'"
He spoke as though he had been reading from a child's Primer. When he
had finished, he replaced his cigarette between his teeth.
"I am a dead man," he said calmly. "Dead as the wildest seed plot in
God's most forgotten acre!"
LORD OF THE MANOR
She came slowly towards the two men through the overgrown rose garden,
a thin, pale, wild-eyed child, dressed in most uncompromising black.
It was a matter of doubt whether she was the more surprised to see
them, or they to find anyone else, in this wilderness of desolation.
They stood face to face with her upon the narrow path.
"Have you lost your way?" she inquired politely.
"We were told," Aynesworth answered, "that there was a gate in the
wall there, through which we could get on to the cliffs."
"Who told you so?" she asked.
"The housekeeper," Aynesworth answered. "I will not attempt to
pronounce her name."
"Mrs. Tresfarwin," the child said. "It is not really difficult. But
she had no right to send you through here! It is all private, you
know!"
"And you?" Aynesworth asked with a smile, "you have permission, I
suppose?"
"Yes," she answered. "I have lived here all my life. I go where I
please. Have you seen the pictures?"
"We have just been looking at them," Aynesworth answered.
"Aren't they beautiful?" she exclaimed. "I--oh!"
She sat suddenly down on a rough wooden seat and commenced to cry. For
the first time Wingrave looked at her with some apparent interest.
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