The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-20

can settle your accounts tonight. IL you
want to study anybody's convenience.
II had better be Miss Halcombe's Mrs.
Rubelles time Is up today. and she mas
reasons for wishing to be In LONDON TO-
night. II you go at once. Miss Haicombe
won't have a soul left here 10 look atter
her"
| hope II L. unnecessary for me 10 say
that I was quite incapable OF deserting
Miss Halcombe In such an emergency as
had now befallen Lady Clyde ana her-
self f~~ After first distinctly ascertaining
from Sir Percival that Mrs. Ruoeiie was
certain TO leave at once IL took her
place, and after also obtaining permis-
sion TO arrange for Mr.. Dawsons re-
suming his attendance on his patient,
I willingly consented 10 remain at Black
water Park until Miss Halcombe no
longer required my services. IL was set
tied that I should give Sir Percivals
solicitor a weeks notice before / left.
arH- that he was TO undertake the nee
essary arrangements for appointing my
successor. The matter was discussed In
very few words. Al It's conclusion Sir
Percival abruptly turned on his heel, and
let me free 10 join Mrs. Rubelle. That
singular foreign person had been sit
ting composedly on the doorstep all this
time, waiting till i could follow her 10
Miss Halcombes room.
! had hardly walked half way toward
the house when Sir Perclvai who had
withdrawn in the opposite direction, sud
denly stopped and called me back.
why are you leaving my service2' he
asked.
The question was so extraordinary,
after what had just passed between us,
that / hardly knew what TO say in an
swer 10 II.
Mind / don't know why you are GO
ing" he went on. You must give rea-
son for leaving me. suppose. when you
get another situation. What reason?
The breaking up OF the family? Is that
it,"
There can be no positive objection.
Sir Percival TO that reason"
Very well That's all I want to know
II people apply for your character, that's
your reason, stated by yourself You
go In consequence OF the breaking up OF
the family"
He turned away again. before I could
say another word. and walked out rap
idly into the grounds. His manner was
as strange as his language. / acknowl-
edge he alarmed ne.
Even the patience Of Mrs. Rubelle was
getting exhausted. when / Joined her at
| the house door.
AT LAST she said. with a shrug OF
her lean foreign shoulders. She led the
way into the uninhabited side OF the
/
with her key the door at the end OF the
passage. which communicated with the
| old Elizabeth than rooms-a door never pre-
viously used, In my time. at Blackwater
| Park. The rooms themselves knew we'll
having entered them myself. on various
| occasions. from the other side or the
| house. Mrs. Rubelle stopped at the third
door along the old gallery. handed me the
key OF 1t. with the key OF the door OF COM
munication, and told me I should find
Miss Halcombe in that room. Before
went In. I thought II desirable to make
her understand that her attendance had
ceased. Accordingly. / told her In plain
words that the charge of the sick lady
henceforth devolved entirely on myself
II am glad 10 hear IL, ma'am," said
Mrs. Rubelle II wan. to go very much. .
do you leave today?" asked. to make
sure OF her.
Now that you have taken charge
ma'am, i leave in half an hours time
Sir Percival has kindly placed at my
disposition the gardener and the chaise
whenever / want them. I shall want
them in half an hours time, TO go to
the station. / am packed up, In antici-
patton. already. I wish you goodday
ma'am'
She dropped brisk courtesy and walk
ed back along the gallery, humming q
little tune, and keeping time to II cheer
fully with the nosegay In her hand.
am sincerely thankful to say that was
the last ! saw OF Mrs. Rubelle.
When I went into the room Miss Hal
combe was asleep / looked at her anx.
iously. as she lay In the dismal high
old-fashioned bed. She was certainly no
in any respect altered FOR the worse sine,
had seen her last. She had not beer
neglected l am bound to admit. In any
way that ] could perceive The room
was dreary and dusty and dark: but IN,
window docking out on a solitary court
yard at the back Of the house, was open
ed TO let In the fresh air. and all tha
could be done to. make the place com
Portable had been done
ITO be Continued