Alice Sit-By-The-Fire

the house-to a very different scene, which (if one were sufficiently daring) would represent a Man's Chambers at Midnight. There is no really valid excuse for shi

bucket, many rows of books which on close examination will prove to be painted wood (the stage Lotharios not being really reading men). The lamps shed a diffused light, and one of them is slightly odd in construction, because it is for knocking over presently in order to let the lady escape unobserved. Through this room mo

s only two hundred and fifty pounds a year, including the legacy from his aunt. Besides, though he is to be a Lothario (in so far as we can manage it) he is not at present aware of this, and has made none of the necessary arrangements; if one of his lamps is knocked over it will certainly explode; and there cannot be a secret door w

n, is waiting on him. When we wrote that we deliberated a long time. It has an air, and with a little low cunning we could make you think to the very end that Richardson was a male. But if the play is acted and you go to see it, you would be disappointed. Steve, the wretched fellow, never

know the game this means, 'Are you to leave the other chop

he game this is me

s in the right mood and sending o

er, but it is a move he has made so often

entranced giggl

ing his seat

DSON.

and clear the enem

me for a chop. Steve plays the part of butler.

is serve

he table after what she conceives to be the manner of the genteelly gluttonous; then she quakes a little. 'If Missis was

uck in and I'

sters; it is all part of the game. Richar

t makes you so g

eman is always

preening, 'A

hour you were subject to growing pains I

atly, 'If quit

for some time in silence while

I smoke, R

you can smoke. I have o

evening the sex is to give hi

ou're at your

orgotten already how I told

shy.' She has, however, a try at it. 'Do

pipe; no real vil

essed companion to a lo

harply, 'Would you say de

the little idyll of the chop is brought to a close by

he friends you

them, but I daresay you are righ

Would a real lady lick t

know, I hard

. 'Then I'

I'll be back in a jiffy. I

ho the lady is, so we may admit at once that it is Miss Amy Grey. Amy is in evening dress-her only evening dress-and over it is the cloak, which she is presently to fling back with staggering effe

Rollo's chambers? The woman

satisfaction that the woman h

confidence, 'Yes, ma'am. He will be down in

Amy smiles the bitte

e looks about her. Shar

ilt of the chop on her

erfuge aside, 'His man.

h spirit, 'He i

girl; who wa

RDSON

ates. 'Stop.' Her eyes glisten. 'Two persons have been dining here!' Richard

ON. 'Oh,

that when she left the house her mother was still in it. Then who can the visitor have b

bay, 'He-he cal

cient, 'But yo

ourse I know she

She has no mercy on the witness. 'Tell me,

my's eye, 'No, ma'am-I

u. Can you remember how o

an I remember. Thre

mes in one wee

own to her eyes, 'Yes,

ouncing, 'Do you think

ON. 'Wha

she smoke c

her spiritedly,

ack, 'Not an

stock of knowledge. 'Can she be secretly married to him? A wi

, ma'am, you ar

You may go. Stop. How long ha

-Her what you ar

uses to pass Richardson's lips, and of a sudden Amy

t a chop. What makes yo

re what they ate

ON. 'Oh,

she looks behind them. There is no one there. She pulls open the door of the cupboard and says firmly, 'Come out.' No one comes. She peeps into the cupboard and finds

fully glad, Al

strange lady. As for Amy, the wo

short remark

es her head in a way that Ginevra and she have practised. Then she flings back her cloak as suddenly as an expert may open an umbrella. Having done this she await

cs, 'There is

there anything I

y, 'You can

aps if you w

precisely where the chair is that they can sit without a glance at it. But she dare not, though Gin

ou please, do you min

request, and then he wonders if 'innocent' is the right word. 'Well, your bu

you not in e

aback, 'Does

till worries her

ffness, 'Your business,

ated in any case as long as they ever

n Rollo, the

she will be ab

r so she will describe it t

rases she has collected in five theatres, 'A chance disc

at is it?' He rushes rapidl

eal, 'It is this: tha

'What

o dined with you h

. 'Wi

eless; as I have alread

same person, 'You look a nice girl but dash it all. Whom

se years you have kept the marriage a secret, for she is a horrid sort of woman

d power of irony, 'Oh

. Stephen Rollo. I sh

'Ough

on one condition only, that

'The le

The le

gth of his room, re

you are talking about. You know, I could be an

Indeed

rd of honour that no lady was dining with

o wife! You are

'I sw

y.' She sinks dispir

s through her tears. 'Don't cry. How c

would have put you in

y, 'And they are

upon a time have been saved by a good woman

t, 'Haven't I told you

't mean her

hat she is a

led and done with, I'll tell you what we shall do. You will let me get you a cab-' She shakes her head. 'I pr

