AstrangestorycomesfromtheAdriatic。Itappearsthatonthenightofthe9th，astheItaliaSteamshipCompany’svessel\"Victorine\"waspassingalittlebeforemidnightthepointknownas\"theSpearofIvan，\"onthecoastoftheBlueMountains，theattentionoftheCaptain，thenonthebridge，wascalledbythelook—
outmantoatinyfloatinglightcloseinshore。ItisthecustomofsomeSouth—goingshipstorunclosetotheSpearofIvaninfineweather，asthewaterisdeep，andthereisnosettledcurrent；alsotherearenooutlyingrocks。Indeed，someyearsagothelocalsteamershadbecomeaccustomedtohugtheshoreheresocloselythatanintimationwassentfromLloyd’sthatanymischanceunderthecircumstanceswouldnotbeincludedinordinarysearisks。CaptainMirolaniisoneofthosewhoinsistonawholesomedistancefromthepromontorybeingkept；butonhisattentionhavingbeencalledtothecircumstancereported，hethoughtitwelltoinvestigateit，asitmightbesomecaseofpersonaldistress。Accordingly，hehadtheenginessloweddown，andedgedcautiouslyintowardsshore。Hewasjoinedonthebridgebytwoofhisofficers，SignoriFalamanoandDestilia，andbyonepassengeronboard，Mr。PeterCaulfield，whosereportsofSpiritualPhenomenainremoteplacesarewellknowntothereadersof\"TheJournalofOccultism。\"Thefollowingaccountofthestrangeoccurrencewrittenbyhim，andattestedbythesignaturesofCaptainMirolaniandtheothergentlemannamed，hasbeensenttous。
\"……ItwaselevenminutesbeforetwelvemidnightonSaturday，the9thdayofJanuary，1907，whenIsawthestrangesightofftheheadlandknownastheSpearofIvanonthecoastoftheLandoftheBlueMountains。Itwasafinenight，andIstoodrightonthebowsoftheship，wheretherewasnothingtoobstructmyview。WeweresomedistancefromtheSpearofIvan，passingfromnortherntosouthernpointofthewidebayintowhichitprojects。CaptainMirolani，theMaster，isaverycarefulseaman，andgivesonhisjourneysawideberthtothebaywhichistabooedbyLloyd’s。Butwhenhesawinthemoonlight，thoughfaroff，atinywhitefigureofawomandriftingonsomestrangecurrentinasmallboat，ontheprowofwhichrestedafaintlight（tomeitlookedlikeacorpse—
candle！），hethoughtitmightbesomepersonindistress，andbegantocautiouslyedgetowardsit。Twoofhisofficerswerewithhimonthebridge——SignoriFalamanoandDestilia。Allthesethree，aswellasmyself，sawIt。Therestofthecrewandpassengerswerebelow。
AswegotclosethetrueinwardnessofItbecameapparenttome；butthemarinersdidnotseemtorealizetilltheverylast。Thisis，afterall，notstrange，fornoneofthemhadeitherknowledgeorexperienceinOccultmatters，whereasforoverthirtyyearsIhavemadeaspecialstudyofthissubject，andhavegonetoandfroovertheearthinvestigatingtothenthallrecordsofSpiritualPhenomena。AsIcouldseefromtheirmovementsthattheofficersdidnotcomprehendthatwhichwassoapparenttomyself，Itookcarenottoenlightenthem，lestsuchshouldresultinthechangingofthevessel’scoursebeforeIshouldbenearenoughtomakeaccurateobservation。AllturnedoutasIwished——atleast，nearlyso——asshallbeseen。Beinginthebow，Ihad，ofcourse，abetterviewthanfromthebridge。PresentlyImadeoutthattheboat，whichhadallalongseemedtobeofaqueershape，wasnoneotherthanaCoffin，andthatthewomanstandingupinitwasclothedinashroud。
