ir Robert's equally eccentric and Quixotic
speculations had been to Bradley--he began to feel a singular and weird
fascination for the place. A patient martyr in the vast London house he
had taken for his wife and cousin's amusement, he loved to escape the
loneliness of its autumn solitude or the occasional greater loneliness
of his wife's social triumphs. The handsome, thoughtful man who
sometimes appeared at the foot of his wife's table or melted away like
a well-bred ghost in the hollow emptiness of her brilliant receptions,
piqued the languid curiosity of a few. A distinguished personage, known
for his tactful observance of convenances that others forgot, had made a
point of challenging this gentlemanly apparition, and had followed it up
with courteous civilities, which led to exchange of much respect but no
increase of acquaintance. He had even spent a week at Buckenthorpe, with
Canterbridge in the coverts and Lady Canterbridge in the music-room and
library. He had returned more thoughtful, and for some time after
was more frequent in his appearances at home, and more earnest in his
renewed efforts to induce his wife to return to America with him.

"You'll never be happy anywhere but in California, among those common
people," she replied; "and while I was willing to share your poverty
THERE," she added dryly, "I prefer to share your wealth among civilized
ladies and gentlemen. Besides," she continued, "we must consider Louise.
She is as good as engaged to Lord Dunshunner, and I do not intend that
you shall make a mess of her affairs here as you did in California."

It was the first time he had heard of Lord Dunshunner's proposals; it
was the first allusion she had ever made to Louise and Mainwaring.

Meantime, the autumn leaves had fallen silently over the broad terraces
of Oldenhurst with little changes to the fortunes of the great house
itself. The Christmas house-party included Lady Canterbridge, whose
husband was still detained at Homburg in company with Dunshunner;
and Bradley, whose wife and cousin lingered on the continent. He was
slightly embarrassed when Lady Canterbridge turned to him one afternoon
as they were returning from the lake and congratulated him abruptly upon
Louise's engagement.

"Perhaps you don't care to be congratulated," she said, as he did not
immediately respond, "and you had as little to do with it as with that
other? It is a woman's function."

"What other?" echoed Bradley.

Lady