Marble Hill press., 1893-09-21
THE MYSTERY OF
MRS. BLENCiRROW,
BY MRS. OLIPHANT,
CHAPTER VIII-CoNTINuFn

HAAI ILh Flll-CONTINUED.
"Do you guess why l sent for you
Mr.. Germaine?'
The vicar hesitated and said, Ian
by no means sure"
''Or why receive you here in thi.
strange place. and let you in myself
and treat you as if you were a visito,
whom l did not choose to have seen?'
Il have never thought of that las
case"
mo; but it is true enough. It i.
not an ordinary visit l asked YOU t.
pay me-" She took her hands from
her face and looked at him for a mo-
ment "You have heard what people
are saying of me?" she said.
"Yes; but | did not believe a word.
felt sure that Kitty only meant tc
curry favor at home"
She gave him a strange, sudden
look. then paused with a mechanical
laugh. "You think, then," she said,
THAT there are people in my own
county to whom that news would be
something to conciliate; something
something to make them forgive? ?'
~lhere are people everywhere who
would give much for such a story
against neighbor. Mrs. B,encarrow. J"
~ is sad that such a thing should
be-" She stopped again and looked
at him once more. Il am going to
surprise you very much, Mr.. Ger
maine. You are not ike them, so !
think am going to give you a great
shock" she said.
Size had turned her face toward
him as she'spoke the two red spots
on her cheeks were like fire, vet her
paleness was extreme; they only
seemed to make this the more re-
markable.
In the momentary silence the door
opened suddenly, and some one came
in. In the subdued light afforded by
the shaded lamp it was difficult to see
more than that dark figure had en-
tered the room, and, crossing over to
the further side, sat down against the
heavy curtains that covered the win
dow. Mrs. Blencarrow made the
slightest movement of consciousness,
not of surprise, at this interruption,
which. indeed, scarcely was an inter-
ruption at all, being so instantaneous
and so little remarked. She went on:
"You have known me long time;
you will form your own opinion of
what l am going to tell you; l will
not excuse or explain"
"Mrs. Blencar.ow, / am not sure
whether you have perceived that we
are not alone"
She cast momentary glance at
the newcomer, unnecessarily, for
she was well aware of him. and of his
attitude, and every line of the dark
shadow behind her. He sat bending
forward, almost double, his elbows
upon his knees, and his head in his
hands.
at makes no difference" she said,
with q slight impatience-"no differ
ence, Mr.. Germaine, l sent for you to
tell you-that it was true.'
"What!" ne cried. He had scarce
ly been listening, all his attention
being directed with CONSERVATION, al
most with stupefaction, on the ap-
pearance of the man who had come
in-who sat there-who made no
difference. The words did not strike
him at all for the first moment, and
then he started and cried in his as
tonishment.
'sWhat!'' as if she had struck him
blow.
Mrs. Blencarrow looked at him fix.
edly and spoke slowly, being, indeed,
forced to do SO by difficulty in enun-
cia&ing the words. 1.-The story you
have heard is---true."
The vicar rose from his chair in
.sh<s~<s 'nt .ock and horror; he
looked round like q man stupefied,
taking in slowly the whole scene
the woman who was looking at him,
but was gazing straight before her..
.p:&h those spots Of red excitement
on her cheeks; the shadow Of the man
in the background, with face hidden.
unsurprised. Mr.. Germaine slowly
received this astounding, inconceiva-
bic thought into his mind.
sGood Cod" he cried. f
ii make no--explanations
cuses. The fact IL enough" she said.
The fact was enough; his mind re-
fused 20 receive II, yet grasped II