The House of Whispers

ecame one of marked affection. She even kissed her in the breakfast-room ea

him with his stout stick. On such occasions he would wear a pair of big blue spectacles to hide the unsightliness of his gray, filmy eyes. Sometimes he would sit on one of the garden seats on the south side of the house, enjoying the sunshine, and liste

nce. Sir Henry had declared that he was interested in the man's intellectual conversation, and that he rather liked him, though he had never looked upon his face. In some things th

guests, a retired colonel, had driven over in the big car to Perth to make a call; and on the

r she had read them over to the Baronet, he had given her the key, and she had got out the code-book. Then, at his instructions, s

Have no fear of Smithson, but watch Peters. If Lond

e, but by the signature he always used

e little blue-covered book and relocked it in the safe. Then she rang for Hill

ss," replied t

ymour to the station in about a quart

is back to the crimson sunset, "you can tell her ladyship, Hill, that I'm very busy

ded the smart footman; and, bo

"There are two or three people invited to-ni

alter Murie and his mother dining here to-night

the girl rather lamely

must put in an appe

ter think if you elected to dine with

reprovingly. "Walter and I thoroughly understand

nine perverseness, eh? Well, my child, dine here with me if you wish, by all me

as informed that Miss Gabrielle would

pewriter and re-read the reports-confidential reports they were, but framed in a manner which only the old ma

rts, brief and unsig

t je supplie Dieu à genoux de ne pas me punir

scarlatine, et l'issue de la maladie est incertaine. Je ne quitte pl

tement by a frantic mother that her child had caught s

seated as he was in the deep saddle-bag chair. His face grew very grave, his thin white

certain of the words. "Read it again

rs or words. It seemed as though, in imagination, he was setting it down before him as she pronounc

ds still tightly clenched, his countenance haggard and

surprise, staring at the cris

ld-nothing," he answer

rribly concerned about her little boy.

ielle," he answered in

r. It is a punishment

ed, then?" asked th

ever do that. These reports convey to me alone the truth. The

ittle boy suffering

y. "But it only refers to an imaginary child, and, by so

d?" she asked, noticing the curiou

hair. "Yes," he answered in a low voice, "it i

erself upon her knees, and placing her arms around his neck. "Won't you be mo

ust you. You keep my affairs from those people who seek to obtain knowledge of them. Without you, I wo

y trustworthy

ed I lost my right hand. But fortunately

t, why not confide in me and allow me to help you?" she suggested. "You see that, al

plainly, child, I do not intend

pouted. "You think that because I

ou are the only real friend left to me in the whole world. I kno

, but

t by one single chance-word place me withi

nfall, dad?" she as

p from you certain matters which, in other circumstances, you might know. But," he added, "this is not the first time we've discussed t

ad; only so

icance. Well, to tell the truth, dear, it is best that you should not know. If you reflect for a moment," went on the old man, tears welling slowly in his filmy, si

ut she refrains nowadays, f

glean information from you?" he

everal occasions of late. But

er with surprise. "Well, I suppose it is only natural. A blin

Mr. Flockart,

ithholding any information upon a subject which is my own affair; yet, on the other han

ere free to tell the poor, blind, helpless man the gha

nging your praises, both

is expressions of opini

ow

re, in order to turn the subject, she replied, with a forced laug

s I know, Flockart is quite an excellent fellow, a

, she rose to her feet, and, after a pause, aske

he repeated, rising to straighten himself. "Reply in these words: 'No effort is to be made to sav

nough, and yet the true meaning of which she never dreamed. She was thinking only of her father's misplaced friendshi