"

"Very well," answered Edward, "that is if it suits Mrs. Quest. Perhaps
she may object to carting me about the country."

"I have not observed any such reluctance on her part," said the lawyer
dryly, "but we can easily settle the question. I must go home and get
some plans before I attend the vestry meeting about that pinnacle.
Will you step across with me and we can ask her?"

"Oh yes," he answered. "I have nothing particular to do."

And accordingly, so soon as Mr. Quest had made some small arrangements
and given particular directions to his clerks as to his whereabouts
for the day, they set off together for the lawyer's private house.

CHAPTER VIII

MR. QUEST'S WIFE

Mr. Quest lived in one of those ugly but comfortably-built old red
brick houses which abound in almost every country town, and which give
us the clearest possible idea of the want of taste and love of
material comfort that characterised the age in which they were built.
This house looked out on to the market place, and had a charming old
walled garden at the back, famous for its nectarines, which, together
with the lawn tennis court, was, as Mrs. Quest would say, almost
enough to console her for living in a town. The front door, however,
was only separated by a little flight of steps from the pavement upon
which the house abutted.

Entering a large, cool-looking hall, Mr. Quest paused and asked a
servant who was passing there where her mistress was.

"In the drawing-room, sir," said the girl; and, followed by Edward
Cossey, he walked down a long panelled passage till he reached a door
on the left. This he opened quickly and passed through into a
charming, modern-looking room, handsomely and even luxuriously
furnished, and lighted by French windows opening on to the walled
garden.

A little lady dressed in some black material was standing at one of
these windows, her arms crossed behind her back, and absently gazing
out of it. At the sound of the opening door she turned swiftly, her
whole delicate and lovely face lighting up like a flower in a ray of
sunshine, the lips slightly parted, and a deep and happy light shining
in her violet eyes. Then, all in an instant, it was instructive to
observe /how/ instantaneously, her glance fell upon her husband (for
the lady was Mrs. Quest) and her entire expression changed to one of
cold aversion, the light fading out of her face as it does fro