Evening star., 1896-12-19
= IltlfFE.af
seems not at all Observation-Disclosures not the

seems not at all unusual-attracts not the
slightest attention, hut / confess. =.
Her fluency deserted her. and she turned
her face away. Passy guessed from the
line of the profile that she was biting her
lip. and certainly he caught the nervous
tap of a little sole on the hearthstone-
NO, no." he entreated her. Don't think
any Of these things. l am wholly in your
hands. The surprise ard joy of seeing you
i truly hunted for weeks through German
towns to trace you-you must have Known
gether in just those two hours or three
that is the way when two people rightly
meet each other who-who comprehend
each other-and 1 know in my heart
Il think 1t was not your heart thar we
were speaking Of she interrupted him.
Yet in a sense. it is what-what is con-
ventionally called-an affair of hearts
which brings here. You can hardly
he prepared for what l am going to tell
you-but 1 am Mary's sister-her elder
sister,
Passy accepted the tidings with an un-
moI ed face. .Yes?''lie said, wonderlngly.
1T is very simple she went on in
sharper voice Il came to England three
days ago. but three hours was enough to
snow me that something was amlss with
Mary. l won't say that she has been what
might be called expansiveiy frank with me,
but know enough Of how matters stand to
feel warranted-that is, to have felt war
ranted, in interfering. The df between
you vas really all moonshine, and she
knows 1t perfectly. and she is in mood to
be reasonable. and so it was my idea to
ask you to dine with me this evening"
have a fiat in Victoria street-and she
would be there-and-Well that's all
Passy had been studying her face as she
spoke, with strenuous intentness. HIS puz-
element at the outset was obvious, but
Low he gave a long, low, little whistle vi
surprised compulson, and began moving
about rubbing his hands together softly,
and smiling to himself. He swayed his
slender shoulders as he walked; the i'm
pu'se to oance was in his knees.
He stopped before her, and was not un-
nerved by the vexed and flushed counte-
nance she reluctantly turned to him.
"As you have said he began. with
painst aking deliberaton, 1.-The situation is
not commonplace. But are we in complete
pardon me the question-ought l still to
address you as Miss Savage?'
She bowed assent and he altered his
voice to a whimsical affectaton OF visit
fulness; Il never knew your first name"
1T is immaterial-surely,' she replied,
with brevity.
AT all events. we have a definite Miss
Savage-and she seems entitled to the in
formation that / don't know Mary, that
have never even heard of Mary, and that
am not Laurence Mole.
The lady preserved a tranquil face. but
her gaze with which. she held Passy deep
ened and hardened. This doesn't impress
me as altogether nice you know" she re-
The courage Vanished from Passys pos
ture. He held out HIS hands imploringly.
to YOU" he urged, that until minute
ago-when you spoke of your sister-it
never crossed my mind that you were mis-
taken about mellow could it.-nothing led
to tive talked about our meeting-1t was
all so natural"
"And you are rsAah, snot Mr.. Mole?" she
interrupted him, with Homens of placation
in her tone. 1T l1R& be more regular If
My name is Pay@F. he said, dolefully-
"Tyndan Passy."
she nodded alTbst Eamiably. Il have
the gentleman who kn9Es all about art and
artists Then yo,h w&hld probably know
among % other thinEz srSere Mr. Mole is?''
ION his way to Malaga. I have his ad-
dress there-I am forwarding letters. 1
can send telegram to meet him. ;"
"And YOU she left the subject of Mole
with a dawning smile-.I used to hear of
you from the Chesharns-have you finally
made up your mind to do something in par
ticular? The good souls, they used to be
greatly worried about your indefiniteness."
.Oh, Mole settled 1t all for me- he re-
Joined, cheerfully. His advice was mag
n.ficenf. He said / had only to get stu
dio. and the rest would come"
She took her cloak upon her arm. did
your kodak picture of me really come out
well?" she asked, fnconsequently-''an
what was 1t you said?-or didn't you say?
what is 1t you have decided to do?''
Il have decided to ask IL / may really
come to dinner this eyening-to meet Mary,
you known"