herever
they go. She has fixed herself in such a lonely spot. After all, she
is my tenant. It is my business to see that she wants for nothing. I
recognized her one night I came that way--when I was late and had to
take that road. I saw her through the unshuttered window with a strong
light on her face. I went back there in daylight and came upon her
drawing water from the well. She was frightened at first, but
afterwards she seemed glad to see me. She is very lonely. No one goes
to see her but Mrs. Horridge,--a good creature--but Bridyeen is a
natural lady. I must not go there again though she is a grey-haired
woman older than her years--it was strange that I recognized her after
twenty years; there are beasts who will talk."

"I shall come with you, Shawn," said Lady O'Gara. "That will be the
best way to prevent their talking."

CHAPTER X

MRS. WADE

A friendship had sprung up between Mrs. Horridge and Mrs. Wade, as Sir
Shawn had said--a curious friendship, not altogether equal, for Mrs.
Wade had a certain amount of education and was curiously
refined--America had not altered her even to the extent of affecting
her speech; and that was a very exceptional thing, for the returned
Americans usually came with a speech altered out of all recognition.

When Lady O'Gara came into the little sitting-room at the cottage,
having knocked with her knuckles and obtained no answer, she found
Susan Horridge there. Susan stood up, making a little dip, took the
boy's garment she had been mending and went away, while Mrs. Wade
received her visitor with a curious air of equality. It was not such
an equality as she might have learnt in the United States. There was
nothing assertive about it. It was quite unconscious.

She seemed profoundly agitated by Lady O'Gara's visit, her colour
coming and going, her eyes dilated. She had put out a hand as Susan
Horridge went away, almost as though she would have detained her by
force.

"Please forgive my coming in like this," Lady O'Gara said. "I was
knocking for some time, but you did not hear me. My husband, Sir Shawn
O'Gara, has told me about his tenant, and I thought I would like to
come and see you."

"Thank you very much, Lady O'Gara. I am sorry you had to wait at the
door. Won't you sit down?"

"May I sit here? I don't like facing the light. My eyes are not
over-strong."

"Dear me. They look so beautiful too."

The naive compliment seemed to ease t