliable，"

saidClovis，"butattimesheissubjecttothemostobstinatedelusions，andonthoseoccasionshebecomesnotmerelyanuisancebutadecidedembarrassment。"

"Whatsortofdelusions？"

"Unfortunatelytheyusuallycentreroundoneoftheguestsofthehouseparty，andthatiswheretheawkwardnesscomesin。Forinstance，hetookitintohisheadthatMatildaSheringhamwastheProphetElijah，andasallthatherememberedaboutElijah\'shistorywastheepisodeoftheravensinthewildernessheabsolutelydeclinedtointerferewithwhatheimaginedtobeMatilda\'sprivatecateringarrangements，wouldn\'tallowanyteatobesentuptoherinthemorning，andifhewaswaitingattablehepassedheroveraltogetherinhandingroundthedishes。"

"Howveryunpleasant。Whateverdidyoudoaboutit？"

"Oh，Matildagotfed，afterafashion，butitwasjudgedtobebestforhertocuthervisitshort。Itwasreallytheonlythingtobedone，"saidCloviswithsomeemphasis。

"Ishouldn\'thavedonethat，"saidJane，"Ishouldhavehumouredhiminsomeway。Icertainlyshouldn\'thavegoneaway。"

Clovisfrowned。

"Itisnotalwayswisetohumourpeoplewhentheygettheseideasintotheirheads。There\'snoknowingtowhatlengthstheymaygoifyouencouragethem。"

"Youdon\'tmeantosayhemightbedangerous，doyou？"askedJanewithsomeanxiety。

"Onecanneverbecertain，"saidClovis；"nowandthenhegetssomeideaaboutaguestwhichmighttakeanunfortunateturn。Thatispreciselywhatisworryingmeatthepresentmoment。"

"What，hashetakenafancyaboutsomeoneherenow？"askedJaneexcitedly；"howthrilling！Dotellmewhoitis。"

You，"saidClovisbriefly。

"Me？"

Clovisnodded。

"WhoonearthdoeshethinkIam？"

"QueenAnne，"wastheunexpectedanswer。

"QueenAnne！Whatanidea。But，anyhow，there\'snothingdangerousabouther；she\'ssuchacolourlesspersonality。"

"WhatdoesposteritychieflysayaboutQueenAnne？"

askedClovisrathersternly。

"TheonlythingthatIcanrememberabouther，"saidJane，"isthesaying\'QueenAnne\'sdead。\'"

"Exactly，"saidClovis，staringattheglassthathadheldtheEllaWheelerWilcox，"dead。"

"DoyoumeanhetakesmefortheghostofQueenAnne？"askedJane。

"Ghost？Dearno。Nooneeverheardofaghostthatcamedowntobreakfastandatekidneysandtoastandhoneywithahealthyappetite。No，it\'sthefactofyoubeingsoverymuchaliveandflourishingthatperplexesandannoyshim。AllhislifehehasbeenaccustomedtolookonQueenAnneasthepersonificationofeverythingthatisdeadanddonewith，\'asdeadasQueenAnne，\'youknow；andnowhehastofillyourglassatlunchanddinnerandlistentoyouraccountsofthegaytimeyouhadattheDublinHorseShow，andnaturallyhefeelsthatsomething\'sverywrongwithyou。"

"Buthewouldn\'tbedownrighthostiletomeonthataccount，wouldhe？"Janeaskedanxiously。

"Ididn\'tgetreallyalarmedaboutittilllunchto-

day，"saidClovis；"Icaughthimgloweringatyouwithaverysinisterlookandmuttering：\'Oughttobedeadlongago，sheought，andsomeoneshouldseetoit。\'That\'swhyImentionedthemattertoyou。"

"Thisisawful，"saidJane；"yourmothermustbetoldaboutitatonce。"

"Mymothermustn\'thearawordaboutit，"saidClovisearnestly；"itwouldupsetherdreadfully。ShereliesonSturridgeforeverything。"

"Buthemightkillmeatanymoment，"protestedJane。

"Notatanymoment；he\'sbusywiththesilveralltheafternoon。"

