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leaves and send them to me。 I want them for my ointment； the
stuff the chemists sell is no good。 Your mother's eyes are bad
again； and your brother Berkeley has been gambling； and seems to
think I ought to pay his debts for him。 I am greatly worried over
it all； and I hope that； until you have settled yourself； you
will be more reasonable； and not run these everlasting bills upon
me。 You are enjoying yourself out of reach of all the
unpleasantness； but it bears hardly upon
〃Your affectionate father； 〃C。B。 LINDSAY。〃
A faint sketch of the lines Time intended to engrave on
Gertrude's brow appeared there as she read the letter； but she
hastened to give the admiral's kind regards to her host and
hostess； and discussed her mother's health feelingly with them。
After breakfast she went to the library； and wrote her reply：
〃BRANDON BEECHES； 〃Tuesday。
〃Dear Papa： Considering that it is more than three years since
you paid Madame Smith last； and that then her bill； which
included my court dress； was only L150； I cannot see how I could
possibly have been more economical； unless you expect me to go in
rags。 I am sorry that Madame Smith has asked for the money at
such an inconvenient time； but when I begged you to pay her
something in March last year you told me to keep her quiet by
giving her a good order。 I am not surprised at her not being very
civil； as she has plenty of tradesmen's daughters among her
customers who pay her more than L300 a year for their dresses。 I
am wearing a skirt at present which I got two years ago。
〃Sir Charles is going to town on Thursday； he will bring you the
hemlock。 Tell mamma that there is an old woman here who knows
some wonderful cure for sore eyes。 She will not tell what the
ingredients are； but it cures everyone； and there is no use in
giving an oculist two guineas for telling us that reading in bed
is bad for the eyes； when we know perfectly well that mamma will
not give up doing it。 If you pay Berkeley's debts； do not forget
that he owes me L3。
〃Another schoolfellow of mine is staying here now； and I think
that Mr。 Trefusis will have the pleasure of paying her bills some
day。 He is a great pet of Lady Brandon's。 Sir Charles was angry
at first because she invited him here； and we were al1 surprised
at it。 The man has a bad reputation； and headed a mob that threw
down the walls of the park； and we hardly thought he would be
cool enough to come after that。 But he does not seem to care
whether we want him or not； and he comes when he likes。 As he
talks cleverly； we find him a godsend in this dull place。 It is
really not such a paradise as you seem to think； but you need not
be afraid of my returning any sooner than I can help。
〃Your affectionate daughter； 〃Gertrude Lindsay。
When Gertrude had closed this letter； and torn up her father's；
she thought little more about either。 They might have made her
unhappy had they found her happy； but as hopeless discontent was
her normal state； and enjoyment but a rare accident；
recriminatory passages with her father only put her into a bad
humor； and did not in the least disappoint or humiliate her。
For the sake of exercise； she resolved to carry her letter to the
village post office and return along the Riverside Road； whereby
she had seen hemlock growing。 She took care to go out unobserved；
lest Agatha should volunteer to walk with her； or Jane declare
her intention of driving to the post office in the afternoon； and
sulk for the rest of the day unless the trip to the village were
postponed until then。 She took with her； as a protection against
tramps； a big St。 Bernard dog named Max。 This animal； which was
young and enthusiastic； had taken a strong fancy to her； and had
expressed it frankly and boisterously； and she； whose affections
had been starved in her home and in society； had encouraged him
with more kindness than she had ever shown to any human being。
In the village； having posted her letter； she turned towards a
lane that led to the Riverside Road。 Max； unaware of her reason
for choosing the longest way home； remonstrated by halting in the
middle of the lane； wagging his tail rapidly； and uttering gruff
barks。
〃Don't be stupid； sir；〃 said Gertrude impatiently。 〃I am going
this way。〃
Max； apparently understanding； rushed after her； passed her； and
disappeared in a cloud of dust raised by his effort to check
himself when he had left her far enough behind。 When he came back
she kissed his nose； and ran a race with him until she too was
panting； and had to stand still to recover her breath； whilst he
bounded about； barking ferociously。 She had not for many years
enjoyed such a frolic； and the thought of this presently brought
tears to her eyes。 Rather peevishly she bade Max be quiet； walked
slowly to cool herself； and put up her sunshade to avert
freckles。
The sun was now at the meridian。 On a slope to Gertrude's right
hand； Sallust's House； with its cinnamon…colored walls and yellow
frieze； gave a foreign air to the otherwise very English
landscape。 She passed by without remembering who lived there。
Further down； on some waste land separated from the road by a dry
ditch and a low mud wall； a cluster of hemlocks； nearly six feet
high； poisoned the air with their odor。 She crossed the ditch；
took a pair of gardening gloves from her plaited straw
hand…basket； and busied herself with the hemlock leaves； pulling
the tender ones； separating them from the stalk； and filling the
basket with the web。 She forgot Max until an impression of dead
silence； as if the earth had stopped； caused her to look round in
vague dread。 Trefusis； with his hand abandoned to the dog； who
was trying how much of it he could cram into his mouth； was
standing within a few yards of her； watching her intently。
Gertrude turned pale； and came out hastily from among the bushes。
Then she had a strange sensation as if something had happened
high above her head。 There was a threatening growl； a commanding
exclamation； and an unaccountable pause； at the expiration of
which she found herself supine on the sward； with her parasol
between her eyes and the sun。 A sudden scoop of Max's wet warm
tongue in her right ear startled her into activity。 She sat up；
and saw Trefusis on his knees at her side holding the parasol
with an unconcerned expression； whilst Max was snuffing at her in
restless anxiety opposite。
〃I must go home；〃 she said。 〃I must go home instantly。〃
〃Not at all；〃 said Trefusis； soothingly。 〃They have just sent
word to say that everything is settled satisfactorily and that
you need not come。〃
〃Have they？〃 she said faintly。 Then she lay down again； and it
seemed to her that a very long time elapsed。 Suddenly
recollecting that Trefusis had supported her gently with his hand
to prevent her falling back too rudely； she rose again； and this
time got upon her feet with his help。
〃I must go home；〃 she said again。 〃It is a matter of life or
death。〃
〃No； no；〃 he said softly。 〃It is all right。 You may depend on
me。〃
She looked at him earnestly。 He had taken her hand to steady her；
for she was swaying a little。 〃Are you sure；〃 s