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。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读