Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-31
CHAPTER VIII.


 MT. Quest lived in one of those ugly but comfortably built old red brick houses, which abound in almost every country town, and which give us the clearest possible idea of the want of taste and love of material comfort that characterized the gross age in which they were built. This house looked out on to the market place, and had @ charming old walled garden at the back, famous for Its nectarines, which, together with the lawn tennis court, was, as Mrs. Quest would say, almost enough to console her for living In @ town. The front door, however, was only separated by little flight of steps from the pavement, upon which the house abutted.
 Entering into large, cool looking hall. MT. Quest paused, and asked a servant who was passing where her mistress was.
 "In the drawing room, sir, said the girl; and followed by Edward Cossey, he made his way down a long paneled passage till he reached a door on the left, which he opened quickly, and passed through into a charming, modern looking room, handsomely and even luxuriously furnished, and lighted by French windows opening on to the walled garden.
 A little lady dressed in some black mate rial was standing at one of these windows, her arms crossed behind her back, and absently gazing out of it. At the sound of the opening door she turned swiftly, her whole delicate and lovely face lighting up like flower in 8 ray of sunshine, the lips slightly parted, and deep and happy light shining in her violet eyes. Then, all in an instant, it was in structive to observe how instantaneously her glance fell upon her husband for the lady was Mrs. Quest and her entire expression changed to one of cold aversion, the light fading out of her face as it does from November sky, and leaving it cold and hard
 Mir. Quest, who was man who saw every 4I.i~ F..
 Don't be alarmed, Belle," he said, in a low voice; 'T have brought MT. Cossey with me-"
 She flushed up to the eyes, a great wave of color, and her breast heaved; but before she could answer, Edward Cossey, who had stopped behind to wipe some mud off his shoes, entered the room, and politely offered his hand to Mrs. Quest, who took it coldly enough
 ''You are an early visitor, MT. Cossey," she said
 "Yes," said her husband, "but the fault Is mine. l have brought MT. Cossey over to ask you if you can give him 8 lift up to the castle this afternoon. have to go up there to lunch, and have borrowed his dog cart" "Oh, yes, with pleasure. But why can't the dog cart come back for MT. Cosseys' "Well, you see," put in Edward, ''there is 8 little difficulty; my groom is sick. But there is reslly no reason why you should be bothered. have no doubt that man can be found to bring 1t back" "Oh, no" she said, with 8 shrug, lit will be all right; only you had better lunch here, that's all, because want to start early, and goto an old woman's at the other end of Hon. | ham about some fucEsia cuttings" "I shall be very happy" said he.
 "Very well, then, that Is settled," said Mir. Quest, "and now I must get Emy plans and be off to that vestry meeting. I'm late as 1t is, With your permission, Mir. Cossey, I will order tho dog cart as I pass your roomsn
 Certainly" said Edward, and in another moment the lawyer was gone.
 Mrs. Quest watched the door close, and then sat down In a low armchair, and resting her head upon the back, looked up with e steady, inquiring gaze full into Edward Cos sey's face.
 And he too looked at her, and thought what a beautiful woman she was, in her own way. She was very small, rounded in her tiniest and most beautiful hands and feet But her greatest charm lay In the face which was almost infantile in its shape, and delicate as a moss rose. She was exquisitely fair in coloring-indeed, the darkest things about her were her violet eyes, which in some lights looked almost black in contrast with her white forehead and waving auburn | hair
 Presently she spoke.
 'sHas my husband goneg' she said.
 "I suppose so. Why do you askq'
 "Because, from what I know of his habits should think it very likely that he is listen ing behind the door," and she laughed faintly.
 "You seem to have good opinion of him. , q have exactly the opinion of him that ht deserves" she saad, bitterly; "and my opinion of him is that he is one of the wickedssa men in Englapd."
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