The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-17
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
BY WILLIAM w. COLLINS.


| tors attendance withdrawn from us In
enmty--it was surely not unnatural that
my spirits should sink, and my custom
ary composure be very hard to maintain.
Nv mind was III at ease. / wished the
poor ladies' both well again. and wished
| myself away from Blackwater PARK.
The next event that occurred was or so
singular a nature that IL might nave
| caused me n feeling OF superstitious sur
prise II my mind had not been fortihen
by principle against any pagan weakness
OF that sort The uneasy sense or some
| thing wrong in the family which had
made me wish myself away from Black
water Park was actually fonoweo'
strange to say. by my departure from tne
| house. IL Is true that my absence was TOT
/ n temporary period only. but the coinci-
| dence was I'm my opinion, not the less
remarkable on that account.
Nv departure took place under the fol-
/ lowing circumstances:
| day or two after the servants all left,
/ was again sent for to see Sir Percival.
| The undeserved slur which he had cast
on nv management OF the household did
not. am happy 10 say, prevent me from
| returning good for evil TO the best OF my
/, ability, by complying with his request as
readily and respectfully as ever. 1t cost
me a struggle with that fallen nature
which we will all share In common, be-
fore could suppress my feelings Being
I
he'd the sacrifice
found Sir Percival and Count Fosco
| sitting together, again. On this occa-
sion his lordship remained present at the
interview. anad assisted In the develop
ment OF Sir Percivals views.
The subject to which they now request
ed my attention related TO the healthy
change OF air by which we all hoped that
Miss Halcombe and Lady Clyde might
soon be enabled TO profit. Sir Percivai
mentioned that both the ladiees would
probably pass the autumn (by invitation
of Frederick Fairlie. Esquire), at Lin
meridge House. Cumberland But be-
fore they went there, It was his opinion,
confirmed by Count Fosco twho here
took up the conversation and cntinued
IL TO the end), that they would beneht by
a short residence first In the genial cli-
mate OF Torquay. The great object.
therefore. was 10 engage lodgings at that
place, affording all the comforts and ad-
vantages in which they stood In need;
and the great difficulty was TO find an
experienced person capable OF choosing
| the sort OF residence which they wanted
In this emergency the Count begged to
inquire. on Sir Percivals behalf. whether
would object to give the ladies the ben
eft OF my assistance, by proceeding my
self to Torquay In their interests.
1t was impossible for a person In my
situation to meet any proposal made
in these trems with q positive objection
/ could only venture to represent the
serious inconvenience OF my leaving
Blackwater Park in the extraordinary
absence OF all the indoor servants. with
the one exception of Margaret Porcher
But SirsPercival and his lordship de-
clared that they were both willing TO put
up with inconvenience for the sake of the
invalids. I next respectfully suggested
writing TO an agent at Torquay: but
x.IAzl - Aa
imprudence OF taking lodgings without
first seeing them. l was also Informed
that the Countess (who would otherwise
have gone TO Devonshire herselO could
not, In Lady Glydes present condition
leave her niece. and that Sir Percival and
, the Count had business to transact to-
gether which would oblige them TO re-
main at Blackwater Park. In short, II
was clearly shown me that IL did no,
undertake the errand no one else could
be trusted with II. Under these circum
stances. I could only inform Sir Perciva
that my services were at the disposal o
Miss Ha,combe and Lady Clyde.
II was thereupon arranged that
! should leave the next morning; that
should occupy one or two DAYS in exam
ming all the most convenient houses IN
Torquay; and that should return. with
my report as soon as convenient,
$ could. memorandum was written fol
me Dy MS lorusnip stdung the requisites
which the place was sent to take mus
be found to possess; and note OF tn,
pecuniary limit assigned to me was added
5 by Sir Percival.
My own idea. on reading over these In
structions. was, that no such residenc,
as saw described could he found at an,
> watering place In England and that
even II II could by chance be discovered
! IL would certainly not be parted with fo
/, any period on such terms as I was per
] mitted TO offer. limited at these Difficult
: ties to both the gentlemen, but Sir Perci
{ val (who undertook to answer mel di,
not appear 10 feel them II was not 10
J me 10 dispute the question. said n,
more. but felt very strong conviction
!, that the business on which / was sen
: away was so beset by difficulties tha
3 my errand was almost hopeless at start
ing
A Before left took care 10 satisfy my
: self that MISS Halcombe was going oi
favorably.
1 Tn ~. a