mbined fear and fascination.

My little sitting-room was invaded at all hours by my too interesting
landlady, who would suddenly remember some thrilling experience, which
she wished to share with me. At length I took to my bed for three days,
not in the least ill, but simply for a much-needed rest in the midst of
all these excitements.

A day or two after emerging from this haven of peace, I received a visit
from a young lady, whose parents were well known to me in Yorkshire, and
who had recently become engaged to a very rich man, many years her
senior; in fact, considerably older than her own father, who had lately
passed away. The daughters of this family were all devoted to their
father, and most of the visit was occupied in giving me details of his
last illness, and in my sympathising with her upon his loss. It was, in
fact, far more a visit of condolence than of congratulation upon her
future prospects of happiness. As to the latter, I found it difficult to
be quite truthful and yet conventionally ecstatic.

To marry a man nearly old enough to be your grandfather struck me as
risky, to say the least of it, even with all the emollients which
riches and position undoubtedly add to domestic life.

The young woman in question did not at all resent my frankness on the
subject, but assured me that her greatest consolation in thinking of her
late father was the fact that she was about to make a marriage which he
had always wished, and of which he had emphatically given his approval
on his death-bed. "I told him I had decided upon it, just before he
died, and he was so relieved and happy about it," she said simply as she
turned to leave the room. Having mentioned that a younger sister was
also in town, I sent a message to the latter, asking her to take early
dinner with me on the following Sunday, which happened to be my only
spare day just then.

On the evening of this visit from the coming bride, I had accepted an
invitation to a large musical party in the house of the lady who had
begged me to interest myself in Mrs Peters. It was within a
stone's-throw of Sussex Gardens, and I came down to dinner at
seven-thirty P.M., intending to dress later, and go round there about
nine P.M.

For an hour or so before dinner I had been conscious of a growing
despondency, to which I could attribute no cause, and this increased so
much during the meal that Mrs Peters noticed it at last, and asked me if
I were feeling unwell.