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first one and then the other with a grip which crumpled up their little thin
fingers。 〃The days for work and healthful exercise； the evenings to
Browning and high discourse； eh； Charles？ Good…bye！〃 She came to
the door with them； and as they glanced back they saw her still standing
there with the yellow bull pup cuddled up under one forearm； and the thin
blue reek of her cigarette ascending from her lips。
〃Oh； what a dreadful； dreadful woman！〃 whispered sister Bertha； as
they hurried down the street。 〃Thank goodness that it is over。〃
〃But she'll return the visit；〃 answered the other。 〃I think that we had
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better tell Mary that we are not at home。
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CHAPTER III。
DWELLERS IN THE WILDERNESS。
How deeply are our destinies influenced by the most trifling causes！
Had the unknown builder who erected and owned these new villas
contented himself by simply building each within its own grounds； it is
probable that these three small groups of people would have remained
hardly conscious of each other's existence； and that there would have been
no opportunity for that action and reaction which is here set forth。 But
there was a common link to bind them together。 To single himself out
from all other Norwood builders the landlord had devised and laid out a
common lawn tennis ground； which stretched behind the houses with taut…
stretched net； green close…cropped sward； and widespread whitewashed
lines。 Hither in search of that hard exercise which is as necessary as air
or food to the English temperament； came young Hay Denver when
released from the toil of the City； hither； too； came Dr。 Walker and his two
fair daughters； Clara and Ida； and hither also； champions of the lawn； came
the short…skirted； muscular widow and her athletic nephew。 Ere the
summer was gone they knew each other in this quiet nook as they might
not have done after years of a stiffer and more formal acquaintance。
And especially to the Admiral and the Doctor were this closer intimacy
and companionship of value。 Each had a void in his life； as every man
must have who with unexhausted strength steps out of the great race； but
each by his society might help to fill up that of his neighbor。 It is true
that they had not much in common； but that is sometimes an aid rather
than a bar to friendship。 Each had been an enthusiast in his profession；
and had retained all his interest in it。 The Doctor still read from cover to
cover his Lancet and his Medical Journal； attended all professional
gatherings； worked himself into an alternate state of exaltation and
depression over the results of the election of officers； and reserved for
himself a den of his own； in which before rows of little round bottles full
of glycerine； Canadian balsam； and staining agents； he still cut sections
with a microtome； and peeped through his long； brass； old…fashioned
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microscope at the arcana of nature。 With his typical face； clean shaven
on lip and chin； with a firm mouth； a strong jaw； a steady eye； and two
little white fluffs of whiskers； he could never be taken for anything but
what he was； a high…class British medical consultant of the age of fifty； or
perhaps just a year or two older。
The Doctor； in his hey…day； had been cool over great things； but now；
in his retirement； he was fussy over trifles。 The man who had operated
without the quiver of a finger； when not only his patient's life but his own
reputation and future were at stake； was now shaken to the soul by a
mislaid book or a careless maid。 He remarked it himself； and knew the
reason。 〃When Mary was alive；〃 he would say； 〃she stood between me
and the little troubles。 I could brace myself for the big ones。 My girls
are as good as girls can be； but who can know a man as his wife knows
him？〃 Then his memory would conjure up a tuft of brown hair and a
single white； thin hand over a coverlet； and he would feel； as we have all
felt； that if we do not live and know each other after death； then indeed we
are tricked and betrayed by all the highest hopes and subtlest intuitions of
our nature。
The Doctor had his compensations to make up for his loss。 The great
scales of Fate had been held on a level for him； for where in all great
London could one find two sweeter girls； more loving； more intelligent；
and more sympathetic than Clara and Ida Walker？ So bright were they；
so quick； so interested in all which interested him； that if it were possible
for a man to be compensated for the loss of a good wife then Balthazar
Walker might claim to be so。
Clara was tall and thin and supple； with a graceful； womanly figure。
There was something stately and distinguished in her carriage； 〃queenly〃
her friends called her； while her critics described her as reserved and
distant。
Such as it was； however； it was part and parcel of herself； for she was；
and had always from her childhood been； different from any one around
her。 There was nothing gregarious in her nature。 She thought with her
own mind； saw with her own eyes； acted from her own impulse。 Her
face was pale； striking rather than pretty； but with two great dark eyes； so
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earnestly questioning； so quick in their transitions from joy to pathos； so
swift in their comment upon every word and deed around her； that those
eyes alone were to many more attractive than all the beauty of her younger
sister。 Hers was a strong； quiet soul； and it was her firm hand which had
taken over the duties of her mother； had ordered the house； restrained the
servants； comforted her father； and upheld her weaker sister； from the day
of that great misfortune。
Ida Walker was a hand's breadth smaller than Clara； but was a little
fuller in the face and plumper in the figure。 She had light yellow hair；
mischievous blue eyes with the light of humor ever twinkling in their
depths； and a large； perfectly formed mouth； with that slight upward curve
of the corners which goes with a keen appreciation of fun； suggesting even
in repose that a latent smile is ever lurking at the edges of the lips。 She
was modern to the soles of her dainty little high…heeled shoes； frankly fond
of dress and of pleasure； devoted to tennis and to comic opera； delighted
with a dance； which came her way only too seldom； longing ever for some
new excitement； and yet behind all this lighter side of her character a
thoroughly good； healthy…minded English girl； the life and soul of the
house； and the idol of her sister and her father。 Such was the family at
number two。 A peep into the remaining villa and our introductions are
complete。
Admiral Hay Denver did not belong to the florid； white…haired； hearty
school of sea…dogs which is more common in works of fiction than in the
Navy List。 On the contrary； he was the representative of a much more
common type which is the antithesis of the conventional sailor。 He was a
thin； hard…featured man； with an ascetic； acquiline cast of face； grizzled
and hollow…cheeked； clean…shaven with the exception of the tiniest curved
promontory of ash…colored whisker。 An observer； accustomed to classify
men； might have put him down as a canon of the church with a taste for
lay costume and a country life； or as the master of a large public school；
who joined his scholars in their outdoor sports。 His lips were firm； his
chin pr