"You\'llhavetokeepasharplook-outallthetimeandbeonyourguardtofrustrateanymurderousattack，"

saidJane，addinginatoneofweakobstinacy："It\'sadreadfulsituationtobein，withamadbutlerdanglingoveryouliketheswordofWhat\'s-his-name，butI\'mcertainlynotgoingtocutmyvisitshort。"

Clovissworehorriblyunderhisbreath；themiraclewasanobviousmisfire。

ItwasinthehallthenextmorningafteralatebreakfastthatClovishadhisfinalinspirationashestoodengagedincoaxingrustspotsfromanoldputter。

"WhereisMissMartlet？"heaskedthebutler，whowasatthatmomentcrossingthehall。

"Writinglettersinthemorning-room，sir，"saidSturridge，announcingafactofwhichhisquestionerwasalreadyaware。

"Shewantstocopytheinscriptiononthatoldbasket-hiltedsabre，"saidClovis，pointingtoavenerableweaponhangingonthewall。"Iwishyou\'dtakeittoher；myhandsarealloveroil。Takeitwithoutthesheath，itwillbelesstrouble。"

Thebutlerdrewtheblade，stillkeenandbrightinitswell-caredforoldage，andcarrieditintothemorning-room。Therewasadoornearthewriting-tableleadingtoabackstairway；Janevanishedthroughitwithsuchlightningrapiditythatthebutlerdoubtedwhethershehadseenhimcomein。HalfanhourlaterCloviswasdrivingherandherhastily-packedluggagetothestation。

"Motherwillbeawfullyvexedwhenshecomesbackfromherrideandfindsyouhavegone，"heobservedtothedepartingguest，"butI\'llmakeupsomestoryaboutanurgentwirehavingcalledyouaway。Itwouldn\'tdotoalarmherunnecessarilyaboutSturridge。"

JanesniffedslightlyatClovis\'ideasofunnecessaryalarm，andwasalmostrudetotheyoungmanwhocameroundwiththoughtfulinquiriesastoluncheon-

baskets。

ThemiraclelostsomeofitsusefulnessfromthefactthatDorawrotethesamedaypostponingthedateofhervisit，but，atanyrate，ClovisholdstherecordastheonlyhumanbeingwhoeverhustledJaneMartletoutofthetime-tableofhermigrations。

THEOPENWINDOW

"MYauntwillbedownpresently，Mr。Nuttel，"saidaveryself-possessedyoungladyoffifteen；"inthemeantimeyoumusttryandputupwithme。"

FramtonNuttelendeavouredtosaythecorrectsomethingwhichshoulddulyflatterthenieceofthemomentwithoutundulydiscountingtheauntthatwastocome。Privatelyhedoubtedmorethaneverwhethertheseformalvisitsonasuccessionoftotalstrangerswoulddomuchtowardshelpingthenervecurewhichhewassupposedtobeundergoing。

"Iknowhowitwillbe，"hissisterhadsaidwhenhewaspreparingtomigratetothisruralretreat；"youwillburyyourselfdownthereandnotspeaktoalivingsoul，andyournerveswillbeworsethaneverfrommoping。I

shalljustgiveyoulettersofintroductiontoallthepeopleIknowthere。Someofthem，asfarasIcanremember，werequitenice。"

FramtonwonderedwhetherMrs。Sappleton，theladytowhomhewaspresentingoneofthelettersofintroduction，cameintothenicedivision。

"Doyouknowmanyofthepeopleroundhere？"askedtheniece，whenshejudgedthattheyhadhadsufficientsilentcommunion。

"Hardlyasoul，"saidFramton。"Mysisterwasstayinghere，attherectory，youknow，somefouryearsago，andshegavemelettersofintroductiontosomeofthepeoplehere。"

Hemadethelaststatementinatoneofdistinctregret。

"Thenyouknowpracticallynothingaboutmyaunt？"

pursuedtheself-possessedyounglady。

"Onlyhernameandaddress，"admittedthecaller。

HewaswonderingwhetherMrs。Sappletonwasinthemarriedorwidowedstate。Anundefinablesomethingabouttheroomseemedtosuggestmasculinehabitation。

