The Rosary

t Overdene. A hush of moving sunlight and lengthening shadows lay upon the lawn, and a pr

edeemed from positive ugliness without, by the fine ivy, magnolia trees, and wistaria, of many years' growth, climbing

led down from the terrace on to the soft springy turf of the lawn. Beyond-the wide park; clumps of old trees, haunted by shy brown deer; and, thr

pointed to

leaves, not a chirp, not a twitter. The stillness seemed almost oppressive. The one brilliant

t on to the terrace, walked its entire length to the right, and disappear

ns beneath her portly chin; a loose brown holland coat; a very short tweed skirt, and Engadine "goutie

nce. But, after you had thus drawn her attention to yourself and she looked at you, Sir Walter Raleigh's cloak would not be in it! Your one possible course would be to collapse into the

andsome son, whom she had adored and spoiled, had prematurely died, before the death, a few years since, of Thomas, fifth Duke of Meldrum. He had come to a sudden and, as the duchess often remarked, very suitable end; for, on his sixty-second birthday, clad i

dene. But even then the duchess had no pleasure in her parties; for, quaint rough diamond though she herself might appear, the bluest of blue blood ran in her veins; and, though her manner had the off-hand abruptness and disregard of other people's feelings not unfrequently found in old ladies of high rank, she was at heart a true gentlewoman, and could always be trusted to say and do

rounding herself with all sorts of queer birds and beasts; upon whom she

a Liberty Hall of varied delights where you always met the people you most wanted to meet, found every facility for enjoying your favourite pastime, were fed and housed in perfect style, and spent some of the most ideal days of your s

st parties." A "best party" was in progress on the lovely June day when the duchess, having enjoyed

e-garden, Tommy, the scarlet macaw, opened one eye and watched her; gave a loud kiss as she

essed with suave deference by every male voice she heard. If the butler could have snorted, or the rector have rapped out an uncomplimentary adjective, the duchess would have felt cheered. As it

very possible place; first close to him; then, away in a distant corner; in an arm-chair placed behind a screen; reading, with her back turned, feigning not to notice him; facing him with concentrated attention. Tommy merely clicked his tongue at her every time she emerged from a hiding-place; or, if the rather worried butler or nervous under-footman passed hurriedly through t

at a good night's rest had restored to Tommy the full use of his vocabulary. And when the duchess came sailing down the stairs, ten minutes after the gong had sounded,