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Updated: June 7, 2025
The beating of the storm without caused our warm and well-lighted room to seem all the more cheerful. As the evening advanced I observed that Miss Simmonds grew thoughtful; and, although she endeavored to be social, it was evident that her mind was occupied by something else than the subject of conversation. After a short silence, she addressed me suddenly, saying,
Mary, too, was secure of two meals a day at Miss Simmonds'; though, by the way, the dressmaker too, feeling the effect of bad times, had left off giving tea to her apprentices, setting them the example of long abstinence by putting off her own meal till work was done for the night, however late that might be. But the rent!
Probably he might have expected to wait a few moments in the big study, while Simmonds went to seek his mistress. But there was Lady Rose turning round from the bookcase as they came in. Mr. Murray stooped to-day, and his large head was bent downwards, making it the more evident that the drops of perspiration stood out upon his brow.
She answered with a smile, an approving smile, perhaps, for the viscount looked very smart in his tight-fitting uniform, but none the less wondering. "Then I am here instead of Simmonds. His car was put out of commission an hour ago by a brutal railway van, and will not be ready for the road during the next day or two. May I offer my services in the meantime?"
"Well, what about it?" he asked, looking at me to see if I was drunk. "You haven't come in here at midnight to tell me that, I hope?" "No; but I'd like to see the cabinet a minute." "You can't see it to-night. Come around to-morrow. Besides, I don't know you." "Here's my card. Either Mr. Simmonds or Mr. Grady would know me. And to-morrow won't do."
The latter were astonished when the men leaped out instantly, and, without a word, rushed at them, and in a moment both were levelled to the ground by blows of stretchers. When they recovered from the shock and astonishment, they found the sailors grouped round them. "Hallo!" Jack exclaimed in astonishment, "Mr. Simmonds, is that you? What on earth are you knocking us about like that for?"
Ahead of me flitted a dark shadow which I knew to be Godfrey, and behind me came the pad-pad of heavy feet, which could only belong to Simmonds. And then, from the direction of the house, came the crash of broken glass. I reached the lawn, crossed it, and traversed the short avenue which ended at the library door. Three men were there, and Simmonds came panting up an instant later.
Closing the locket, I gave it back to Miss Simmonds, who replaced it in the drawer without once looking upon the picture it contained. In conclusion, Miss Simmonds said, "I hope you are not wearied with an old woman's story." I assured her that it had deeply interested me, although I feared the recital had been painful to her.
We saw but little company, except that occasionally the wife of some neighboring farmer would drop in to take a social cup of tea with my aunt. There was a maiden lady residing in the village of Littleton who was always a welcome visitor at my uncle's residence, her name was Miss Priscilla Simmonds. She was somewhat advanced in years, and of a very mild and prepossessing appearance.
He replied that he could only say that he had been wandering on the moor. The case was remanded for a week, as the evidence of Mrs. Mulready and the others in the house would be necessary, and it was felt that a mother could not be called upon to testify against her son with her husband lying dead in the house. "I am sorry indeed to see you in this position," Mr. Simmonds said to Ned.
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