"Hergreattragedyhappenedjustthreeyearsago，"

saidthechild；"thatwouldbesinceyoursister\'stime。"

"Hertragedy？"askedFramton；somehowinthisrestfulcountryspottragediesseemedoutofplace。

"YoumaywonderwhywekeepthatwindowwideopenonanOctoberafternoon，"saidtheniece，indicatingalargeFrenchwindowthatopenedontoalawn。

"Itisquitewarmforthetimeoftheyear，"saidFramton；"buthasthatwindowgotanythingtodowiththetragedy？"

"Outthroughthatwindow，threeyearsagotoaday，herhusbandandhertwoyoungbrotherswentofffortheirday\'sshooting。Theynevercameback。Incrossingthemoortotheirfavouritesnipe-shootinggroundtheywereallthreeengulfedinatreacherouspieceofbog。Ithadbeenthatdreadfulwetsummer，youknow，andplacesthatweresafeinotheryearsgavewaysuddenlywithoutwarning。Theirbodieswereneverrecovered。Thatwasthedreadfulpartofit。"Herethechild\'svoicelostitsself-possessednoteandbecamefalteringlyhuman。

"Poorauntalwaysthinksthattheywillcomebacksomeday，theyandthelittlebrownspanielthatwaslostwiththem，andwalkinatthatwindowjustastheyusedtodo。

Thatiswhythewindowiskeptopeneveryeveningtillitisquitedusk。Poordearaunt，shehasoftentoldmehowtheywentout，herhusbandwithhiswhitewaterproofcoatoverhisarm，andRonnie，heryoungestbrother，singing\'Bertie，whydoyoubound？\'ashealwaysdidtoteaseher，becauseshesaiditgotonhernerves。Doyouknow，sometimesonstill，quieteveningslikethis，Ialmostgetacreepyfeelingthattheywillallwalkinthroughthatwindow-"

Shebrokeoffwithalittleshudder。ItwasarelieftoFramtonwhentheauntbustledintotheroomwithawhirlofapologiesforbeinglateinmakingherappearance。

"IhopeVerahasbeenamusingyou？"shesaid。

"Shehasbeenveryinteresting，"saidFramton。

"Ihopeyoudon\'tmindtheopenwindow，"saidMrs。

Sappletonbriskly；"myhusbandandbrotherswillbehomedirectlyfromshooting，andtheyalwayscomeinthisway。

They\'vebeenoutforsnipeinthemarshesto-day，sothey\'llmakeafinemessovermypoorcarpets。Solikeyoumen-folk，isn\'tit？"

Sherattledoncheerfullyabouttheshootingandthescarcityofbirds，andtheprospectsforduckinthewinter。ToFramtonitwasallpurelyhorrible。Hemadeadesperatebutonlypartiallysuccessfulefforttoturnthetalkontoalessghastlytopic；hewasconsciousthathishostesswasgivinghimonlyafragmentofherattention，andhereyeswereconstantlystrayingpasthimtotheopenwindowandthelawnbeyond。Itwascertainlyanunfortunatecoincidencethatheshouldhavepaidhisvisitonthistragicanniversary。

"Thedoctorsagreeinorderingmecompleterest，anabsenceofmentalexcitement，andavoidanceofanythinginthenatureofviolentphysicalexercise，"announcedFramton，wholabouredunderthetolerablywide-spreaddelusionthattotalstrangersandchanceacquaintancesarehungryfortheleastdetailofone\'sailmentsandinfirmities，theircauseandcure。"Onthematterofdiettheyarenotsomuchinagreement，"hecontinued。

"No？"saidMrs。Sappleton，inavoicewhichonlyreplacedayawnatthelastmoment。Thenshesuddenlybrightenedintoalertattention-butnottowhatFramtonwassaying。