Herbackwastowardsus，andshehadevidentlynotheardourapproach。Aswewerecreepingalongslowly，theengineswerealmostnoiseless，andtherewashardlyarippleasourfore—footcutthedarkwater。Suddenlytherewasawildcryfromthebridge——Italiansarecertainlyveryexcitable；hoarsecommandsweregiventotheQuartermasteratthewheel；theengine—roombellclanged。Ontheinstant，asitseemed，theship’sheadbegantoswingroundtostarboard；fullsteamaheadwasinaction，andbeforeonecouldunderstand，theApparitionwasfadinginthedistance。ThelastthingIsawwastheflashofawhitefacewithdark，burningeyesasthefiguresankdownintothecoffin——justasmistorsmokedisappearsunderabreeze。\"
BOOKI：THEWILLOFROGERMELTON
THEREADINGOFTHEWILLOFROGERMELTONANDALLTHATFOLLOWED
RecordmadebyErnestRogerHalbardMelton，law—studentoftheInnerTemple，eldestsonofErnestHalbardMelton，eldestsonofErnestMelton，elderbrotherofthesaidRogerMeltonandhisnextofkin。
Iconsideritatleastuseful——perhapsnecessary——tohaveacompleteandaccuraterecordofallpertainingtotheWillofmylategrand—
uncleRogerMelton。
Towhichendletmeputdownthevariousmembersofhisfamily，andexplainsomeoftheiroccupationsandidiosyncrasies。Myfather，ErnestHalbardMelton，wastheonlysonofErnestMelton，eldestsonofSirGeoffreyHalbardMeltonofHumcroft，intheshireofSalop，aJusticeofthePeace，andatonetimeSheriff。Mygreat—grandfather，SirGeoffrey，hadinheritedasmallestatefromhisfather，RogerMelton。Inhistime，bytheway，thenamewasspelledMilton；butmygreat—great—grandfatherchangedthespellingtothelaterform，ashewasapracticalmannotgiventosentiment，andfearedlestheshouldinthepubliceyebeconfusedwithothersbelongingtothefamilyofaRadicalpersoncalledMilton，whowrotepoetryandwassomesortofofficialinthetimeofCromwell，whilstweareConservatives。Thesamepracticalspiritwhichoriginatedthechangeinthespellingofthefamilynameinclinedhimtogointobusiness。Sohebecame，whilststillyoung，atannerandleather—dresser。Heutilizedforthepurposethepondsandstreams，andalsotheoak—woodsonhisestate——TorrabyinSuffolk。Hemadeafinebusiness，andaccumulatedaconsiderablefortune，withapartofwhichhepurchasedtheShropshireestate，whichheentailed，andtowhichIamthereforeheir—apparent。
SirGeoffreyhad，inadditiontomygrandfather，threesonsandadaughter，thelatterbeingborntwentyyearsafterheryoungestbrother。Thesesonswere：Geoffrey，whodiedwithoutissue，havingbeenkilledintheIndianMutinyatMeerutin1857，atwhichhetookupasword，thoughacivilian，tofightforhislife；Roger（towhomIshallreferpresently）；andJohn——thelatter，likeGeoffrey，dyingunmarried。OutofSirGeoffrey’sfamilyoffive，therefore，onlythreehavetobeconsidered：Mygrandfather，whohadthreechildren，twoofwhom，asonandadaughter，diedyoung，leavingonlymyfather，RogerandPatience。Patience，whowasbornin1858，marriedanIrishmanofthenameofSellenger——whichwastheusualwayofpronouncingthenameofSt。Leger，or，astheyspelledit，SentLeger——restoredbylatergenerationstothestillolderform。Hewasareckless，dare—devilsortoffellow，thenaCaptainintheLancers，amannotwithoutthequalityofbravery——hewontheVictoriaCrossattheBattleofAmoafulintheAshanteeCampaign。