her husband poor died there were original traits in s character mrs had some experiences i fancy while she lived in colonel happened to look full at as the latter finished speaking his thoughts had been engaged with somewhat penetrating personal considerations and he had hardly noticed what the other man had been saying the two were standing quite near each other in the narrow glancing at him suddenly the colonel was aware of a singular expression about his companion of an of gaze as though he was watching him with some distinct purpose put his hand over his eyes for a moment with an indolent half disgusted gesture dear me he said how vulgar those wretched little look after the moonlight i and yet and i were rather pleased with our illumination at first even now � though i own it is a lamentable exhibition of the purity of my taste � i think it has a certain value it presents a contrast and there is a great deal to be got out of they are very teaching they make one aware of a number of sensations one might otherwise miss and at my age i begin to cherish sensations � that is if they are not too vivid he moved on as he spoke into the gleaming garden and then smiling at philip added � talking of colonel here is a sufficiently telling one it is a little unkind to one of the ladies certainly but that alas is just look there at my cousin pierce and my cousin lover and mistress colonel came a few steps into the garden too he started and could hardly repress an he was conscious of a sudden luminous in his brain the solid ground seemed to give a and then slowly settle itself into i ace again where the four gravel paths met in the centre of the garden with the light of a row of swaying falling fully upon her stood her white figure showing in high relief against a dim background of leaves and flowers she was speaking with considerable vivacity and animation � apparently describing her late game of play by her side listening to her clear speech was a tall thin woman who had shaken hands with the days of her youth she wore a plain travelling dress of dark material and gave the impression of being a tired careful over individual of having reached a state of mind in which she was indifferent to those small of feminine attire and was unequal to that of gesture and manner so important to every woman who her natural desire of appearing to advantage in masculine eyes as a connecting link between these two very persons stood the little boy � holding the hand of the elder woman kicking about the gravel with his foot and putting in a remark from time to time in thin tones i hope you have not tired yourself said mrs with an even utterance you have been very kind in amusing so long laughed gently she looked wonderfully sparkling with her fresh face and quick graceful movements the emotion she had displayed a short time before when talking to colonel had apparently passed away leaving no trace save perhaps a brighter light in her blue grey eyes and a slight in her voice i am hardly ever tired she answered unless i am bored and then i just go to sleep mamma says i am remarkably i am very glad of that i am not fond of sickness or sick people � it all seems unnatural you know mrs appeared a little bewildered she drew the boy nearer to her as she replied � sickness maybe unnatural lam sure i don t know it is very common smiled he glanced at the two women under the orange trees and then at colonel this contrast interests you he inquired io colonel en s wife the expression had resolved itself out of simple astonishment into one of considerable resolution the position was a painful and embarrassing one but he was determined ta carry it through with a high hand i believe i have the honour of knowing that lady he said with some dignity of manner she has probably forgotten me though as it is a long while since we met i must ask you to mention my name to her to recall me to her remembrance made a gesture of assent by all means but here are mrs pierce and my worthy aunt mrs just coming out of that little speak to them first my cousin is not in her happiest mood to night i grieve to say therefore it is advisable to observe mrs pierce did in fact sweep up to the two gentle men in a rather dramatic manner she shook hands with philip in silence and then stepping aside said � colonel mrs mrs me that you and she are old friends that was the term wasn t it � old friends colonel philip bowed profoundly to a figure which blocked the of the ah perhaps colonel won t admit the friendship said the lady with a large and slightly biting of address we women remember every little event in our quiet monotonous lives but with you gentlemen it is so different a thousand things happen to you you know and the old recollections while we poor things sit at home with our fancy work and our memories and our regrets ah dear me philip felt i too have an excellent memory i assure you he said quietly eh what exclaimed mrs sharply then she turned to mrs pierce with an assumption of great of we have always watched colonel s career with so much interest you know the papers have not been silent they have given us information � very deeply interesting information at times i have often said to i wonder if we shall ever meet colonel again and 