"Heretheyareatlast！"shecried。"Justintimefortea，anddon\'ttheylookasiftheyweremuddyuptotheeyes！"

Framtonshiveredslightlyandturnedtowardstheniecewithalookintendedtoconveysympatheticcomprehension。Thechildwasstaringoutthroughtheopenwindowwithdazedhorrorinhereyes。InachillshockofnamelessfearFramtonswungroundinhisseatandlookedinthesamedirection。

Inthedeepeningtwilightthreefigureswerewalkingacrossthelawntowardsthewindow；theyallcarriedgunsundertheirarms，andoneofthemwasadditionallyburdenedwithawhitecoathungoverhisshoulders。A

tiredbrownspanielkeptcloseattheirheels。

Noiselesslytheynearedthehouse，andthenahoarseyoungvoicechantedoutofthedusk："Isaid，Bertie，whydoyoubound？"

Framtongrabbedwildlyathisstickandhat；thehall-door，thegravel-drive，andthefrontgateweredimly-notedstagesinhisheadlongretreat。Acyclistcomingalongtheroadhadtorunintothehedgetoavoidanimminentcollision。

"Hereweare，mydear，"saidthebearerofthewhitemackintosh，cominginthroughthewindow；"fairlymuddy，butmostofit\'sdry。Whowasthatwhoboltedoutaswecameup？"

"Amostextraordinaryman，aMr。Nuttel，"saidMrs。

Sappleton；"couldonlytalkabouthisillnesses，anddashedoffwithoutawordofgood-byeorapologywhenyouarrived。Onewouldthinkhehadseenaghost。"

"Iexpectitwasthespaniel，"saidtheniececalmly；"hetoldmehehadahorrorofdogs。HewasoncehuntedintoacemeterysomewhereonthebanksoftheGangesbyapackofpariahdogs，andhadtospendthenightinanewlyduggravewiththecreaturessnarlingandgrinningandfoamingjustabovehim。Enoughtomakeanyonetheirnerve。"

Romanceatshortnoticewasherspeciality。

THETREASURESHIP

THEgreatgalleonlayinsemi-retirementunderthesandandweedandwaterofthenorthernbaywherethefortuneofwarandweatherhadlongagoensconcedit。

Threeandaquartercenturieshadpassedsincethedaywhenithadtakenthehighseasasanimportantunitofafightingsquadron-preciselywhichsquadronthelearnedwerenotagreed。Thegalleonhadbroughtnothingintotheworld，butithad，accordingtotraditionandreport，takenmuchoutofit。Buthowmuch？Thereagainthelearnedwereindisagreement。Somewereasgenerousintheirestimateasanincome-taxassessor，othersappliedaspeciesofhighercriticismtothesubmergedtreasurechests，anddebasedtheircontentstothecurrencyofgoblingold。OftheformerschoolwasLulu，DuchessofDulverton。

TheDuchesswasnotonlyabelieverintheexistenceofasunkentreasureofalluringproportions；shealsobelievedthatsheknewofamethodbywhichthesaidtreasuremightbepreciselylocatedandcheaplydisembedded。Anauntonhermother\'ssideofthefamilyhadbeenMaidofHonourattheCourtofMonaco，andhadtakenarespectfulinterestinthedeep-searesearchesinwhichtheThroneofthatcountry，impatientperhapsofitsterrestrialrestrictions，waswonttoimmerseitself。

