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ked out the biggest of the cottagesI mean the hutsand asked the woman at the door if she had a bed to let。 She evidently thought me either mad or drunk。 I wasted no time in persuasion； the right person to plead my cause was asleep in her arms。 I began by admiring the baby； and I ended by taking the baby's portrait。 From that moment I became a member of the familythe member who had his own way。 Besides the room occupied by the husband and wife； there was a sort of kennel in which the husband's brother slept。 He was dismissed （with five shillings of mine to comfort him） to find shelter somewhere else； and I was promoted to the vacant place。 It is my misfortune to be tall。 When I went to bed； I slept with my head on the pillow； and my feet out of the window。 Very cool and pleasant in summer weather。 The next morning； I set my trap for Sir Jervis。〃
〃Your trap？〃 Emily repeated； wondering what he meant。
〃I went out to sketch from Nature；〃 Alban continued。 〃Can anybody （with or without a title； I don't care）； living in a lonely country house； see a stranger hard at work with a color…box and brushes； and not stop to look at what he is doing？ Three days passed； and nothing happened。 I was quite patient； the grand open country all round me offered lessons of inestimable value in what we call aerial perspective。 On the fourth day； I was absorbed over the hardest of all hard tasks in landscape art； studying the clouds straight from Nature。 The magnificent moorland silence was suddenly profaned by a man's voice； speaking （or rather croaking） behind me。 'The worst curse of human life；' the voice said； 'is the detestable necessity of taking exercise。 I hate losing my time； I hate fine scenery； I hate fresh air； I hate a pony。 Go on； you brute！' Being too deeply engaged with the clouds to look round； I had supposed this pretty speech to be addressed to some second person。 Nothing of the sort； the croaking voice had a habit of speaking to itself。 In a minute more； there came within my range of view a solitary old man； mounted on a rough pony。〃
〃Was it Sir Jervis？〃
Alban hesitated。
〃It looked more like the popular notion of the devil；〃 he said。
〃Oh； Mr。 Morris！〃
〃I give you my first impression； Miss Emily； for what it is worth。 He had his high…peaked hat in his hand； to keep his head cool。 His wiry iron…gray hair looked like hair standing on end； his bushy eyebrows curled upward toward his narrow temples； his horrid old globular eyes stared with a wicked brightness； his pointed beard hid his chin； he was covered from his throat to his ankles in a loose black garment； something between a coat and a cloak； and； to complete him； he had a club foot。 I don't doubt that Sir Jervis Redwood is the earthly alias which he finds convenientbut I stick to that first impression which appeared to surprise you。 'Ha！ an artist； you seem to be the sort of man I want！' In those terms he introduced himself。 Observe； if you please； that my trap caught him the moment he came my way。 Who wouldn't be an artist？〃
〃Did he take a liking to you？〃 Emily inquired。
〃Not he！ I don't believe he ever took a liking to anybody in his life。〃
〃Then how did you get your invitation to his house？〃
〃That's the amusing part of it； Miss Emily。 Give me a little breathing time； and you shall hear。〃
CHAPTER XXIII。
MISS REDWOOD。
〃I got invited to Sir Jervis's house；〃 Alban resumed； 〃by treating the old savage as unceremoniously as he had treated me。 'That's an idle trade of yours；' he said； looking at my sketch。 'Other ignorant people have made the same remark；' I answered。 He rode away； as if he was not used to be spoken to in that manner； and then thought better of it； and came back。 'Do you understand wood engraving？' he asked。 'Yes。' 'And etching？' 'I have practiced etching myself。' 'Are you a Royal Academician？' 'I'm a drawing…master at a ladies' school。' 'Whose school？' 'Miss Ladd's。' 'Damn it； you know the girl who ought to have been my secretary。' I am not quite sure whether you will take it as a complimentSir Jervis appeared to view you in the light of a reference to my respectability。 At any rate； he went on with his questions。 'How long do you stop in these parts？' 'I haven't made up my mind。' 'Look here； I want to consult youare you listening？' 'No； I'm sketching。' He burst into a horrid scream。 I asked if he felt himself taken ill。 'Ill？' he said'I'm laughing。' It was a diabolical laugh； in one syllablenot 'ha！ ha！ ha！' only 'ha！'and it made him look wonderfully like that eminent person； whom I persist in thinking he resembles。 'You're an impudent dog；' he said； 'where are you living？' He was so delighted when he heard of my uncomfortable position in the kennel…bedroom； that he offered his hospitality on the spot。 'I can't go to you in such a pigstye as that；' he said； 'you must come to me。 What's your name？' 'Alban Morris； what's yours？' 'Jervis Redwood。 Pack up your traps when you've done your job； and come and try my kennel。 There it is； in a corner of your drawing； and devilish like； too。' I packed up my traps； and I tried his kennel。 And now you have had enough of Sir Jervis Redwood。〃
〃Not half enough！〃 Emily answered。 〃Your story leaves off just at the interesting moment。 I want you to take me to Sir Jervis's house。〃
〃And I want you； Miss Emily； to take me to the British Museum。 Don't let me startle you！ When I called here earlier in the day； I was told that you had gone to the reading…room。 Is your reading a secret？〃
His manner； when he made that reply； suggested to Emily that there was some foregone conclusion in his mind； which he was putting to the test。 She answered without alluding to the impression which he had produced on her。
〃My reading is no secret。 I am only consulting old newspapers。〃
He repeated the last words to himself。 〃Old newspapers？〃 he saidas if he was not quite sure of having rightly understood her。
She tried to help him by a more definite reply。
〃I am looking through old newspapers；〃 she resumed； 〃beginning with the year eighteen hundred and seventy…six。〃
〃And going back from that time；〃 he asked eagerly； 〃to earlier dates still？〃
〃Nojust the contraryadvancing from 'seventy…six' to the present time。〃
He suddenly turned paleand tried to hide his face from her by looking out of the window。 For a moment； his agitation deprived him of his presence of mind。 In that moment； she saw that she had alarmed him。
〃What have I said to frighten you？〃 she asked。
He tried to assume a tone of commonplace gallantry。 〃There are limits even to your power over me；〃 he replied。 〃Whatever else you may do； you can never frighten me。 Are you searching those old newspapers with any particular object in view？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃May I know what it is？〃
〃May I know why I frightened you？〃
He began to walk up and down the room againthen checked himself abruptly； and appealed to her mercy。
〃Don't be hard on me；〃 he pleaded。 〃I am so fond of youoh； forgive me！ I only mean that it distresses me to have any concealments from you。 If I could open my whole heart at this moment； I shou ld be a happier man。〃
She understood him and believed him。 〃My curiosity shall never embarrass you again；〃 she answered