Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-20
CHAPTER VI.

under the circumstances it was perbans
not astonishing that she VS. the first to
be down next morning. She had finished
her breakfast, and had actually started
off to pay her usual visit to the stables
before her guardian had put in an an
pearance downstairs.
Returning to the house about half an
hour later, however, she met Sir Ughtred
taking a quiet stroll round the garden.
He held cigar between his lips. and
was evidently doing his best to dispel the
all-pervading dreariness of the deserted
looking lawns and the atmospheric de-
preston of the November day. Whether
he had succeeded or not was a different
matter. At all times there was an ex-
preston of gloom upon his countenance,
and this morning even Phyllis was struck
as she had been struck the first time she
had seen him, by the air of WEAKNESS
and utter detection which characterized
his whole bearing. Something of the
moodiness seemed to vanish as bark
from Benedict caused him suddenly to
raise his head, to discover Phyllis coming
slowly towards him.
"Ah, so here you are!" he said, holding
out his hand with an unmistakable smile
Il have been wondering where you were
and why you had left me to the tender
mercies of that delightful duenna of
yours. Ought you not to have been max
ig up for some of that beauty sleep which
you lost that night? l feel that l have
it terribly upon my conscience"
Phyllis laughed.
Then you have seen Miss Dare?" she
returned, with a slight upraising of her
eyebrows.
"Oh, yes, l have seen her" was Sir
Ughtred's reply, "and a most remarkable
person she is, too! She entertained me
in the most considerate manner all the
time was eating my breakfast. But
that reminds mel have just come from
Grant, who, | am glad to say, is good
deal better this morning. At least he
seems to think he is, though it is my
firm conviction that he is becoming de
cidedly delirious, as he will persist in de-
claring that he knows you; that he is
most intimate with you. in fact"
Here the baronet looked at Phyllis. as
if anxious to see the effect of his words
and the establishment that they would
create.
Miss Yelverton, however, merely re-
ceived this piece of information in ST.
lence She did not evince any surprise,
and, in fact, for the moment appeared to
be wholly engrOssed in trying to Irvine
a short length of ivy round Benedict's
muzzle.
81 told him that he must be mistaken;
that it was simply wild phantasy of his
BRAIN" continued Wharf, surveying the
decoration of the dogs nose with an ex-
preston of grim amusement; "but it is
no use-he is quite positive that he has
the pleasure of your acquaintance; and
as the doctor has given him permission to
be moved to the sofa in the morning
room. nothing will satisfy him but that
he should be allowed an opportunity of
seeing you. He has now commissioned
me-in spite of my assurance that you
have not the slightest knowledge of him
to ask you, as great favor, to deign
to pay him a visit"
"To pay him a visit-to see him!" ex-
claimed Phyllis, starting and turning
pale. ooh, what is the use of it? What
good can it do? low dare he! He"
At this point Phyllis seemed suddenly
to recollect herself, and, stopping abrupt
ly, stopped down to gather the pieces of
ivy which in her agitation she had
dropped heedlessly to the ground.
As for Sir Ughtred, he thrust his
hands into his pockets and, leaning
against the trunk of a tree, surveyed his
ward with an air OF calm but hopeless be-
wilderment. His friend Grant had be-
haved in a manner which had certainly
puzzled him; but Miss Yelverton-well,
if she had been the victim of a serious
accident the previous evening, there
might be some explanation for the pres
ent state of affairs. AS it was, she was
simply an enigma.
well, Miss Yelverton, that was the
message which | was to deliver to you"
he observed, after a moments pause. 81
assure you that those are Capt. Grants
very words. All that | can say in the
matter is, that l promised to convey
them to you"
ooh, yes, l quite understand, of
course!" answered Phyllis hurriedly. at
is very good of you to trouble; but I"
She gave a dreary little shake of her
head and looked despairingly about her.
oh what do you think? Need l see
him -
Need you see him?" Sir Ughtred
flung away his cigar with a laugh. WE'LL
really, Miss Yelverton. considering that |
aan perfectly ignorant as to whether you
even know TIE indi, dual or not, it
seems to me thai it is slightly awk-
ward question for me to answer"
well, Of course Yes, / do know
him" confessed Phyllis somewhat hur-
riedly, with deeSledly shamefaeed ex-
precision of countenance.
"Ah. you know him?" At this point
Phyllis was vaguely conscious that Sir
Ughtred was fixing his glass into his
eve. and that he was contemplating her
with a smile of cynical amusement. 1T
is a mistake then; you have not merely
hoard of him? So, perhaps, after all.
poor Grant was not quite so delirious as
thought. There was some reason in what
he said 2"
Phyllis started.
,r4l,