has no more brains than a pin-the small kind

seemed to me a

y. He does his duties with the beautiful regularity of an automatic machine. But move Ja

left? and why is he rous

of elder brother than cousin, and from their earliest youth there had existed between them a frank camaraderie which had never degenerated into flirtation, or drifted into any sentimental relationship. Cicely was in the habit of saying that Rupert was the

could wish for, but once let the right woman get hold

she lifted her eyes from their contemplation of her ow

woman twist you round her littl

ave a woman and I got to do

ossible she, is so long that I can't take you back along its windings. It all comes of the power of ass

ducation?" Rupert contrived to ask, his grey eyes

lking of Baba would soon have reminded me of him-poor silly t

ran

now, you know; so there was no one with her; and, of course, Jane, the nursery maid, was fetching something from the kitch

ear C

ider it, I was out. I had an e

dressm

all happen when I wasn't there. Rupert, if I had been at home, and

ently useful and practical th

ity that sat quaintly upon her small person and drew an amused laugh from her cousin. "I believe it would kill me if anything rea

d nobody could think you silly. But go on and tell me what hap

em to have been on the verge of distraction, and ran off in all directions like frightened hens, leaving James on guard at the door. And, after a few minutes, when the fog lifted, James caught sight of Baba in a strange girl's arms, evidently quite at h

of a pers

g person'; but heaven knows what James means by a young person. He further volunteered that she was rather

into his cousin's

still some disinterested people left in the world. And Baba is

have been; with no hat, and all her curls in a delicious tangle, her face so soft and pink, and her eyes shining. She looked a delectable baby, but, Rupert, she had on the most valuable lace frock, and pearls round

her name and address, and he could only say feebly that 'it never

an advertisement in some leading paper should unearth her for you. Perhap

I can't bear to think that a girl may be in difficulties when I have

of c

t him gravely, but with no hint of coquettishness in her glance. "I d

words, which in another woman's mouth might have implied a desire to change their friendly rela

ess; "you have been alone three years now. Your great property is a big handful for a wo

. It wasn't true. At first-quite at first-when father showed me what a huge difference it would make to them all if I married a millionaire, I did think more of John's fortune than of himself. But, it was only quite

erto, he had regarded her with the kindly affection of an elder brother for a small sister whom he considers scarcely

of marriage, the thing I hanker for most in the whole world is to see you married, Rupert. You don't look a bit like a soured old bac

heart knew, and into that heart there flashed as he spoke the vision of a white face and dark eyes, deep with unfathomable mystery; "if I do

you wait until you are within five years of forty, before choosing a wife. When

laugh. "Let me recommend you to study the matrimonial columns of some of the paper

f-respect would answer one of those advertisements. Why, men who advertise for wives can only

to survey his own reflection in the mirror over the mantelpiece; "there are adv

the wretched creature seriously, and thinks he means his stupid joke. I should despise a girl

rld. Your sort don't advertise for husbands and wives, but our section of society is not so fau

sort of thing a sh

iety mother does," Rupert answered sternly; "not lower than running a ma

sement like that is almost

. Yes, actually wrote and offered to marry him! He told me so himself, and those were women of your c

ur respect for women, if you think we are

ence between the womanly woman and the others. Thank God, there are plenty of the right

anted you to see Baba, and there are th

gs must be postponed. I have an appo

rtise for the

a slight trace of embarrassment showed on his face, "didn't you

dear boy, what do you know

uick eyes still noted embarrassment in both voice and manner, "bu

; "the person I engage for Baba, would have to be somebody much

nd, side by side with Cicely's words, other words tossed to and fro in his brai

ork, and I need

ide when she talked about shop girls and matrimonial advertisements. I daresay I shall find C.M. belo

o closely drawn. She had seemed tired, it was true, but not more tired than he had often seen her, and he had no reason to suppose that she was more ill than usual. She was always fragile; he was accustomed to find her one week on the sofa, another week sufficiently strong to be moving about the room, and even going out of doors. But that her house should be barred and bolted against him was inexplicable. He felt as though the ground had been cut away from under his feet, as if the very foundations of his life had been shaken. Why! to-day was the day she had herself fixed for his interview in her house with the girl of the advertisement. Margaret had arranged the hour; it was by her suggestion that he had written to C.M., proposing a meeting at 100, Barford Road, and now he found the house locked up and apparently empty, with no word of

sound produced the slightest effect, and he was perforce turning away, when the gate

ust like my luck to a' popped out for a minute twi

sked, his own agitation making him speak mo

ron; "come here yesterday, I did, all of a sudden, Mrs. Stanforth and Miss Herring, her maid, going aw

is Mrs. Stanforth? Did she leave any message? Any note?

when you come, but I'd popped out for a minute, and let out the kitchen fire, too, and I just 'ad to see to my bi

rt again broke into

at five, and all. There! I was sorry for 'er. Seemed to strike 'er all of an 'eap when she see the

pectedly?" Rupert exclaimed with growing irritation; "you didn't

n' somebody to come to an 'ouse at five o'clock, and then for the 'ouse to be shut up. Which I should say it was a pore joke meself. She says: '

oath, then mastered himse

has the young

ou might say shabby; and went orf lookin' fit to cry with disappointment. And I just po

unable to bear more of her discursiveness, turned and fled, shutting the garden gate with a sh