he measure demanded by the sensible and quietly
resolved woman with whom I had just been talking. What alternative
remained? But one: I must go myself.

It was not late--not for a ball-night, at least--and as half the town
had been invited to the dance, the streets were alive with carriages. I
was watching the blink of their lights through the fast-falling snow
when my attention was drawn to a fact which struck me as peculiar. These
carriages were all coming my way instead of rolling in the direction of
The Evergreens. Had they been empty this would have needed no
explanation; but, so far as I could see, most of them were full, and
that, too, of loudly-talking women and gesticulating men.

Something of a serious nature must have occurred at The Evergreens.
Rapidly I paced on, and soon found myself before the great gates.

A crowd of vehicles of all descriptions blocked the entrance. None
seemed to be passing up the driveway; all stood clustered at the gates;
and as I drew nearer I perceived many an anxious head thrust forth from
their quickly-opened doors, and heard many an ejaculation of
disappointment as the short interchange of words went on between the
drivers of these various turnouts and a man drawn up in quiet resolution
before the unexpectedly barred entrance.

Slipping round to this man's side, I listened to what he was saying. It
was simple, but very explicit.

"Mrs. Ashley asks everybody's pardon, but the ball can't go on to-night.
Something has happened which makes the reception of further guests
impossible. To-morrow evening she will be happy to see you all. The
dance is simply postponed."

This he had probably repeated forty times, and each time it had probably
been received with the same mixture of doubt and curiosity which now
held the lengthy procession in check.

Not wishing to attract attention, yet anxious to lose no time, I pressed
up still nearer, and, bending towards him from the shadow cast by a
convenient post, uttered the one word:

"Jennings."

Instantly he unlocked a small gate at his right. I passed in, and with
professional _sang-froid_ proceeded to take my way to the house through
the double row of evergreens bordering the semicircular approach.

As these trees stood very close together, and were, besides, heavily
laden with fresh-fallen snow, I failed to catch a glimpse of the
building itself until I stood in front of it. Then I saw that it was
brilliantly lighted, and gave ev