ButIfearhelackedtheseriousnessandsteadfaststrenuouspurposewhichmyfatheralwayssaysmarksthecharacterofourownfamily。Heranthroughnearlyallofhispatrimony——neveraverylargeone；andhaditnotbeenformygrand—aunt’slittlefortune，hisdays，hadhelived，musthaveendedincomparativepoverty。Comparative，notactual；fortheMeltons，whoarepersonsofconsiderablepride，wouldnothavetoleratedapoverty—strickenbranchofthefamily。Wedon’tthinkmuchofthatlot——anyofus。
Fortunately，mygreat—auntPatiencehadonlyonechild，andtheprematuredeceaseofCaptainSt。Leger（asIprefertocallthename）
didnotallowofthepossibilityofherhavingmore。Shedidnotmarryagain，thoughmygrandmothertriedseveraltimestoarrangeanallianceforher。Shewas，Iamtold，alwaysastiff，uppishperson，whowouldnotyieldherselftothewisdomofhersuperiors。Herownchildwasason，whoseemedtotakehischaracterratherfromhisfather’sfamilythanfrommyown。Hewasawastrelandarollingstone，alwaysinscrapesatschool，andalwayswantingtodoridiculousthings。Myfather，asHeadoftheHouseandhisownseniorbyeighteenyears，triedoftentoadmonishhim；buthisperversityofspiritandhistruculenceweresuchthathehadtodesist。Indeed，Ihaveheardmyfathersaythathesometimesthreatenedhislife。Adesperatecharacterhewas，andalmostdevoidofreverence。Noone，notevenmyfather，hadanyinfluence——goodinfluence，ofcourse，Imean——overhim，excepthismother，whowasofmyfamily；andalsoawomanwholivedwithher——asortofgoverness——
aunt，hecalledher。Thewayofitwasthis：CaptainSt。Legerhadayoungerbrother，whomadeanimprovidentmarriagewithaScotchgirlwhentheywerebothveryyoung。TheyhadnothingtoliveonexceptwhattherecklessLancergavethem，forhehadnexttonothinghimself，andshewas\"bare\"——whichis，Iunderstand，theindelicateScottishwayofexpressinglackoffortune。Shewas，however，I
understand，ofanoldandsomewhatgoodfamily，thoughbrokeninfortune——touseanexpressionwhich，however，couldhardlybeusedpreciselyinregardtoafamilyorapersonwhoneverhadfortunetobebrokenin！ItwassofarwellthattheMacKelpies——thatwasthemaidennameofMrs。St。Leger——werereputable——sofarasfightingwasconcerned。Itwouldhavebeentoohumiliatingtohavealliedtoourfamily，evenonthedistaffside，afamilybothpoorandofnoaccount。Fightingalonedoesnotmakeafamily，Ithink。Soldiersarenoteverything，thoughtheythinktheyare。Wehavehadinourfamilymenwhofought；butIneverheardofanyofthemwhofoughtbecausetheyWANTEDto。Mrs。St。Legerhadasister；fortunatelytherewereonlythosetwochildreninthefamily，orelsetheywouldallhavehadtobesupportedbythemoneyofmyfamily。
Mr。St。Leger，whowasonlyasubaltern，waskilledatMaiwand；andhiswifewasleftabeggar。Fortunately，however，shedied——hersisterspreadastorythatitwasfromtheshockandgrief——beforethechildwhichsheexpectedwasborn。Thisallhappenedwhenmycousin——or，rather，myfather’scousin，myfirst—cousin—once—removed，tobeaccurate——wasstillaverysmallchild。HismotherthensentforMissMacKelpie，herbrother—in—law’ssister—in—law，tocomeandlivewithher，whichshedid——beggarscan’tbechoosers；andshehelpedtobringupyoungSt。Leger。