ItwasthroughtheinstrumentalityofthisrelativethattheDuchesslearnedofaninvention，perfectedandverynearlypatentedbyaMonegaskansavant，bymeansofwhichthehome-lifeoftheMediterraneansardinemightbestudiedatadepthofmanyfathomsinacoldwhitelightofmorethanball-roombrilliancy。Implicatedinthisinvention（and，intheDuchess\'seyes，themostattractivepartofit）wasanelectricsuctiondredge，speciallydesignedfordraggingtothesurfacesuchobjectsofinterestandvalueasmightbefoundinthemoreaccessiblelevelsoftheocean-bed。Therightsoftheinventionweretobeacquiredforamatterofeighteenhundredfrancs，andtheapparatusforafewthousandmore。TheDuchessofDulvertonwasrich，astheworldcountedwealth；shenursedthehope，ofbeingonedayrichatherowncomputation。Companieshadbeenformedandeffortshadbeenmadeagainandagainduringthecourseofthreecenturiestoprobefortheallegedtreasuresoftheinterestinggalleon；withtheaidofthisinventionsheconsideredthatshemightgotoworkonthewreckprivatelyandindependently。Afterall，oneofherancestorsonhermother\'ssidewasdescendedfromMedinaSidonia，soshewasofopinionthatshehadasmuchrighttothetreasureasanyone。Sheacquiredtheinventionandboughttheapparatus。

Amongotherfamilytiesandencumbrances，Lulupossessedanephew，VascoHoniton，ayounggentlemanwhowasblessedwithasmallincomeandalargecircleofrelatives，andlivedimpartiallyandprecariouslyonboth。ThenameVascohadbeengivenhimpossiblyinthehopethathemightliveuptoitsadventuroustradition，buthelimitedhimselfstrictlytothehomeindustryofadventurer，preferringtoexploittheassuredratherthantoexploretheunknown。Lulu\'sintercoursewithhimhadbeenrestrictedofrecentyearstothenegativeprocessesofbeingoutoftownwhenhecalledonher，andshortofmoneywhenhewrotetoher。Now，however，shebethoughtherselfofhiseminentsuitabilityforthedirectionofatreasure-seekingexperiment；ifanyonecouldextractgoldfromanunpromisingsituationitwouldcertainlybeVasco-ofcourse，underthenecessarysafeguardsinthewayofsupervision。WheremoneywasinquestionVasco\'sconsciencewasliabletofitsofobstinatesilence。

SomewhereonthewestcoastofIrelandtheDulvertonpropertyincludedafewacresofshingle，rock，andheather，toobarrentosupportevenanagrarianoutrage，butembracingasmallandfairlydeepbaywherethelobsteryieldwasgoodinmostseasons。Therewasableaklittlehouseontheproperty，andforthosewholikedlobstersandsolitude，andwereabletoacceptanIrishcook\'sideasastowhatmightbeperpetratedinthenameofmayonnaise，Innisglutherwasatolerableexileduringthesummermonths。Luluseldomwentthereherself，butshelentthehouselavishlytofriendsandrelations。SheputitnowatVasco\'sdisposal。

"Itwillbetheveryplacetopractiseandexperimentwiththesalvageapparatus，"shesaid；"thebayisquitedeepinplaces，andyouwillbeabletotesteverythingthoroughlybeforestartingonthetreasurehunt。"

InlessthanthreeweeksVascoturnedupintowntoreportprogress。

"Theapparatusworksbeautifully，"heinformedhisaunt；"thedeeperonegottheclearereverythinggrew。

Wefoundsomethinginthewayofasunkenwrecktooperateon，too！"

"AwreckinInnisglutherBay！"exclaimedLulu。

"Asubmergedmotor-boat，theSUB-ROSA，"saidVasco。

"No！really？"saidLulu；"poorBillyYuttley\'sboat。

Irememberitwentdownsomewhereoffthatcoastsomethreeyearsago。HisbodywaswashedashoreatthePoint。Peoplesaidatthetimethattheboatwascapsizedintentionally-acaseofsuicide，youknow。

Peoplealwayssaythatsortofthingwhenanythingtragichappens。"

"Inthiscasetheywereright，"saidVasco。

"Whatdoyoumean？"askedtheDuchesshurriedly。

"Whatmakesyouthinkso？"

"Iknow，"saidVascosimply。

"Know？Howcanyouknow？Howcananyoneknow？Thethinghappenedthreeyearsago。"

"InalockeroftheSUB-ROSAIfoundawater-tightstrong-box。Itcontainedpapers。"Vascopausedwithdramaticeffectandsearchedforamomentintheinnerbreast-pocketofhiscoat。Hedrewoutafoldedslipofpaper。TheDuchesssnatchedatitinalmostindecenthasteandmovedappreciablynearerthefireplace。

