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"Send my coffee in here, Mary," she called "I've just five minutes to catch the post"

Cynthia and I went and sat by the openin the drawing-rooht our coffee to us She seehts, or do you enjoy the twilight?" she asked "Will you take Mrs Inglethorp her coffee, Cynthia? I will pour it out"

"Do not trouble, Mary," said Inglethorp "I will take it to E it carefully

Lawrence followed him, and Mrs Cavendish sat down by us

We three sat for soht, hot and still Mrs Cavendish fanned herself gently with a palm leaf

"It's almost too hot," she murmured "We shall have a thunderstorm"

Alas, that these harmonious moments can never endure! My paradise was rudely shattered by the sound of a well known, and heartily disliked, voice in the hall

"Dr Bauerstein!" exclailanced jealously at Mary Cavendish, but she seemed quite undisturbed, the delicate pallor of her cheeks did not vary

In a few lethorp had ushered the doctor in, the latter laughing, and protesting that he was in no fit state for a drawing-roo literally plastered with , doctor?" cried Mrs Cavendish

"I ies," said the doctor "I did not really lethorp insisted"

"Well, Bauerstein, you are in a plight," said John, strolling in from the hall "Have some coffee, and tell us what you have been up to"

"Thank you, I will" He laughed rather ruefully, as he described how he had discovered a very rare species of fern in an inaccessible place, and in his efforts to obtain it had lost his footing, and slipped igno pond

"The sun soon dried me off," he added, "but I'm afraid my appearance is very disreputable"

At this juncture, Mrs Inglethorp called to Cynthia froirl ran out

"Just carry upto bed"

The door into the hall was a wide one I had risen when Cynthia did, John was close by me There were therefore three witnesses who could swear that Mrs Inglethorp was carrying her coffee, as yet untasted, in her hand