Irememberoncemyfathergivingmeasovereignformakingawittyremarkabouther。Iwasquiteaboythen，notmorethanthirteen；
butourfamilywerealwayscleverfromtheverybeginningoflife，andfatherwastellingmeabouttheSt。Legerfamily。Myfamilyhadn’t，ofcourse，seenanythingofthemsinceCaptainSt。Legerdied——thecircletowhichwebelongdon’tcareforpoorrelations——
andwasexplainingwhereMissMacKelpiecamein。Shemusthavebeenasortofnurserygoverness，forMrs。St。Legeroncetoldhimthatshehelpedhertoeducatethechild。
\"Then，father，\"Isaid，\"ifshehelpedtoeducatethechildsheoughttohavebeencalledMissMacSkelpie！\"
Whenmyfirst—cousin—once—removed，Rupert，wastwelveyearsold，hismotherdied，andhewasinthedolefulsaboutitformorethanayear。MissMacKelpiekeptonlivingwithhimallthesame。Catchherquitting！Thatsortdon’tgointothepoor—housewhentheycankeepout！Myfather，beingHeadoftheFamily，was，ofcourse，oneofthetrustees，andhisuncleRoger，brotherofthetestator，another。ThethirdwasGeneralMacKelpie，apoverty—strickenScotchlairdwhohadalotofvaluelesslandatCroom，inRoss—shire。I
rememberfathergavemeanewten—poundnotewhenIinterruptedhimwhilsthewastellingmeoftheincidentofyoungSt。Leger’simprovidencebyremarkingthathewasinerrorastotheland。FromwhatIhadheardofMacKelpie’sestate，itwasproductiveofonething；whenheaskedme\"What？\"Ianswered\"Mortgages！\"Father，I
knew，hadbought，notlongbefore，alotofthematwhatacollegefriendofminefromChicagousedtocall\"cut—throat\"price。WhenI
remonstratedwithmyfatherforbuyingthematall，andsoinjuringthefamilyestatewhichIwastoinherit，hegavemeananswer，theastutenessofwhichIhaveneverforgotten。
\"IdiditsothatImightkeepmyhandontheboldGeneral，incaseheshouldeverprovetroublesome。Andiftheworstshouldevercometotheworst，Croomisagoodcountryforgrouseandstags！\"Myfathercanseeasfarasmostmen！
Whenmycousin——Ishallcallhimcousinhenceforthinthisrecord，lestitmightseemtoanyunkindpersonwhomighthereafterreaditthatIwishedtotauntRupertSt。Legerwithhissomewhatobscureposition，inreiteratinghisrealdistanceinkinshipwithmyfamily—
—whenmycousin，RupertSt。Leger，wishedtocommitacertainidioticactoffinancialfolly，heapproachedmyfatheronthesubject，arrivingatourestate，Humcroft，ataninconvenienttime，withoutpermission，nothavinghadeventhedecentcourtesytosayhewascoming。Iwasthenalittlechapofsixyearsold，butIcouldnothelpnoticinghismeanappearance。Hewasalldustyanddishevelled。
Whenmyfathersawhim——Icameintothestudywithhim——hesaidinahorrifiedvoice：
\"GoodGod！\"Hewasfurthershockedwhentheboybrusquelyacknowledged，inreplytomyfather’sgreeting，thathehadtravelledthirdclass。Ofcourse，noneofmyfamilyevergoanythingbutfirstclass；eventheservantsgosecond。Myfatherwasreallyangrywhenhesaidhehadwalkedupfromthestation。
\"Anicespectacleformytenantsandmytradesmen！Toseemy——my——akinsmanofmyhouse，howsoeverremote，trudginglikeatrampontheroadtomyestate！Why，myavenueistwomilesandaperch！Nowonderyouarefilthyandinsolent！\"Rupert——really，Icannotcallhimcousinhere——wasexceedinglyimpertinenttomyfather。
