The Rake's Progress

ore she stopped and reminded herself that she had no object in g

give colour to the feint that had got her from the

over her silk dress, and as she paused in t

s showed the night sky, pale with mo

elina Boyle into fragments and suddenly hurri

k; a little Grecian temple shaded by the tops of the trees that lined the road and grown a

ll, save where the chestnut leaves ca

endless ripple of the water falling over the stones below; then she again to

w lights in the windows of Lyndwood Hous

y past the temple and reac

oss the road, fell between the chestnut tr

he patches of moonlight; he wore a long cloak flung over one shoulder and walked towards the

n; at that he stopped at the f

said; "Rose-

she winced, as if, in a moment, all her unreasonable

e slowly up th

why are you h

return unexpe

ght on his shoulders and shining

us is

rrow;" she spoke hurriedly half under her breath t

the lights of the house s

is with

es

rb them yet, my dear-th

ed silk skirt, and it rust

in such fashion,

lau

the best of ne

ng to say that," answered Miss Chress

rior; through the doorway the moonshine streamed, and the light per

s and stared across his park; his bearing sh

ainst it and turned her eyes on her cousin; but, owing to the

means, Rose?" she asked. "You

y, but without gaiety; "give me credit for

rself and cla

de me-I mig

the moonlight behind him, she c

." His very pleasant

Marius?" ask

es

about

he Earl; "it is about money"-he gave the last

ng for this," said

t for your observ

is cloak fell back straining at the clasps, she s

has happened,"

ng round and paced

sannah, in my unfortunate affai

is face, the moonlight da

lved!" sh

pulled his glo

tell my lady and Mari

ot move n

ected as to be almost valueless." He quoted his last steward's report, t

ow should she? you have

s ago," said the Earl. "When I was fo

s his money?"

It will be pleasant tel

nnah

ot unde

ing so suddenly without a will-Brereton

nnah Chressham. "There has b

"And when Brereton died and I took over my own affairs-I'm af

is a pauper," said Susannah. "Now, when he

the perfume of the violets, very delica

s must have

me two years ago, when I fir

ou are-

that he

deal i

my

ey of her own, not mu

ttle gasp; "is there no w

appeare

e, naturally, tried-now

id no

be something

f her voice

re so, cousin-I might ha

nt to say, Rose?-but my whole life is involved," she added almost dreamily. "

the peaceful lights in Lyndwood House,

she re

came to

thinking

Susannah,

to be consider

in your blood?-I knew this must happen, though

wood sigh

o on to t

tood in t

hat you me

according to how they ta

the ends of

pointment at Venice, easily, and the place in Ireland woul

oed softly. "Remember

to the open no

the army, or I would giv

ng," cried Miss Chressham,

e wrapped his cloak about him, and hi

the avenue in silence, she holding

l them to-nig

he glanced up at the great chestnut leaves th

moment h

stand, and I cannot explain, so it is

id Susanna

t? It is twelve years tomorrow since the

she a

-be generous to Marius. That occurred to me last night when I faced it

lau

h Chressham

enue and saw before them the s

foot of the steps Susa

in the withdrawing-room-you do not wan

ed her

m? I will go round by t

he to make his way through the roses

hem; the gleam of candle-light fell over the stone balus

es, and the rustle of silk; he stepped into the

ver her gleaming dress, and she was looking at Marius, w

ndow a little wider op

is mother in a

wo years of change in each of them had suf

s hat and crossed the room

tered into her usual

you tomorrow-and have you walked?-and

at the lodge." The Earl turned to

e younger man was overawed and ab

y know you

ndwood

rius-you also

cloak and flung

ess glanc

e matter?" she

ll smiling. "Yes, but I will not

ed to th

speak to

oyance clouded Lady

have not seen you for months-and 'tis

ted himself

orry,"

ror his brother had put down; it refl

; "I had, however, better

other; his long grey eyes were half closed, and his d

lso, Rose?" she asked we

isfortune he would never have troubled them; t

at his brother,

lady; let me hear w

d pale; the Countess clasped

usannah always said Mr. Lan

, Marius. We shall be

sank on the

, Rose, shall I ring?" Her

ered, "this w

he table and led the way from the

enter the next room and

ing where she had let it slip, upon the hearth, at his mirror

lences made her blood go cold; a look of age and suffering settled in her delicate face, she fixed her eyes