ave been
inherited by her child. Despite her grave anxieties Mademoiselle Verbena
succeeded in sustaining a remarkable cheeriness, and even a fascinating
vivacity, when in the company of others. As she said to Mr. Greyne,
she did not think it right to lay her burdens upon the shoulders of her
neighbours. She, therefore, forced herself to appear contented, even at
various moments gay, when she and Mr. Greyne were lunching, dining, or
supping together, were driving upon the front, sailing upon the azure
waters of the bay, riding upon the heights beyond El-Biar, or, ensconced
in a sumptuous private box, listening to the latest French farce at one
or another of the theatres. Only one day, when they had driven out to
the monastery at La Trappe de Staoueli, did a momentary cloud descend
upon her piquant features, and she explained this by the frank
confession that she had always wished to become a nun, but had been
hindered from following her vocation by the necessity of earning money
to support her aged parents. Mr. Greyne had never seen the Ouled since
his first evening in Algiers, but he still paid her a weekly salary,
through Abdallah Jack, who explained to him that the interesting lady,
in a discreet retirement, was perpetually occupied in arranging the
exhibitions of African frailty at which he so frequently assisted.
She was, in fact, earning her liberal salary. Mademoiselle Verbena
and Abdallah Jack had met on several occasions, and Mr. Greyne had
introduced the latter to the former as his guide, and had generously
praised his abilities; but in Mademoiselle Verbena took very little
notice of him, and, as time went on, Abdallah Jack seemed to conceive
a most distressing dislike of her. On several occasions he advised Mr.
Greyne not to frequent her company so assiduously, and when Mr. Greyne
asked him to explain the meaning of his monitions he took refuge in
vague generalities and Eastern imagery. He had a profound contempt
for women as companions, which grieved Mr. Greyne's Western ideas,
and evidently thought that Mademoiselle Verbena ought to be clapped
forthwith into a long veil, and put away in a harem behind an iron
grille. When Mr. Greyne explained the English point of view Abdallah
Jack took refuge in a sulky silence; but during the week immediately
preceding the arrival of Mrs. Greyne his temper had become actively
bad, and Mr. Greyne began seriously to consider whether it would not
be better to pay him a last _