\"Iwalked，sir，becauseIhadnomoney；butIassureyouIdidnotmeantobeinsolent。IsimplycameherebecauseIwishedtoaskyouradviceandassistance，notbecauseyouareanimportantperson，andhavealongavenue——asIknowtomycost——butsimplybecauseyouareoneofmytrustees。\"
\"YOURtrustees，sirrah！\"saidmyfather，interruptinghim。\"Yourtrustees？\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，sir，\"hesaid，quitequietly。\"Imeantthetrusteesofmydearmother’swill。\"
\"Andwhat，mayIaskyou，\"saidfather，\"doyouwantinthewayofadvicefromoneofthetrusteesofyourdearmother’swill？\"Rupertgotveryred，andwasgoingtosaysomethingrude——Iknewitfromhislook——buthestopped，andsaidinthesamegentleway：
\"Iwantyouradvice，sir，astothebestwayofdoingsomethingwhichIwishtodo，and，asIamunderage，cannotdomyself。Itmustbedonethroughthetrusteesofmymother’swill。\"
\"Andtheassistanceforwhichyouwish？\"saidfather，puttinghishandinhispocket。IknowwhatthatactionmeanswhenIamtalkingtohim。
\"TheassistanceIwant，\"saidRupert，gettingredderthanever，\"isfrommy——thetrusteealso。TocarryoutwhatIwanttodo。\"
\"Andwhatmaythatbe？\"askedmyfather。\"Iwouldlike，sir，tomakeovertomyAuntJanet——\"Myfatherinterruptedhimbyasking——hehadevidentlyrememberedmyjest：
\"MissMacSkelpie？\"Rupertgotstillredder，andIturnedaway；I
didn’tquitewishthatheshouldseemelaughing。Hewentonquietly：
\"MACKELPIE，sir！MissJanetMacKelpie，myaunt，whohasalwaysbeensokindtome，andwhommymotherloved——Iwanttohavemadeovertoherthemoneywhichmydearmotherlefttome。\"Fatherdoubtlesswishedtohavethemattertakealessseriousturn，forRupert’seyeswereallshinywithtearswhichhadnotfallen；soafteralittlepausehesaid，withindignation，whichIknewwassimulated：
\"Haveyouforgottenyourmothersosoon，Rupert，thatyouwishtogiveawaytheverylastgiftwhichshebestowedonyou？\"Rupertwassitting，buthejumpedupandstoodoppositemyfatherwithhisfistclenched。Hewasquitepalenow，andhiseyeslookedsofiercethatIthoughthewoulddomyfatheraninjury。Hespokeinavoicewhichdidnotseemlikehisown，itwassostronganddeep。
\"Sir！\"heroaredout。Isuppose，ifIwasawriter，which，thankGod，Iamnot——Ihavenoneedtofollowamenialoccupation——Iwouldcallit\"thundered。\"\"Thundered\"isalongerwordthan\"roared，\"andwould，ofcourse，helptogainthepennywhichawritergetsforaline。Fathergotpaletoo，andstoodquitestill。Rupertlookedathimsteadilyforquitehalfaminute——itseemedlongeratthetime——
andsuddenlysmiledandsaid，ashesatdownagain：
\"Sorry。But，ofcourse，youdon’tunderstandsuchthings。\"Thenhewentontalkingbeforefatherhadtimetosayaword。
\"Letusgetbacktobusiness。Asyoudonotseemtofollowme，letmeexplainthatitisBECAUSEIdonotforgetthatIwishtodothis。
Iremembermydearmother’swishtomakeAuntJanethappy，andwouldliketodoasshedid。\"
\"AUNTJanet？\"saidfather，veryproperlysneeringathisignorance。
\"Sheisnotyouraunt。Why，evenhersister，whowasmarriedtoyouruncle，wasonlyyourauntbycourtesy。\"IcouldnothelpfeelingthatRupertmeanttoberudetomyfather，thoughhiswordswerequitepolite。IfIhadbeenasmuchbiggerthanhimashewasthanme，Ishouldhaveflownathim；buthewasaverybigboyforhisage。Iammyselfratherthin。Mothersaysthinnessisan\"appanageofbirth。\"
