w that he could rely on her opinion. Her intuitions were seldom at
fault. Whether she blamed or praised it was always with rare
discrimination and perfect justice, and she was never impulsive or rash
in her verdicts.

There was a moment's silence. A blackbird, evidently attracted by Mrs.
Godfrey's clear, resonant voice, had perched on the stone parapet
beside them and watched them in bright-eyed curiosity. Then, as Malcolm
moved his arm, it flew off, with clucking notes of warning, to rejoin
its mate.

"I am rather troubled to hear you say this," began Malcolm. "Will you
tell me all you know about these people?"

"That is just the difficulty," returned Mrs. Godfrey slowly. "No one
seems to know much about them. Even Mrs. Sinclair, who has taken them
up so lately, knows scarcely anything of their antecedents. As far as I
remember, Mrs. Sinclair asked me one day if I were not going to call on
the Jacobis. 'They are perfectly charming,' were her words. 'They are a
brother and a sister who have taken Beechcroft for the season. They
seem wealthy people and live in good style, and Miss Jacobi is one of
the handsomest women I have ever seen.'"

"And this was all?" as Mrs. Godfrey paused.

"It was all I could gather. Mr. Sinclair certainly told Alick that he
understood that Mr. Jacobi had made his money in business--something
connected with a mining company, he believed. But no one seemed to know
exactly, and the Jacobis are rather reticent about their own concerns.
They seem to have a large visiting-list, and to know some big people."

"And Miss Jacobi called here?"

"Yes, Mrs. Sinclair brought her; but I confess I was somewhat
embarrassed by the visit--it has placed me in an awkward predicament. I
have no wish to make their acquaintance, but I cannot well be
unneighbourly; one meets them everywhere, so Alick tells me that I must
get rid of my insular prejudices and leave our cards at Beechcroft."

"It must be an awful nuisance," replied Malcolm sympathetically.

"Oh, I don't know; Miss Jacobi is very civil and pleasant. She is
rather a reserved sort of woman, but remarkably good-looking, and she
dresses beautifully. I am afraid," with a laugh, "all you gentlemen
will lose your hearts to her. Even Alick raves about her. He declares
they must be Italian Jews, although they have lived in England and
America all their lives. Miss Jacobi has certainly rather a Jewish type
of face, and she has the clear olive complexion o