o enter it in the diary, 'You are very clever, Mr. Stephen

ng, 'Are they

re the letters written to

eagerly

e the pain, if you are a gentlema

kily, 'Oh,

our life to-night. To-morrow

le warmth, 'Oh, do

We tho

E. '

been talking it over. We thoug

r, 'You must be ver

ould die

ck up a little for himself, 'After all, am

marrie

atified,

lay with me so, sir

r mother? F

are you loo

ean to. I say, I wish you

if you di

! I can't believe it.' Rather

. Such men as you-pitiless

, 'Do you think I a

ong and she is weak. Think of her poor

ichardson, so anxious to come that she is pro

eman downstairs, sir

g at once, 'He must not fi

uption. 'See here, I'll keep him downstairs for a moment. Richardson, take th

SON. 'O

self to the floo

e to me, write to me. I

. 'Come qu

e not deceiving me? You

iss-he said his nam

it must be the husband, but

ing, 'Can h

s her own troubles

hould come whi

e along, Miss. W

go away. I a

It is as if she had heard Gin

out of that. I promised to put you on the uppe

will. Let go the door. I came h

ith Steve. The Colonel is chatting, but hi

the lady has been got

d you speak with

to do on the stair. Go and do it. I'm sorry,

he is comin

E. '

ll. Wanted to look in at the club

ng, 'A chop!' She departs with

airs nearer to the fire, 'Is

his legs. 'Steve, home is the best club in t

re to talk about your confo

etically, 'If y

'I do

if you feel yo

re my guest,

l asleep, Steve,

'Which

Alice would say, Soldie

'Poor o

deal in my time, Steve, but that is

'Have a

'Brute!

The Colonel is presently aware that Steve is silently smiling to him

tell the truth, I

seems to be

is not exa

ing, 'Very fond

ugh we cannot see her. 'On my soul, Colonel, I think it is the most romantic affair I ever hear

, Steve. Does her

ly, 'No, they

L. 'Bu

ly, 'A woman's s

e plot thickens.

. 'No

mustn't as

'I have a very good reason f

is not exactly young?

' With undoubtedly a shudder of disgust Amy closes the cupboard door. Steve continues to behave in the most gallant manner. 'You must not quiz me, Colo

o the beauty of the sentiment, and then p

hat are y

ind out for myself wh

ind that out by crawl

ins-triumphantly holding up a lad

ed to hear the bell ring,

e is some on

e tosses him the glove. Alice is shown in, and is warmly acclaimed. She would not feel so m

mfortable by the fire, 'How

g into gloom, '

at home is the most deli

by. Robert, I dined in state with Cosmo, and he was so sulky th

'Where

t to bed. I spoke to her through the door b

didn't you go

the door. Robert, I really am worried about Amy. She se

ourse not, Ali

'Bless

It's much Steve k

attractive to women,

sten to hi

dear, is that you should s

y's skirt. She has opened the door to hear, then in alarm shut it, leavin

on't be so sure y

, 'Let us tell her, Steve

randly,

ond elderly woman. Our friend is very proud of his conquest. See how he is ruffling

t the door opens sufficiently to allow a pretty hand to obtrude, seize the kitten, or whatever it was, and softly reclose the door. For one second Alice did think it might be a kitten, but she knows now that it is

look about me, Steve? I have been

e; there is really nothing to see.' But she is already maki

with him, 'I li

Nearly all the things are her

me. What does thi

Only a c

at do you

crockery-that

ur crockery, Steve. Not one lit

the scene of the drama, 'Don't mind her, Steve; she

h her finger to her lips, just as they stood in all t

u found anythi

ce's life, and she sways. But she

look at Steve, 'Just

incident has ceased so suddenly to strike her. She returns to the fire, but not to her chair. Sh

ve ways, 'Hullo! We mustn't let on that w

better have held his tongue, 'I don

end!' Her husband sees that she

g about the child

wn openly, 'Yes, yes, I

an. Joy will come in the morning; I never was surer

But, yes, I-le

n we have a

histle one. Alice, I'm awf

'Please

t know what she wants to say to him. She has a passionat

d him, 'I think it is abou

y should I

Not a jot

everything is sure to come rig

'Of cours

know how dear my children are to me, but Amy is the deare

Very well,

e through which we have to pick our way without much help. I can conceive dead mothers haunting those places to watch how their child is to fare in th

st how it is all to

ng, 'Yes, isn'

ear excitable,

ugh I had come back too late, though my daughter had become a

EL. '

for her, I should love her more than ever. If all others turned fr

e, don't talk

t the door is ajar, and what she says now is really

olish, light-headed-at that age one often is-why, a mother would soon put all that right; she would just take her girl in her arms and they would talk it over, and the poor child'

her. But you will never persuade me t

ll never t

of locking herself into her room, h

first thin

it. The first thing t

danger, 'You forget, dear,

l soon rout he

forget that she ha

rying her eyes out for you already. But if she doe

u wouldn't

ldn't I? Oh y

to meet when Steve returns from

us running off, I know. Alice is al

the house at once, 'There is no such dreadful hurry, is there?' She is sudden

it is an old

e if we can pick

he is, the one

surely. Isn't this one more like h

evident from his face that the hidden one sc

s is you, isn

the one wit

you at once. Now,

e does hate to leave a fire, doesn't o

oman doesn't kn

danced to that once on

how they dan

wildered of the two, 'And a few minutes ago

at evening, Robert-I gave you a d

bberty jibbet, yo

sit out the res

Come along, you u

, I have a reason. I want to

EL. '

