the elements, and
also a singular clearness in the air, so that the low hard colours of
water and land and sky were strangely intense and vivid. Near the
shore the sea had been beaten into a muddy brown; then that melted into
a cold green farther out; and that again deepened and deepened until it
was lost in a narrow line of ominous purple, black just where the sea
met the vague and vaporous gray sky. In fact, at this moment, the
seaward view from any Brighton window resembled nothing so much as an
attempt at water-colour that a schoolgirl has got into a hopeless mess
through washing and washing away at her skies, until she has got her
heaviest colour smudged over the horizon-line.

But then that was only temporary. Every few minutes another change
would steal over this strange, shifting, clear, dark world. Sometimes
a long streak of sunny green--as sharp as the edge of a knife--far out
at sea told that there was some unseen rift declaring itself overhead
in that watery sky. Then a pale grayness would come up from the
south-west and slowly cover over Worthing as with a veil; and then
again that could be seen to go trailing away inland, and the long spur
beyond the bay appear blacker than ever. Sometimes too, as if in
contrast with all these cold hard tones and colours, a wonder of light
would slowly concentrate on the far cliffs in the east, until Seaford
Head became a mass of glorified golden white, hung apparently between
sea and sky. Altogether, it was not a day to tempt fashionable folk to
go out for their accustomed promenade; and assuredly it was not a day,
supposing them bent on going out, to suggest that they should be too
elaborate about their costume.

Nevertheless, when Miss Madge Beresford came into the billiard-room,
where her brother was patiently practising the spot stroke, her
appearance seemed to produce a great effect.

'Well, we _have_ got on a swagger dress this time!' cried Mr. Tom, who,
though he had never been to Oxford, was a genuine free-trader in slang,
and was ready to import it from anywhere.

He stared at her--at her dark Indian-red hat and skirt, and her long
tight-fitting black sealskin coat--and she bore the scrutiny patiently.

'You are not going out on a morning like this?' he said, at length.

'There is no rain now; and the streets are quite dry,' pleaded Madge.
'I know it's going to be fine.'

'It's no use, Baby. There won't be a soul to admire your new dress.
Better g