"WasthisintheSUB-ROSA\'Sstrong-box？"sheasked。

"Ohno，"saidVascocarelessly，"thatisalistofthewell-knownpeoplewhowouldbeinvolvedinaverydisagreeablescandaliftheSUB-ROSA\'Spapersweremadepublic。I\'veputyouattheheadofit，otherwiseitfollowsalphabeticalorder。"

TheDuchessgazedhelplesslyatthestringofnames，whichseemedforthemomenttoincludenearlyeveryonesheknew。Asamatteroffact，herownnameattheheadofthelistexercisedanalmostparalysingeffectonherthinkingfaculties。

"Ofcourseyouhavedestroyedthepapers？"sheasked，whenshehadsomewhatrecoveredherself。Shewasconsciousthatshemadetheremarkwithanentirelackofconviction。

Vascoshookhishead。

"Butyoushouldhave，"saidLuluangrily；"if，asyousay，theyarehighlycompromising-"

"Oh，theyare，Iassureyouofthat，"interposedtheyoungman。

"Thenyoushouldputthemoutofharm\'swayatonce。

Supposinganythingshouldleakout，thinkofallthesepoor，unfortunatepeoplewhowouldbeinvolvedinthedisclosures，"andLulutappedthelistwithanagitatedgesture。

"Unfortunate，perhaps，butnotpoor，"correctedVasco；"ifyoureadthelistcarefullyyou\'llnoticethatIhaven\'ttroubledtoincludeanyonewhosefinancialstandingisn\'tabovequestion。"

Luluglaredathernephewforsomemomentsinsilence。Thensheaskedhoarsely："Whatareyougoingtodo？"

"Nothing-fortheremainderofmylife，"heansweredmeaningly。"Alittlehunting，perhaps，"hecontinued，"andIshallhaveavillaatFlorence。TheVillaSub-Rosawouldsoundratherquaintandpicturesque，don\'tyouthink，andquitealotofpeoplewouldbeabletoattachameaningtothename。AndIsupposeImusthaveahobby；IshallprobablycollectRaeburns。"

Lulu\'srelative，wholivedattheCourtofMonaco，gotquiteasnappishanswerwhenshewroterecommendingsomefurtherinventionintherealmofmarineresearch。

THECOBWEB

THEfarmhousekitchenprobablystoodwhereitdidasamatterofaccidentorhaphazardchoice；yetitssituationmighthavebeenplannedbyamaster-strategistinfarmhousearchitecture。Dairyandpoultry-yard，andherbgarden，andallthebusyplacesofthefarmseemedtoleadbyeasyaccessintoitswideflaggedhaven，wheretherewasroomforeverythingandwheremuddybootslefttracesthatwereeasilysweptaway。Andyet，forallthatitstoodsowellinthecentreofhumanbustle，itslong，latticedwindow，withthewidewindow-seat，builtintoanembrasurebeyondthehugefireplace，lookedoutonawildspreadingviewofhillandheatherandwoodedcombe。Thewindownookmadealmostalittleroominitself，quitethepleasantestroominthefarmasfarassituationandcapabilitieswent。YoungMrs。Ladbruk，whosehusbandhadjustcomeintothefarmbywayofinheritance，castcovetouseyesonthissnugcorner，andherfingersitchedtomakeitbrightandcosywithchintzcurtainsandbowlsofflowers，andashelfortwoofoldchina。Themustyfarmparlour，lookingoutontoaprim，cheerlessgardenimprisonedwithinhigh，blankwalls，wasnotaroomthatlentitselfreadilyeithertocomfortordecoration。

"WhenwearemoresettledIshallworkwondersinthewayofmakingthekitchenhabitable，"saidtheyoungwomantoheroccasionalvisitors。Therewasanunspokenwishinthosewords，awishwhichwasunconfessedaswellasunspoken。EmmaLadbrukwasthemistressofthefarm；

jointlywithherhusbandshemighthavehersay，andtoacertainextentherway，inorderingitsaffairs。Butshewasnotmistressofthekitchen。

