Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1903-09-26 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CHAPTER XI.  I 1.091 MY TEMPER AND BARRICADE MY DOOR  'We had tea together, the three of us, and Jease entertained Mrs Loveday with stories of his life in America. I had never heard him talk so well before. He had considerable power of description, and was able to make his pictures vivid and interesting. I could see that he impressed Mrs Loveday by his ability, and I, also, did not entirely escape the influence of the charm he choee to exert. But after tea I stale away to my OWD room, lighted the fire there, and crouched down beside it. I did not intend to be charmed by Jesse, nor did I wish him to think I was particularly glad to see him. What his motives might be in coming to the farm, I could not tell, but I was resolved to be on my guard, and would not allow myself to be oajcded or flattered by him. Shortly before supper Mrs Loveday came into my room. "Dear Miss Wynne," she said, "I am so glad to find what a kind friend you have in Mr Pimpernel." "Indeed," I said coldly. "Yes, and he is so interested in you in every way. We have had quite a long talk about you." My indifference vanished. "What have you been saying?" I asked quickly. "We have been talking over your troubles, and he is so distreseed—" To Mrs Loveday's utter astonishment I leapt to my feet, and threw out my hands with a despairing gesture. "Good God I" I exclaimed, "why couldn't you have held your tongue?" "My dear Miss Wynne," she began, dismayed and half-offended. "Oh, I beg your pardon," I broke in, "I ought not to have spoken like that. But jut you knew!" I took a turn up the room. "What did he say? What did you tell him? Tell nie all—everything," I said. "We were just speaking of all the— the trying experiences you have had, and he was so sympathetic and so grieved for you. lie was inclined—naturally enough, of orturse—to put it all down to fancy and the state of your health, but when I told him about the other night—" "Oh, you told him that?" I put in. " Yes—l hope you—l had no idea you would mind, Miss Wynne," Mrs Loveday said timidly. "Well, wall, never mind. What did he ▪ r  "He said that he saw the matter was mom serious than he had thought; and, indeed, indeed, Miss Wynne, he seemed very deeply concerned.." I laughed, a bitter little laugh enough. "Oh, I dare say," I said. Mrs Loveday stood silent and hesitating, then: "I think you are a little unjust to him," she said, tentatively. "He might help you, you know, and I am quite sure he wants to."  "Perhaps," I answered meditatively, '4 perhaps you axe right." I began to Chink that perhaps she really was, that I did Jesse an unjustioe, that the terrors I bad suffered had upset my good judgment, my sense faculties, my whole physical and mental equipment, and that I had jumped too hastily to conclusions. I would hold my fancy with a firmer rein I reeolved, an I went downstairs to supper, prepared to regard my visitor in a more favourable light. I confess I found it somewhat difficult to maintain my friendly feeling throughout the evening, far much that Jesse said and did jarred mpon and irritated ma After supper lie drew his chair up clone to mine.  " Little) Hester," he said, '1 hear yceu have had an adventure."  My eyes were bent on my knitting and I did not answer him. "I should have put it down to the seeing eyes," he went on, "to more spooks and bugbears, exoept," and his voice grew grave, "that Mrs Loveday tens me she saw it boo." "Saw what?" I enquired, though of course I knew what he alluded to, and that he was aware too that I knew.  "The burglar—murder—the person, whoever he was, who first tried to throttle you and then made his escape out of the window."  "Perhaps Mrs Loveday his fancies too," I said.  "Don't be angry with me because I have sometimes thought you over-imaginative," he pleaded, "but tell me, was it anybody you could at aLI recognise? anybody about the farm?"