The House by the River

rning she was still too feeble and ill to appreciate his beauty. Old Dr. Browning was less cheerful than Steph

ovely morning ... I'm all right." Also he had seen his son and tried hard to imagine that he was two years old, a legitimate object for enthusiasm. He had helped Joan to feed her rabbi

he wistaria and ivy and countless kinds of green things scrambling about the rickety balconies and wandering through the open windows. Strangers walked in quiet couples along the path and admired the red roofs and the quaint brass knockers on the doors and the nice old names of the houses and the nice old ladies purring sleepily inside. Out on the river the owners of the anchored boats prepared them happily for action, setting sails and oiling engines and hauling laboriously at anchors. Two white cutters moved delicately about in the almost imperceptible breeze. Strenuous eights and fours and pairs went rhythmically up and down. The hoarse adjuration

he thought with pity even of the promenaders in Hyde Park, unable to see the trees for the people, unable to look at the sky because of their collars. He loved the air and openness and pleasant vulgar variety of Sunday morning at Hammersmith. Here at least it was a day of naturalness and rest. On any other Sunday, if the tide served, he would hav

m to do it. But then that was like her. He must not go unless he had to-unless he saw something.... All Saturday while t

ewhere in this damnably public river. Unless she was alr

ng-boat passed close to the wall. It seemed almost to overflow with young men and women. All of them gazed

. Before Emily. He read through what he had written, and thought it bad-weak, flabby, uneven stuff-as it stood. But it was a good idea, and he could do it justice, he was sure, if he persevered. But n

was the sound of conversation in the hall, Cook's voice and the v

sack back what Mr. Egerton took, as used to '

re built and solid, with hard grey eyes and a dark walrus moustache, a bowler hat in hi

tell me anything about this sack? I'm a

t extraordi

alike. We had one in the scullery once, but-" He h

o your sack, sir?" s

he held it out for the other to see the blurred lines of the label stitched inside the mou

ooking hard at Stephen. "Do you reme

lculation. The exact pe

, Cook? About three w

ck from Mr. Egerton when the man came about the bottles, and he said-Mr. Egerton said, that is-as

ooler and cooler. It

out to get wood." Then, with a tone of cheerful finality as one who puts an end to a tedious conversat

little longer. Those are my orders, sir-there

ly, Inspector. As

e of your household has seen anything of th

haven't seen it myself. In fact, I w

ent, and obviously decided to say no more

course, if it's anything important, I should lo

no consequence.

and "sirs," and "Thank you's," and S

one with. Emily was found, and there was an end to it. And he had diddled the policeman. How cleverly, how gloriously he had diddled the policeman. Perfect frankness and easiness and calm-a gracious manner and a good lie-they had worked perfectly. He had never hoped for anything so easy. Almost without inte

trong enough for a single man. It flitted lightly on the surface like one of those cumbrous-looking waterfli

e golden water with a movement which was almost a caress. It was very delightful out there, very soothing and warm. It was inspiring

ning pipe. He rowed back immediately to the wall, framing smooth explanatory phrases in his head. John, he s

said; "it's all over-it's-it's

of the steps, saying nothing. Stephen ti

saw him first, and let out that it was ours-said we'd lent it to you-silly fool ... about three weeks back ... when

adily at him an

nd asked you for it, and you

river and thought. Then h

ck up wood-and lost it. Overbo

ntic note of perplexity and distress. He was conscious o

are we going

was no

e went on, with seeming irrelevance.

o next? Will they come and see me?" He had a sudden appalling visi

now ... say you lost it ... about three weeks ago ... that's what I said ... somebody must have picked it up.... I'm awfully sorry, John-but it will be all right...." Then, doubtfully, "Of co

all right, as you say.... Only ... only ..." with a strange fierceness, "I wish to God it ha

For the first time since the policeman left

... about that girl ... immoral and so on ... they're not true, are they?... anyhow, don't let's encourage th

unanswerable ultimatum: "If you want me to help you, you mu

You don't imagine I ... these servants, I suppose ... but I quite agree...

ong time in a leather chair thinking and wondering. Stephen wal

d stuff in it. A little polishing up wanted, a little correction. All that bit in the middle.... He scratched out "white" and scribbled over it "pale." Yes, that was better. The next part, a