Jeanne of the Marshes

hen their utter and radical dissimilarity, physically as well as

the angry disgust of one whose sense of all that is holiest stands outraged. Slim, of graceful though somewhat undersized figure, he was conscious of having attained perfection in matters which he reckoned of no small importance. His grey tweed suit fitted him like a glove, his tie was a perfect blend between the colour of his eyes and his clothes, his shoes were of immaculate shape and polish, his socks had been selected with care in the Rue de la Paix. His hair was brushed until it sho

e, "I am surprised to see you like this! You might, I think, have had a little more c

, so that a little shower of salt wa

deportment that's necessary in this family. And salt water doe

face lost none o

ing?" he exclaimed. "Where have you

rcast. It did not please him t

. "Kate Caynsard was out in her catboat a day like t

in time?" the young

th a life spent wholly out of doors, were glistening still with the salt water which dripped down from his hair and hung in sparkling globules from his beard. Cecil was paler than ever; there was som

ot have come back alone. She was hard to s

uttered. "A queer lot

atter of no consequence. She took a fifty to one chance at the bar, and she nearly lost. But, by heaven, you should have seen her

el

though it were of less value than the mack

s eyeglass and shrugged hi

y the village Lothario? Thick ankles and robust health have nev

the villagers. She leads their life, but her birth is

ng his brother with supercilious distaste, "don't you think it woul

I?" Andrea a

hould I be ashamed of my oilskins? They are in accord with the life I live here. I make no pretence

him with something ve

ically. "No one could

beneath his oilskins-the clothes almost of a working man. He glanced for a moment at his hands, hard

"I believe you'r

t seen you in a decent suit of clothes for years. You won't dress for dinner. Your hands and skin are like a ploughboy's. And, d-n it all, you're

urt, Andrew made no sign. With a shrug of th

my presence on you or on your friends. I am going down to the Island. You shall entertain your

le of the cities had pronounced good form, but he was not wholly able to conceal his relief. Such an

here," he declared. "I don't believe you would get on with my friends a bit.

Andrew said coldly. "I shal

hey're not keen on sport at al

ed. Cecil turned back into t

d to himself. "If only he has the

was answered by a butler

the floor, and the still dripping southwester, "and serve tea here in an hour, or directly my

"The kitchen arrangements are a little-beh

to go on anyhow while I was away. Do what you can, and let them know o

ly brushed. In less than twenty minutes he had left the house by the back way, with a small portmanteau poised easily upon his massive shoulders. As he turned from the long ill-kept avenue, with it

the Red Hall, my man-Mr. De

he veiled and shrouded women who wer

ay," he said. "Mind how you tur

y in broad Norfol

ath!" Englet

," the Princess drawled. "Hi

idea that they had spoken wi