\"MyAuntJanet，sir，isanauntbylove。Courtesyisasmallwordtouseinconnectionwithsuchdevotionasshehasgiventous。ButI
needn’ttroubleyouwithsuchthings，sir。Itakeitthatmyrelationsonthesideofmyownhousedonotaffectyou。IamaSentLeger！\"Fatherlookedquitetakenaback。Hesatquitestillbeforehespoke。
\"Well，Mr。St。Leger，Ishallthinkoverthematterforawhile，andshallpresentlyletyouknowmydecision。Inthemeantime，wouldyoulikesomethingtoeat？Itakeitthatasyoumusthavestartedveryearly，youhavenothadanybreakfast？\"Rupertsmiledquitegenially：
\"Thatistrue，sir。Ihaven’tbrokenbreadsincedinnerlastnight，andIamravenouslyhungry。\"Fatherrangthebell，andtoldthefootmanwhoansweredittosendthehousekeeper。Whenshecame，fathersaidtoher：
\"Mrs。Martindale，takethisboytoyourroomandgivehimsomebreakfast。\"Rupertstoodverystillforsomeseconds。Hisfacehadgotredagainafterhispaleness。Thenhebowedtomyfather，andfollowedMrs。Martindale，whohadmovedtothedoor。
Nearlyanhourafterwardsmyfathersentaservanttotellhimtocometothestudy。Mymotherwasthere，too，andIhadgonebackwithher。Themancamebackandsaid：
\"Mrs。Martindale，sir，wishestoknow，withherrespectfulservice，ifshemayhaveawordwithyou。\"Beforefathercouldreplymothertoldhimtobringher。Thehousekeepercouldnothavebeenfaroff——
thatkindaregenerallynearakeyhole——forshecameatonce。Whenshecamein，shestoodatthedoorcurtseyingandlookingpale。
Fathersaid：
\"Well？\"
\"Ithought，sirandma’am，thatIhadbettercomeandtellyouaboutMasterSentLeger。Iwouldhavecomeatonce，butIfearedtodisturbyou。\"
\"Well？\"Fatherhadasternwaywithservants。WhenI’mheadofthefamilyI’lltreadthemundermyfeet。That’sthewaytogetrealdevotionfromservants！
\"Ifyouplease，sir，Itooktheyounggentlemanintomyroomandorderedanicebreakfastforhim，forIcouldseehewashalffamished——agrowingboylikehim，andsotall！Presentlyitcamealong。Itwasagoodbreakfast，too！Theverysmellofitmadeevenmehungry。Therewereeggsandfrizzledham，andgrilledkidneys，andcoffee，andbutteredtoast，andbloater—paste——\"
\"Thatwilldoastothemenu，\"saidmother。\"Goon！\"
\"Whenitwasallready，andthemaidhadgone，Iputachairtothetableandsaid，’Now，sir，yourbreakfastisready！’Hestoodupandsaid，’Thankyou，madam；youareverykind！’andhebowedtomequitenicely，justasifIwasalady，ma’am！\"
\"Goon，\"saidmother。
\"Then，sir，heheldouthishandandsaid，’Good—bye，andthankyou，’
andhetookuphiscap。
\"’Butaren’tyougoingtohaveanybreakfast，sir？’Isays。
\"’No，thankyou，madam，’hesaid；’Icouldn’teathere……inthishouse，Imean！’Well，ma’am，helookedsolonelythatIfeltmyheartmelting，andIventuredtoaskhimiftherewasanymortalthingIcoulddoforhim。’Dotellme，dear，’Iventuredtosay。’I
amanoldwoman，andyou，sir，areonlyaboy，thoughit’safinemanyouwillbe——likeyourdear，splendidfather，whichIremembersowell，andgentlelikeyourpoordearmother。’
\"’You’readear！’hesays；andwiththatItookuphishandandkissedit，forIrememberhispoordearmothersowell，thatwasdeadonlyayear。Well，withthatheturnedhisheadaway，andwhenI
