mrs was full of heart she declared throwing the assertion across the room much as though it was a stone in the direction of the figure at the window drew herself up with a rustle i wonder exactly what means by that she commented inwardly i think it very odd of course she must have some meaning and i wonder what it is she seems to be changing her line i am glad i stayed i am afraid is rather i excuse george of deceit i believe george to be true but he is sadly influenced by i am rather sorry for george so she is mrs resumed � s too full of heart as i tell her she is forever thinking of others and their comforts she the far horizon neither time nor money does not there is nothing calculating or cheese about her � not enough i often think fish game poultry and all of the very best � where the profits are to come from with a bill of fare like that passes my powers of and so i point out to her i hope it is appreciated � yes i do hope that mr � there the speaker became extremely and playful a little bird sometimes seems to to me that it is and yet i am sure i don t know the members of your sex are very mr do not par yourself now you cannot take me in and a certain gentleman is very close you know and stand it is not easy to get at his real sentiments is it now laid back her ears so to speak i was quite right to stay she reflected i think mr is unusually considerate miss george said he is quite sensible of mrs s kind attentions but naturally he is very of her household arrangements and giving additional trouble and then the position of a bachelor is delicate miss you must admit mrs in that s what i always tell it may do all very well in their younger days to be but as gentlemen get on in life they do need their own private i am sure i am sorry for them in chambers or even in good rooms like those at lodge for it is not the same as a home miss and never can be there must be on both sides at times especially when it comes to illness then the great gathered herself together for it appeared to her her had been just and that she was indeed marching to victory yes there is no denying all that she said and i chapter the wind blew strong and bleak and dreary against the windows of the at the back of the house the complaint of the tree as the branches upon one another was long drawn and loud these sounds reached in the sitting room where he sat alone and before the fire for more than a week now he had been confined to the house he had set the door of communication between the two rooms open so as to gain a greater sense of space and that he might take a little exercise by walking the whole length of them the cry of the wind and the moan of the branches was very yet he made no effort to shut it out to begin with he was so weak that it was too much trouble to move to go on the melancholy sounds were not ill suited to his present humour for a great depression was upon him a weariness of spirit which might be felt out of doors london shivered houses and sky and the expanse of s green with its trees and iron livid a upon them as of fear had no quarrel with this either indeed it gave him a certain bitter satisfaction as offering a not setting to his own thought though not robust he was tough and so that illness of a nature as to his remaining within doors was a new and trying experience crossing bridge on the ten days previously the chill of the river had struck through him yet this in all reasonable probability would merely have resulted in passing physical discomfort but for the moral and spiritual hurt immediately preceding it how far the mind has the far horizon when an opportunity occurred of speaking in private to her cousin she did so with the utmost cordiality i do hope george she said you will not think any more of our little i can truly say i never bear malice i own i was annoyed for i felt i had not been quite fairly treated by but of course i may have been mistaken i am quite willing to believe so and to let be and stay as pressed me to do until i go to my cousin lady in december of course it would be more convenient to me in some ways but i am not thinking of that i am thinking of you and i should not like to disappoint her by leaving her when she wants me to help entertain your friend mr of course i cannot pretend i take easily to strangers mamma was very particular whom we associated with and so i have always been to strangers and i cannot pretend i am partial to making new acquaintances still i should be very sorry to seem or to hurt you and by refusing to stay and assist you thank you truly i am sure you are very kind the good man answered and the best or the worst of it was he actually believed he was speaking the truth the far horizon familiar contents by tears it was an hour of supreme nothing is left he said half aloud nothing the future is as blank as the present if this is to grow old then indeed those whom the gods have need enough to die 