Ononeoftheshelvesofanolddresser，incompanywithchippedsauce-boats，pewterjugs，cheese-graters，andpaidbills，restedawornandraggedBible，onwhosefrontpagewastherecord，infadedink，ofabaptismdatedninety-fouryearsago。"MarthaCrale"wasthenamewrittenonthatyellowpage。Theyellow，wrinkledolddamewhohobbledandmutteredaboutthekitchen，lookinglikeadeadautumnleafwhichthewinterwindsstillpushedhitherandthither，hadoncebeenMarthaCrale；

forseventyoddyearsshehadbeenMarthaMountjoy。Forlongerthananyonecouldremembershehadpatteredtoandfrobetweenovenandwash-houseanddairy，andouttochicken-runandgarden，grumblingandmutteringandscolding，butworkingunceasingly。EmmaLadbruk，ofwhosecomingshetookaslittlenoticeasshewouldofabeewanderinginatawindowonasummer\'sday，usedatfirsttowatchherwithakindoffrightenedcuriosity。

Shewassooldandsomuchapartoftheplace，itwasdifficulttothinkofherexactlyasalivingthing。OldShep，thewhite-nozzled，stiff-limbedcollie，waitingforhistimetodie，seemedalmostmorehumanthanthewithered，dried-upoldwoman。Hehadbeenariotous，roysteringpuppy，madwiththejoyoflife，whenshewasalreadyatottering，hobblingdame；nowhewasjustablind，breathingcarcase，nothingmore，andshestillworkedwithfrailenergy，stillsweptandbakedandwashed，fetchedandcarried。Ifthereweresomethinginthesewiseolddogsthatdidnotperishutterlywithdeath，Emmausedtothinktoherself，whatgenerationsofghost-dogstheremustbeoutonthosehills，thatMarthahadrearedandfedandtendedandspokenalastgoodbyewordtointhatoldkitchen。Andwhatmemoriesshemusthaveofhumangenerationsthathadpassedawayinhertime。Itwasdifficultforanyone，letaloneastrangerlikeEmma，togethertotalkofthedaysthathadbeen；

hershrill，quaveringspeechwasofdoorsthathadbeenleftunfastened，pailsthathadgotmislaid，calveswhosefeeding-timewasoverdue，andthevariouslittlefaultsandlapsesthatchequerafarmhouseroutine。Nowandagain，whenelectiontimecameround，shewouldunstoreherrecollectionsoftheoldnamesroundwhichthefighthadwagedinthedaysgoneby。TherehadbeenaPalmerston，thathadbeenanamedownTivertonway；

Tivertonwasnotafarjourneyasthecrowflies，buttoMarthaitwasalmostaforeigncountry。LatertherehadbeenNorthcotesandAclands，andmanyothernewernamesthatshehadforgotten；thenameschanged，butitwasalwaysLibrulsandToories，YellowsandBlues。Andtheyalwaysquarrelledandshoutedastowhowasrightandwhowaswrong。Theonetheyquarrelledaboutmostwasafineoldgentlemanwithanangryface-shehadseenhispictureonthewalls。Shehadseenitonthefloortoo，witharottenapplesquashedoverit，forthefarmhadchangeditspoliticsfromtimetotime。Marthahadneverbeenononesideortheother；noneof"they"hadeverdonethefarmastrokeofgood。Suchwashersweepingverdict，givenwithallapeasant\'sdistrustoftheoutsideworld。

