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breakfasters whose plates were kept for them after the others were gone。
XVI。
It was the first time that Verrian had come down late； and it was his
novel experience to find himself in charge of Mrs。 Stager at breakfast；
instead of the butler and the butler's man； who had hitherto served him
at the earlier hour。 There were others； somewhat remote from him； at
table； who were ending when he was beginning； and when they had joked
themselves out of the room and away from Mrs。 Stager's ministrations he
was left alone to her。 He had instantly appreciated a quality of
motherliness in her attitude towards him； and now he was sensible of a
kindly intimacy to which he rather helplessly addressed himself。
〃Well； Mrs。 Stager； did you see a ghost on your way to bed？〃
〃I don't know as I really expected to；〃 she said。 〃Won't you have a few
more of the buckwheats？〃
〃Do you think I'd better？ I believe I won't。 They're very tempting。
Miss Shirley makes a very good ghost；〃 he suggested。
Mrs。 Stager would not at first commit herself further than to say in
bringing him the butter； 〃She's just up from a long fit of sickness。〃
She impulsively added； 〃She ain't hardly strong enough to be doing what
she is； I tell her。〃
〃I understood she had been ill；〃 Verrian said。 〃We drove over from the
station together； the other day。〃
〃Yes；〃 Mrs。 Stager admitted。 〃Kind of a nervous breakdown； I believe。
But she's got an awful spirit。 Mrs。 Westangle don't want her to do all
she is doing。〃
Verrian looked at her in surprise。 He had not expected that of the
India…rubber nature he had attributed to Mrs。 Westangle。 In view of Mrs。
Stager's privity to the unimagined kindliness of his hostess； he relaxed
himself in a further interest in Miss Shirley； as if it would now be
safe。 〃She's done splendidly； so far；〃 he said； meaning the girl。
〃I'm glad Mrs。 Westangle appreciates her work。〃
〃I guess；〃 Mrs。 Stager said； 〃that if it hadn't been for you at the snow…
fight She got back from getting ready for it； that morning； almost down
sick； she was afraid so it was going to fail。〃
〃I didn't do anything；〃 Verrian said； putting the praise from him。
Mrs。 Stager lowered her voice in an octave of deeper confidentiability。
〃You got the note？ I put it under； and I didn't know。〃
〃Oh yes； I got it；〃 Verrian said； sensible of a relief； which he would
not assign to any definite reason； in knowing that Miss Shirley had not
herself put it under his door。 But he now had to take up another burden
in the question whether Miss Shirley were of an origin so much above that
of her confidant that she could have a patrician fearlessness in making
use of her； or were so near Mrs。 Stager's level of life that she would
naturally turn to her for counsel and help。 Miss Shirley had the accent；
the manners； and the frank courage of a lady； but those things could be
learned； they were got up for the stage every day。
Verrian was roused from the muse he found he had fallen into by hearing
Mrs。 Stager ask； 〃Won't you have some more coffee？〃
〃No； thank you；〃 he said。 And now he rose from the table； on which he
dreamily dropped his napkin； and got his hat and coat and went out for a
walk。 He had not studied the art of fiction so long； in the many private
failures that had preceded his one public success； without being made to
observe that life sometimes dealt in the accidents and coincidences which
his criticism condemned as too habitually the resource of the novelist。
Hitherto he had disdained them for this reason； but since his serial
story was off his hands； and he was beginning to look about him for fresh
material； he had doubted more than once whether his severity was not the
effect of an unjustifiable prejudice。
It struck him now； in turning the corner of the woodlot above the meadow
where the snow…battle had taken place； and suddenly finding himself face
to face with Miss Shirley； that nature was in one of her uninventive
moods and was helping herself out from the old stock…in…trade of fiction。
All the same； he felt a glow of pleasure； which was also a glow of pity；
for while Miss Shirley looked； as always； interesting； she look tired；
too； with a sort of desperate air which did not otherwise account for
itself。 She had given； at sight of him； a little start； and a little
〃Oh！〃 dropped from her lips； as if it had been jostled from them。 She
made haste to go on； with something like the voluntary hardiness of the
courage that plucks itself from the primary emotion of fear； 〃You are
going down to try the skating？〃
〃Do I look it； without skates？〃
〃You may be going to try the sliding；〃 she returned。 〃I'm afraid there
won't be much of either for long。 This soft air is going to make havoc
of my plans for to…morrow。〃
〃That's too bad of it。 Why not hope for a hard freeze to…night？ You
might as well。 The weather has been known to change its mind。 You might
even change your plans。〃
〃No； I can't do that。 I can't think of anything else。 It's to bridge
over the day that's left before Seeing Ghosts。 If it does freeze； you'll
come to Mrs。 Westangle's afternoon tea on the pond？〃
〃I certainly shall。 How is it to be worked？〃
〃She's to have her table on a platform； with runners； in a bower of
evergreen boughs； and be pushed about； and the people are to skate up for
the tea。 There are to be tea and chocolate； and two girls to pour； just
as in real life。 It isn't a very dazzling idea； but I thought it might
do； and Mrs。 Westangle is so good…natured。 Now； if the thermometer will
do its part！〃
〃I am sure it will；〃 Verrian said； but a glance at the gray sky did not
confirm him in his prophetic venture。 The snow was sodden under foot； a
breath from the south stirred the pines to an Aeolian response and moved
the stiff； dry leaves of the scrub…oaks。 A sapsucker was marking an
accurate circle of dots round the throat of a tall young maple； and
enjoying his work in a low； guttural soliloquy； seemingly； yet；
dismayingly； suggestive of spring。
〃It's lovely； anyway；〃 she said； following his glance with an upward turn
of her face。
〃Yes； it's beautiful。 I think this sort of winter day is about the best
the whole year can do。 But I will sacrifice the chance of another like
it to your skating…tea； Miss Shirley。〃
He did not know why he should have made this speech to her； but
apparently she did； and she said； 〃You're always coming to my help； Mr。
Verrian。〃
〃Don't mention it！〃
〃I won't； then；〃 she said； with a smile that showed her thin face at its
thinnest and left her lip caught on her teeth till she brought it down
voluntarily。 It was a small but full lip and pretty； and this trick of
it had a fascination。 She added； gravely； 〃I don't believe you will like
my ice…tea。〃
〃I haven't any active hostility to it。 You can't always be striking
twelvetwelve midnightas you will be in Seeing Ghosts。 But your ice…
tea will do very well for striking five。 I'm rather elaborate！〃
〃Not too elaborate to hide your real opinion。 I wonder what you do think
of my own elaborationI mean of my scheme。〃
〃Yes？〃
They had moved on； at his turnin