whom we used to be told in our youth help his head swelling when he eat i no so much my wretched self dear cousin as all unsuccessful vagabond humanity i have a large share of primitive instincts of fallen man which make dirty worthless boys in the throw a handful of mud at the nice clean well conducted little boys who roll by them sitting up in well appointed carriages i planned a telling scene i let the sigh of burst upon our friend as she was standing talking t under the orange trees you can picture the contrast � laughed softly to himself it was dramatic th� poor colonel really behaved very well but to use a phrase it knocked the wind out of him for a few seconds ver effectually mrs pierce was at the far end of the room sh spoke with a trace of no doubt he felt seeing again under the but � i suppose i am stupid � i confess i don t quit catch the point of the contrast with heaven help us where are your eyes cried m holding up his hands why poor man to put it he is simply over head and ears in love with mrs pierce came slowly down the length of the again she had that appearance of laying back her ears an showing the of her eyes as she passed the young mar she said with something rather forced in the calm of her ah you think so too do you i am glad of that there was a moment s silence i don t think that is quite kind of you cousin he observed has not had plenty of victims already i merely a passing practical joke you go farther it seems and with no fair cause why should you want the poor man to be tortured � l i don t want him to be tortured she answered keeping hei lover and mistress eyes fixed on the floor i have the highest regard for colonel i desire earnestly to secure his happiness remained very still the air of enjoyment had pretty well died out of his face pardon me he said but would you mind sitting the of your dress is getting a little on to my nerves it me i confess for example i don t clearly apprehend the meaning of your last speech as he spoke mr looked very full at his companion strong as mrs pierce might appear this man certainly exercised a remarkable influence over her she knew quite well that the die was cast and that a dangerous and painful scene lay before her � how dangerous and painful it might prove she could not as yet determine but that it would tax her courage and fortitude pretty severely she was already sure in her present state of hardly repressed excitement it would be far easier to her to say what must be said moving to and fro yet when mr looked steadily at her and pointed to the sofa opposite to she wavered only for a moment and then sat down that is better he i am no doubt but i repeat i do not clearly understand what you mean back among the large sofa cushions movement and feeling had brought a glow of colour into her cheeks in her rich elaborate black gown with the soft lace falling back from her dusky hair she was undoubtedly a strikingly handsome and distinguished looking physically she gave way before her companion a nervous tremor shook her but mentally she herself against his influence she half shut her eyes and clasped her hands tightly together as they lay on her lap i intend to encourage colonel she said slowly to be quite frank with you i wish to secure s future and i believe he would make her an admirable husband did not move but he turned very pale indeed ah he said with a queer shuddering it was something like the cry of an animal in pain sat up quickly she raised her hands and tore open the lace at her throat she wanted air she felt as though she would it was dreadful to her to see this man suffer � but it was almost equally dreadful to perceive why he suffered don t take it like that she cried with sudden violence it is hideous you will drive me mad hardly her outburst he smiled a little covered her eyes his poor white face and that pitiful mockery of a smile turned her faint i s wife i understand perfectly well now thank you hfe said gently i flattered myself i was prepared for most things but one s imagination i observe a habit of just missing what is most probable one s philosophy too fails at critical moments it one to bear imaginary evils perfectly well it is not so successful with real evils well i own myself beaten you are the of the two by a very long way i had not thought of this combination s future demands a victim of course � but i am to be tortured this time i see not colonel what could i do she exclaimed i have suspected � feared how things were going with you but i did not dream it gone as far as this and then she added with a sort of gasp it may come to nothing after all i don t think so the young man answered with that same wretched smile everything will turn out as wish � at least if you keep on i must keep on said mrs pierce she threw back her head her face was hard and set then almost immediately she softened again into a tone of pleading with a wild longing to justify herself to prove that her motives were i do it for the best i believe it is right it seems the safest 