'Come

to meet you, and I said, "I don't believe you have a headache, Amy; I believe you have locked yourself in there because you hate t

an odd message, Ali

w. I always find it so hard

t, my dear,

the address. Don't be so hard, Robert, I am tea

'Steve, t

is Alice's chance; she pounces upon Amy's hand, whirls her ou

E. '

I never for a moment-It was true, then.

not unexpected step in

nexpected step indeed, 'Amy!

y of the creature, 'I forgot t

is is your daughter-

'The

thought out, Steve. He

'But-

lost her head. She is

roduce me

ounded at our havin

fully, 'Yes,

riend, Steve Rollo-Stev

king, 'How

ly, 'How d

bless me, Amy,

'It is only e

t dress for us, Alice; it

Yes, for

hicken, hang in your mother. Stev

course he is too gallant a gentleman to t

. 'Wa

extended, 'Amy, don

them contemptu

ed, 'Then kiss

Alice weeps. 'This is too much. Just wait

nel has tossed to Steve is lying on a chair, and she innocently begi

obert. Why don't you co

soul has given herself away so innocently that it is almost a shame to take

evidently di

ert, you fr

. Before you came here, Alice, I f

'That isn't our

ll you why. Amy has ju

t isn't h

is. 'Is it unreasonable, Steve, to ask you when my daughter, with who

elpless,

t has Alice t

ue, 'Nothing, no

I don't understand? Are you in it, Alice, as we

e alone can put this matter

see Alice alone for

E. '

Amy-my Amy-your elderly lady, Steve? Was that some tasteful

'Colo

e great sacrifice, 'I

'You fo

Robert, let me

you must not,

t true, father, that Mr. Rollo and I w

iling, 'A

t is my glove, but it had a right to

ost surprised to hear this. He seems to want to say something

lice, did y

on't mean, Robert, t

lous, 'Is that h

I am overjoyed. Don't you see how s

at him, 'Our ol

he moment she stands disregarded. Never

ly she takes Steve's two hands

think I believe that this is no shock to you? Oh, woma

urprise to me as it is to him! Why, Robert, I have known about it ever since I

Is it as b

'As wha

t my wife mus

'Oh,

e now that you felt there was something w

to be married; it was foolish of them not to

d you ask Amy to

all be together when we

ders are broad; why shouldn't I

thing to bear but j

d neither of them a

, which has so far had the decency to remain quiet, now presumes to have its say. It opens of itself a f

ace so well, 'She wasn't

nd now; she didn't follow us

No, Robe

returns with something in hi

our other g

Robert; I have done my best.' She goes to Amy

eiver' Amy

ng for that interview with my wi

sperate fel

eve, many opportunities; but in the meantime-just now, pl

ly to the one amazing explanation, that Alice loves him

lost on her but is very evid

ce, anything. I shall go upstai

ether he is a villain or a hero, which

l have more to say. As for this girl-look at her

inks that you are hard. Robert, dear, I want you to go away to

a long pause, '

ve her to h

bbing her little heart away. Alice tries to take her-the

der you can

re she has to give. It is my love you need, Am

ray exc

t saying one harsh word to you. I am asking you o

'I de

ieve that your father was right. What do you th

Poor f

ndeed with suc

do you really think you need k

hat you need i

ght to know

gain tries to envelop

my, it was all

oa constrictor, 'You needn'

ht at the beginning that h

he was depraved from the

Amy! Then

nevra kn

'She

reat him in the same way as Sir H

n your senses. You don't m

Major-I forget his nam

ng her, 'Wre

'Leav

did you get

em? They are cha

'Characters i

nt to five

ring up in Al

ckly, when did you see S

saying good-bye to

Can it b

ve listened; but they always

ened? What d

him kiss you and heard you make

ip you directly, b

in a flash Ginevra and I saw that there was only one way to save y

pired, 'My

at once that it must be the husband; it always is, it was; I hid. Again a visitor. I knew it must be you, it was; oh, the agony to me in there.

you have

s I hav

the arms g

none o

to Alice that enthralls her. 'Steve!

to be open

es it? He thinks that I-

need not

hat is to

him for aye. Ginevra is to be my only

are sure you don't

'Mo

to come alone to the rooms of a m

am a soldier's daughter;

gger. This is altogeth

'My d

ws that if she tells Amy the truth at once its first effect will be to make the dear one feel ridiculous. How c

'Yes,

think I have been

no, only

Thank yo

ser, 'What are we to do

that, as the novelists say,