The Moon Rock

parture of Sisily and her aunt until the car was lost to sight in a dip of the moors. Then with a glance at the l

old house on the cliffs. Sisily generally helped him in that tedio

e dark, and a great array of lamps awaited him: large ones for the rooms, small ones for the passages and staircase. Thalassa

and polished he sang to

d me, we went

brig 'Liz

such as it was, did nothing to relax his expr

and deep-set eyes. He placed several of the lamps on a tray, carefully lowered the wicks, and carried them to their allotte

flickered feebly and diffused a feeble light. Halfway down the passage he paused before a closed door. It was the room in which Sisily's mother had died. With an expressionless face he went in and left the last lamp burning dim

from his papers as Thalassa entered, and thoughtfully watched him as he trimmed the lamp and tended th

-night, Thalassa?" remark

pic of conversation it was as useful to master and servant as the weather is t

fast," repli

e are in for anot

ys in for another rough night," responded the servitor curtl

" replied his mas

st link in my long search has been found here-hidden away in this little out

"You've spent a mint of money over it. I suppose that's your own a

leave Co

on't you?" Thal

re of that. It is my intention to purchase a portion of the family estate at Great Missenden, which is at present in the market, and spend the rem

es turned towards his papers again. But Thalassa stood watching him, as

about your

rold hurriedly. "She needs womanly training and other advantages which I, in my preoc

ded almost apologetic. The relative positions between them seemed curiously

ow what's the best for her." He spoke indifferently, but there was an odd note in his voice. He picked up his tray, and carelessly added: "

deceased artist had painted his pictures, with two large windows which looked over the cliff. Again the

e's no keeping it out. I'm going downstairs to lock

t of work to do b

. He picked up his pen and plunged it into a brass inkstand, then paused in thought. His face was perturbed and uneasy. It may be that he was reviewing the events of the day, wondering, perhaps, whether he had paid too high a p

downcast face. Then he frowned impatie