tookhimbytheshouldersandturnedhimround——heisonlyayoungboy，ma’am，forallheissobig——Isawthatthetearswererollingdownhischeeks。WiththatIlaidhisheadonmybreast——I’vehadchildrenofmyown，ma’am，asyouknow，thoughthey’reallgone。Hecamewillingenough，andsobbedforalittlebit。Thenhestraightenedhimselfup，andIstoodrespectfullybesidehim。
\"’TellMr。Melton，’hesaid，’thatIshallnottroublehimaboutthetrusteebusiness。’
\"’Butwon’tyoutellhimyourself，sir，whenyouseehim？’Isays。
\"’Ishallnotseehimagain，’hesays；’Iamgoingbacknow！’
\"Well，ma’am，Iknewhe’dhadnobreakfast，thoughhewashungry，andthathewouldwalkashecome，soIventuredtosay：’Ifyouwon’ttakeitaliberty，sir，mayIdoanythingtomakeyourgoingeasier？
Haveyousufficientmoney，sir？Ifnot，mayIgive，orlend，yousome？Ishallbeveryproudifyouwillallowmeto。’
\"’Yes，’hesaysquitehearty。’Ifyouwill，youmightlendmeashilling，asIhavenomoney。Ishallnotforgetit。’Hesaid，ashetookthecoin：’Ishallreturntheamount，thoughInevercanthekindness。Ishallkeepthecoin。’Hetooktheshilling，sir——hewouldn’ttakeanymore——andthenhesaidgood—bye。Atthedoorheturnedandwalkedbacktome，andputhisarmsroundmelikearealboydoes，andgavemeahug，andsayshe：
\"’Thankyouathousandtimes，Mrs。Martindale，foryourgoodnesstome，foryoursympathy，andforthewayyouhavespokenofmyfatherandmother。Youhaveseenmecry，Mrs。Martindale，’hesaid；’I
don’toftencry：thelasttimewaswhenIcamebacktothelonelyhouseaftermypoordearwaslaidtorest。Butyounoranyothershalleverseeatearofmineagain。’Andwiththathestraightenedouthisbigbackandhelduphisfineproudhead，andwalkedout。I
sawhimfromthewindowstridingdowntheavenue。My！butheisaproudboy，sir——anhonourtoyourfamily，sir，sayIrespectfully。
Andthere，theproudchildhasgoneawayhungry，andhewon’t，I
know，everusethatshillingtobuyfood！\"
Fatherwasnotgoingtohavethat，youknow，sohesaidtoher：
\"Hedoesnotbelongtomyfamily，Iwouldhaveyoutoknow。True，heisalliedtousthroughthefemaleside；butwedonotcounthimorhisinmyfamily。\"Heturnedawayandbegantoreadabook。Itwasadecidedsnubtoher。
ButmotherhadawordtosaybeforeMrs。Martindalewasdonewith。
Motherhasaprideofherown，anddoesn’tbrookinsolencefrominferiors；andthehousekeeper’sconductseemedtoberatherpresuming。Mother，ofcourse，isn’tquiteourclass，thoughherfolkarequiteworthyandenormouslyrich。SheisoneoftheDalmallingtons，thesaltpeople，oneofwhomgotapeeragewhentheConservativeswentout。Shesaidtothehousekeeper：
\"Ithink，Mrs。Martindale，thatIshallnotrequireyourservicesafterthisdaymonth！AndasIdon’tkeepservantsinmyemploymentwhenIdismissthem，hereisyourmonth’swagesdueonthe25thofthismonth，andanothermonthinlieuofnotice。Signthisreceipt。\"
Shewaswritingareceiptasshespoke。Theothersigneditwithoutaword，andhandedittoher。Sheseemedquiteflabbergasted。
Mothergotupandsailed——thatisthewaythatmothermoveswhensheisinawax——outoftheroom。
LestIshouldforgetit，letmesayherethatthedismissedhousekeeperwasengagedtheverynextdaybytheCountessofSalop。
ImaysayinexplanationthattheEarlofSalop，K。G。，whoisLord—
LieutenantoftheCounty，isjealousoffather’spositionandhisgrowinginfluence。FatherisgoingtocontestthenextelectionontheConservativeside，andissuretobemadeaBaronetbeforelong。