The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-22
N~N WYNN
3 A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION {
BY
Z CHARLES READE
~ NvN~~H>NNN
CHARLES READE

twas writ on his face as he had no chill
drsn."
"Ah! And that is why he would not so
abroad, perhaps?"
"That Is the reason, sir. I suppose
Mr.. Rofe put his hands behind his
back and walked thoughtfully and rather
disconsolately back to his seat.
"Humph!' said he. Then. after
pause. well, we'll: know the worst
now: that Is one comfort. Lady Bassetf'
you really must be candid with me. Con-
slider. good advice Is like a tight glove; IL
fits the circumstances, and II does not nj
other circumstances.
mo man advises so badly on a false and
partial statement as I do. for the very
reason that my advice 10 n close At. Evcn
now / cart understand Sir Charles de-
spair, OF having children of his own.
The writer then turned his looks on the
two women, with an entire absence OF
expression. the sense Of his eyes was
turned inward. though the orbs were d.
rectej toward his visitors.
With this lack-luster gaze, and In the
tone of thoughtful soliloauy. he said.
HAS Sir Charles Bassett no eyes? and
are there women so furtive. so secret.
or so bashful they do not tell their nus
oanos?"
Lady Bassett turned with a scared look
To Mary Wells. and that young woman
showed her usual readiness. She actu-
ally came TO Mr.. Rolfe and half-whis-
pere1 to him. "If you please. sir, gentle
men are not blind. and my lady she Ii
very bashful: hut Sir Charles knows II
now he have known II a good whiie;and
Ii was great comfort to him he was get
ting better. sir. when the villains took
him-eyer so much better.
This solution siienced Mr.. Rolfe. though
IL did not quite satisfy him. He fastened
on Mary Wells last statement. Now tell
me: between the day when those two
doctors got into his apartments and the
day OF his capture. how long?"
About a fortnight.
"In that particular fortnight was there
a marked Improvement?
La. yes. cir; was there not, my
LADY,"
Indeed. there was. sir. He was begin
ming 20 take walks with me In the gar
den, and rides In an open carriage. He
was getting better every day; and oh.
sir that is what breaks my heart I was
curing my darling so fast, and now they
will do all they can TO destroy him. Their
not letting his wife see him terrifes
me"
'I think can explain that. Now tell
me-what time do you expect-a certain
event?"
Lady Bassett blushed. and cast a hasty
glance at the speaker: but he had a
pairing 10 take down her reply. with the
innocent face OF a man who had asked
a simple and necessary question In the
way of business.
Then Lady Bassett looked at Mary
Wells. and this look Mr.. Rolfe surprised
because he himself looked up to see why
the lady hesitated.
After an expressive glance between the
mistress and maid. the lady said, almost
inaudlbly. More than three months
and then she blushed all over.
Mr.. Rolfe looked At the two women
moment. and seemed a little puzzled at
their telegraphing each other on such
subject; but he cody noted down Lady
Bassett's reply on card about the size
OF foolscap sheet. and then set himself
to write on the same card the other facts
he had elected
While he was doing this very slowly
with grcat care and pains, the lady was
eyeing him like a zoologist studying some
new animal. The simplicity and straight
forwardness OF his last question won by
degrees upon her Judgment and recon
ciled her TO her inquisltor, the more so
he was quiet but intense, and his whole
soul I'm her case. She began TO respect
his simple neutrality-suspicious.. his CIV
ility without grain of gallantry. and
his caution in elicting all the facts be-
fore he would advise.
After he had written down his synop-
sis. looking all the time as II life depend
ed on its correctness. he leaned back.
and his ordinary but mobile countenance
was transfgured into genality.
Come" said he. "grsndmamma has
pestered YOU with questions enough; now
you retort-ask me anything-speak your
mind: these things should be attacked
In every form, and sifted with every
sieve"
(To be Continued)