The Last Tenant

n silence, and then I asked my wife

air is fresh and reviving. Things look all the brighter now

in, also, whether among a number of strangers there would be one to whom it would make itself visible. I peered into the faces of the passers-by with this thought in my mind, but I saw no expression of surprise in them, notwithstanding that the cat seemed to touch their legs in brushing past.

l looking over houses to let. You have been very patient with me"--she pressed my arm affe

wished it

hing once I have set my mind on it,--you know that of old, my dear,--but the

sked in a dull voice. "Yo

We will remain i

of the girl who, by spiritual means, had opened a door I had locked, and presented herself to me. She was now alone. I had deprived her of a companion who, for aught I knew, might have been a solace to her. It was as if I had been guilty of a crime; as if I had condemned her to solitude. But it was folly to torment myself with such reflections. What had I to d

tooping for?" i

ad dropped my

ocket." She took it ou

staken,"

ing hansom, saying energetically, and with

me, deprived of the power of deciding my own movements. I did not see the cat spring into the cab, but directly we were seated, the

or an hour," said my wife, wi

"I will smoke a p

a lighted match to the tobacco. I puffed up, thanked her wi

nd here when the weather permits, my wife and I frequently sit and enjoy ourselves. I am also the proud possessor of a greenhouse, which, as well as the borders and beds I have laid out, is in summer and autumn generally bright with flowers, of which I am very fond; and into this gree

udden motion I left the greenhouse and pulled the door behind me, shutting the cat inside. I walked toward the center of the garden, and the animal I thought I had

, looking down, saw our own household cat--a tortoise-shell tabby--rubbing against me. Now, thought I, there will be a fight. But there was nothing of the kind. I felt convinced t

chen, and filled a saucer with milk. This saucer I took i

to the spectral figure, with a feeb

itude at me our tabby lapped up the whol

and, seeing what

better?" she as

atter with me," I said, with an

I was once more left alone w

rrived for Bob Millet to make his appearance. He ca

said, shaking hands with him. "I want you

, gratified by this reception,

ughtfully prepared a dish of which I was very fon

ite, Ned?

my head

o leave the house in which we are as comfortable as we could reasonably hope to be. I have worried him to death, almost, dragging him about against his will--though he has nev

of myself for not having the strength to battle with t

ful countenance. She brightened up instantly, and the

, "and I am truly thankful t

Bob, liftin

illet," said my wife,

at I had heard. For my part, I don'

t try to know. The less you see of th

hy

mphatic shakes of her head, "and I am much

u saw so

looked

you fancy you

king over it during the day, and the more I think,

to hear about

sha

heard proceeding from the basement and approaching nearer and nearer till they were outside in the passage, of my locking the door, of the

, but I insisted upon going into all the rooms, and I was properly punished for it. I was frightened enough, goodness knows, before I fainted, for I was chill

s a confession to make; not m

rself. We are much of a muchness--men and wome

good to say so

your faint," said Bob, "w

t was

id not see

thank

to me. "He says he didn't," said my w

, "she does no

"when the very moment before I swooned away I saw you

ppose I have as much righ

that you saw anything. He is the best husband in the world, Mr.

he sort; if I am the best husband in the world, so are you the best wife

y. "I will ask Mr. Millet this plain question. He may say, like you, that it

could speak, "that I must have been

e door was shut if

deny that

it come o

t, too," I repl

t wi

e window through

my husband says it slams because of the wind through the window. I accept that as reasonable, but is it reasonable

a sly look at me; "I should

. My wife's logic w

about it, I will leave you two gentlemen together while I go and look

pleasure,

ouse, and I did not think it was nice behavior in a gentleman who was paying me his first visit. I told my husband as much last night before we w

ll that you have said and thought and done was most fair and reasonable, and I ought to