Whenthehalf-frightenedcuriosityhadsomewhatfadedaway，EmmaLadbrukwasuncomfortablyconsciousofanotherfeelingtowardstheoldwoman。Shewasaquaintoldtradition，lingeringabouttheplace，shewaspartandparcelofthefarmitself，shewassomethingatoncepatheticandpicturesque-butshewasdreadfullyintheway。Emmahadcometothefarmfullofplansforlittlereformsandimprovements，inparttheresultoftraininginthenewestwaysandmethods，inparttheoutcomeofherownideasandfancies。Reformsinthekitchenregion，ifthosedeafoldearscouldhavebeeninducedtogivethemevenahearing，wouldhavemetwithshortshriftandscornfulrejection，andthekitchenregionspreadoverthezoneofdairyandmarketbusinessandhalftheworkofthehousehold。Emma，withthelatestscienceofdead-poultrydressingatherfinger-tips，satby，anunheededwatcher，whileoldMarthatrussedthechickensforthemarket-stallasshehadtrussedthemfornearlyfour-scoreyears-alllegandnobreast。Andthehundredhintsanenteffectivecleaningandlabour-

lighteningandthethingsthatmakeforwholesomenesswhichtheyoungwomanwasreadytoimpartortoputintoactiondroppedawayintonothingnessbeforethatwan，muttering，unheedingpresence。Aboveall，thecovetedwindowcorner，thatwastobeadainty，cheerfuloasisinthegauntoldkitchen，stoodnowchokedandlumberedwithalitterofoddsandendsthatEmma，forallhernominalauthority，wouldnothavedaredorcaredtodisplace；

overthemseemedtobespuntheprotectionofsomethingthatwaslikeahumancobweb。DecidedlyMarthawasintheway。Itwouldhavebeenanunworthymeannesstohavewishedtoseethespanofthatbraveoldlifeshortenedbyafewpaltrymonths，butasthedaysspedbyEmmawasconsciousthatthewishwasthere，disownedthoughitmightbe，lurkingatthebackofhermind。

Shefeltthemeannessofthewishcomeoverherwithaqualmofself-reproachonedaywhenshecameintothekitchenandfoundanunaccustomedstateofthingsinthatusuallybusyquarter。OldMarthawasnotworking。A

basketofcornwasonthefloorbyherside，andoutintheyardthepoultrywerebeginningtoclamouraprotestofoverduefeeding-time。ButMarthasathuddledinashrunkenbunchonthewindowseat，lookingoutwithherdimoldeyesasthoughshesawsomethingstrangerthantheautumnlandscape。

"Isanythingthematter，Martha？"askedtheyoungwoman。

"\'Tisdeath，\'tisdeatha-coming，"answeredthequaveringvoice；"Iknew\'twerecoming。Iknewit。

\'Tweren\'tfornothingthatoldShep\'sbeenhowlingallmorning。An\'lastnightIheardthescreech-owlgivethedeath-cry，andthereweresomethingwhiteasrunacrosstheyardyesterday；\'tweren\'tacatnorastoat，\'tweresomething。Thefowlsknew\'tweresomething；theyalldrewofftooneside。Ay，there\'sbeenwarnings。Iknewitwerea-coming。"

Theyoungwoman\'seyescloudedwithpity。Theoldthingsittingtheresowhiteandshrunkenhadoncebeenamerry，noisychild，playingaboutinlanesandhay-loftsandfarmhousegarrets；thathadbeeneightyoddyearsago，andnowshewasjustafrailoldbodycoweringundertheapproachingchillofthedeaththatwascomingatlasttotakeher。Itwasnotprobablethatmuchcouldbedoneforher，butEmmahastenedawaytogetassistanceandcounsel。Herhusband，sheknew，wasdownatatree-

fellingsomelittledistanceoff，butshemightfindsomeotherintelligentsoulwhoknewtheoldwomanbetterthanshedid。Thefarm，shesoonfoundout，hadthatfacultycommontofarmyardsofswallowingupandlosingitshumanpopulation。Thepoultryfollowedherininterestedfashion，andswinegruntedinterrogationsatherfrombehindthebarsoftheirstyes，butbarnyardandrickyard，orchardandstablesanddairy，gavenorewardtohersearch。Then，assheretracedherstepstowardsthekitchen，shecamesuddenlyonhercousin，youngMr。

Jim，aseveryonecalledhim，whodividedhistimebetweenamateurhorse-dealing，rabbit-shooting，andflirtingwiththefarmmaids。