ss Page standing in the doorway. She was gazing at the recumbent figure

et you pass, against my express instructions?" asked the

chery in that smile sufficient to affect a much more cultivated and callous nature than his, and

a good voice and she knew it; but she covered up this defect by a choice of intonations that carried her lightest speech t

orbid curiosity that brings you here. Better drop it, girl

lips dimpling at the corners in a way

s of the noble figure on the couch, he

our curiosity, it is both ill-timed and unwomanly. Let me see you leave this house at once, Miss Page; and if in the

nd me away, I

vertent self-betrayal by a submissive bend of the head and a step backward. Neither Mr. Fenton nor Mr. Sutherl

en struck before retiring," commented Mr. Sutherland, after

who had been left in the hall, "the lady is listening t

t his companion's rebuff. "I will soon show her-" But the words melted into thin air as he reached the

he constable, turning back, but stopping

up a voice whose lack of music w

ton descended the st

her

de a little bow that was half mocking, half deprecatory, and slipped from the house. An almost unbearabl

ting of Philemon Webb's head. "Our fastest rider has gone for him, but he

ile

nced and was standing b

f your guests? You've waited

veyed the two plates set on eithe

ng proud," said he, "or t

there were many others answering to these nam

wife? I do not see any

cross; she don't care for

ck the constable, with ill-judged severity. "

s eye was the dreadful effect of these words. Laughing with that str

the pussy cat. Who's

o to Je

ps the sight of his dead wife would restore him. But he looked

"She might have worn silk, but she wouldn'

onstable's curiosity had been roused, and after they had found so

ve worn silk? Are they better off than they seem?

ey may have been robbed; if so, Philemon was not the wretch who killed her. I have been told t

key sticking in the lock, stepped quickly across the floor and opened it. A row of b

ked?" asked M

and one

one that i

nton d

empty,"

dead woman, and again the perfect se

f her husband's imbecility or of some vile robber's

ill

on her person. It should be in her

ot in he

er neck, then

here, but no key. A v

a child's lock

e that later; it is the

heav

t is

nd; the one that

point,

eat p

rob her of that key till the coroner c

leave her fo

will put bac

esh arrival occurred. This time i