The Brother of Daphne

nt is-"

looked up

ha

ou be alarmed or offende

as the

e, thank you, at

offer or a

said I. "It

tted he

one do wi

als wit

u like. You mustn't be rough with the bag. It'

you. It is not by force, but by per

ink you're a

said. "T

iage window and we had been permitted to enter. The other occupant of the carriage-an aged member of the House of Lords-after regarding us with disapproval for ninety miles, had left the train at the last station. Then my lady had turned to her nice new dressing-bag and had sought to open it. In vain s

s. All she had done was to double-lo

you s

as a burglar. What a blessed

pose i

you s

at

hey are-in his presence, he would probably have

laug

ather like i

lights, you should still be ende

ad of

one of my cigarettes. It's not a smoking carr

er point?" she

I. "It's a

n, but her eyes were. Great, big ones these, with a star in each of them for laughter. Her nose turned up ever so slightly, and

g to Whinnerl

, pl

the

as you

id you

tive bag h

you're one of

ns by marriage like to make themselves infamous, that is no fault of mine. They have ma

ave the

y last week, for inst

N

r. They scorned my request. Who was I? To-day, they drive from Norfolk to Dors

the

but against that you must set off the tone my presence

up wit

it off! Ta

tas

e. Take it off!

move. Draw you

proud to display. I let the wasp reach the dark blue cloth. Then I seized him. As I put him out of the window,

finger

outh and by ea

er

es

ress the p

stump if you like. Good heavens, y

is

s rea

your left hand. I'll

n stood in the August afternoon sunshine, touching his cap and starin

hen I recovered my senses, she was sitting as far away as possible in an

ey think? Whateve

long," said I musingly. "They only do

shiv

thought we were married,

pose t

they do. Or

ent by. She bowed abstractedly, an

is village

y, I suppose.

e are we go

med delightedly upon us. We stared at them in return. It was all wrong. This wasn't the Hall, and it wasn't W

ge white one, slung across the curling drive from one tree t

'engaged' carriage. We had alighted at their station-Whinnerley Bluff-doubtless some new halt, built since my last visit. We were in their car. We had received cheers an

nion's words flas

ey thought we were mar

hat has happe

ed frigh

married couple-mar

ivered

go on th

tared

our or two. The real ones can't arrive before seven. There isn't a train before then. We can slip aw

light came i

e?" she

s. Say y

over the sunlit park. T

rather a lot, ar

I said

you make su

it, she turned, and we looked

point is a poi

her small, g

e house was beautiful. There it lay, in the hot sunshine, all grey and warm and peaceful-a perfect specimen of the Tudor period, and about its walls a tattered rob

id," whispere

ispered back. "

d. I don't know wh

trembling terribly. Suddenly there was a scrambling noise, and a great black a

ling." said

ice, wagging his tail. She put out her hand and stroked his head. The great fellow whin

ied delightedly. "

. I followed thankfully

gentle housekeeper was saying. "I

ook the two letters from the salver the footman was holding out. Then I t

ling,"

d stopped, flushin

, de

was twenty paces away at the top of the stairs. I

no luggage. Ours, of course, went on to Whinnerley proper. Say your maid is

rig

eld a towel ready while I washed. Then he brushed me all over, and flicked the dust from my shoes. With the slightest encouragement, I believe he would have sha

means,

ip she will find

s,

e the drive by which we had come. Lazily I traced its line curling away between the trees. Suddenly something red and moving caught my eye. For a moment the trees hid it from view. Then I saw it again-just a flash of red in the avenue-moving towards the house. I

ram?"

was addressed to Maulfry Tower, Winnerley Bluf

gave him a shilling. He thanked me shyly and sped away to the lodg

rrive, the wagonette. They will not send the car for your maid. But

o a convent-that is, after I have served my term

here is no current, nor any time, nor action. Only the sun makes shining patches on the water, while now and again dragon-flies dart through the sleepy hum of insect life, like bright thoughts flashing across a reverie. Now, isn't that nice? I rea

critically, bendi

," she said, "if I had known the

suckle screened the table from view. The fourth lay open to the sinking sun and the park and the distant hill

said, witho

hanks, dear. I had m

umber sandwiches, his hand shook

h, did you notic

aid. "What

he thieves awfully, you know. They can't tell whether they're watching the fish-slice or the 'Longfel

, the servants had disappeared. I glanced through

id the gir

? I believe one is supposed to get to

ers the footman had gi

Peter Tagel. That's

y? And now,

his I shall, of course, have to leave your side. But that's for after. Till then-but I fear my thoughtless reference to our part

I shoul

onouring me enough," I said. "Of course, it's earl

abou

y'll see y

aught her cool, left hand. From the third finger a plain gold ring winked at me. I stared at it. Till

I said, "a

es

re you

ing me I am for t

t are yo

This in a tone

nd my

win me bread, you k

nt of her. Still the fai

me," I

y' marriage, was i

hat finger when we

rom mine, but still looking away over my head, up at

Anthony," I

e deepen

when we separ

been churlish to refuse. And so in and out of the tall bracken, under the spreading oaks, close to the gentle-eyed

house, watching the smoke rise from a tall chimney, a slight, s

h a pity. I glanced at my compa

ing all wrong?"

iled a

s

y and leave all this? My dear, it's all utter

t really

. Her eyes were wide op

one goes up a backwater, I suppose

rather short bac

en very su

use,

said. "Thank you." But, as I spoke,

quarter to seven. Thank you. A mome

had heard them put my case in the room adjoining. Very well. She was to sit-loll, if she liked-in the arbour, where tea had been served, while I ventured indoors and secured the luggage. Once across the lawn, I was to drop it over the sunk fence close to the drive. Togeth

ls crunched on the gravel-drive. I turned t

m window, and before I crept out of the

unfortunate confusion for which a certain simi

PETE

into the envelope. I addressed the latter, and put it wi

ferent matter. Mentally and physically the luggage embarrassed me. My appearance proclaimed an exodus-suggested a flight. Of course

under my arm and opened the door. Not a sound.

own the luggage and listened carefully. As yet there were no lights burning, and it was more than dusk in the hall below. I wiped the sweat off my foreh

he said, and swi

light came th

luggage. I don't know whose it is. The label on this bag says 'Whinnerley Hall', and

t yours

ly things." I flung t

man; order the car. I want to take them back to t

eared, breathless, I was sitting on a tabl

r coming?"

a moment. What a dreadful thing to ha

omething like our things. But look at that

ndeed,

I'll go and find her ladyship. I'

laining things to an open-mouthed girl in the arbour. As

to Whinnerley. Remember, you're terribly upset and simply frantic about your jewellery, especia

nging very still now, for the faint breeze had died with the day. As we approached the lodge gates I leaned forwar

ansit,"

backwater

re was that in her tone that made m

nd held it. Then I started. It was the left hand, but there was no ring upo

see?" I said, glancing at

id they m

hat, d

er very much if t

aneously with the seven ten.

urning to the servant, "Bring the bag a

s,

ble protest about tickets, but we thrust past hi

Delphine?

she's come," wa

d to th

own and go back to the car, in case we miss her lad

good

. Exactly opposite to where we were standing was a fi

bag, Peter?" said

d Lady Tagel passed down the pl

n began

ed comrades. Where was it we broke down? Oh, yes, Scr

head in and pul

phne. "I expect Boy's introduced himself, Julia dear. Yes, I tho

my lady'. Though she