Page 123 (1/1)

It was these kinds of thoughts that beset her as she walked up beneath the trees on her way homewards--checked and soothed now soht, yet perceptible beneath everything And it was not only of Laurie Baxter that she thought; she spared a little attention for herself

For she had begun to be aware, for the first tiht and yet as suggestive as that caused by a half-perceived consciousness of a delicately disagreeable smell There comes such a moment in the life of cut flowers in water, when the iy ceases, and a new tone makes itself felt in their scent, of which the end is certain It is not sufficient to cause the flowers to be throay; they still possess volurance; yet these decrease, and the new scent increases, until it has the victory

So it was now to the perceptions of this lady Oh! yes Spiritualis" and beautiful; it was perfectly coion; it was undeniably true She would not drea it up Only it would be better if Laurie Baxter did not meddle with it: he was too sensitive However, he was coain There was the fact

As she turned southwards at last, crossing the road again towards her own street, it see to cloud over Over the roofs of Kensington a haze was beginning to make itself visible, as impalpable as a skein of suid, too Perhaps she had walked too far She would rest a little after lunch, if dearest Maud did not mind; for dearest Maud was to lunch with her, as was usual on Sundays when the Colonel ay

As she came, slower than ever, down the broad opulent paveh the silence and eo silent--she noticed coentlehtly antique appearance, spatted and gloved, carrying his hands behind his back, as if he aiting to be joined by some friend froh his glasses, but thought no more of it till she turned up the steps of her own house Then she was startled by the sound of quick footsteps and a voice

"I beg your pardon, madam "