tained from the footman that
you had not yet gone to dress, I insisted upon his leading us here for a
little private conversation after we have been parted for so many years.
We wished to offer you our condolences in person on your and our still
recent loss."

"Thank you," said Lady Ragnall, "but I think we have corresponded on the
subject which is painful to me."

"I fear that we are interrupting a smoking party, Thomas," said Mrs.
A.-S. in a cold voice, sniffing at the air for all the world like a
suspicious animal, whereon the five of them stared at Lady Ragnall's
cigarette which she held between her fingers.

"Yes," said Lady Ragnall. "Won't you have one? Mr. Quatermain, hand Mrs.
Smith the box, please."

I obeyed automatically, proffering it to the lady who nearly withered me
with a glance, and then to each to each in turn. To my relief the young
man took one.

"Archibald," said his mother, "you are surely not going to make your
sisters' dresses smell of tobacco just before dinner."

Archibald sniggered and replied,

"A little more smoke will not make any difference in this room, Ma."

"That is true, darling," said Mrs. A.-S. and was straightway seized with
a fit of asthma.

After this I am sure I don't know what happened, for muttering something
about its being time to dress, I rushed from the room and wandered about
until I could find someone to conduct me to my own where I lingered
until I heard the dinner-bell ring. But even this retreat was not
without disaster, for in my hurry I trod upon one of the young lady's
dresses; I don't know whether it was Dolly's or Polly's (they were named
Dolly and Polly) and heard a dreadful crack about her middle as though
she were breaking in two. Thereon Archibald giggled again and Dolly and
Polly remarked with one voice--they always spoke together,

"Oh! clumsy!"

To complete my misfortunes I missed my way going downstairs and strayed
to and fro like a lost lamb until I found myself confronted by a green
baize door which reminded me of something. I stood staring at it till
suddenly a vision arose before me of myself following a bell wire
through that very door in the darkness of the night when in search for
the late Mr. Savage upon a certain urgent occasion. Yes, there could be
no doubt about it, for look! there was the wire, and strange it seemed
to me that I should live to behold it again. Curiosity led me to push
the door open just to ascertain if my memory s