beatrice sat before the fire in her bedroom looking thoughtfully into the glowing coals. if appearances counted for anything she ought to have been a happy girl, for she seemed to lack nothing that the most fastidious heart could desire. samuel flower passed rightly enough for a greedy, grasping man, but he never displayed these qualities so far as his niece's demands were concerned. the fire was burning cheerfully on the tiled hearth, the red silk curtains were drawn against the coldness of the night, the soberly shaded electric lights glinted upon silver and gold and jewels scattered about beatrice's dressing-table. the dark walls were lined with pictures and engravings; here and there were specimens of the old china that the mistress of the room affected. altogether it was very cosy and very charming. it was the last place in the world to suggest crime or trouble or catastrophe of any kind.
but beatrice was not thinking about the strange events of the evening, for her mind had gone back to the time when she first met wilfrid mercer in london. he had been introduced by common friends, and from that time beatrice had contrived to see a good deal of him. from the first she had liked him, perhaps because he was so different from the young men of her acquaintance. samuel flower's circle had always been a moneyed one, and until she had known wilfrid mercer, beatrice had met few men who were not engaged in finance. they belonged, for the most part, to the new and pushing order. their ways and manners were not wholly pleasing to beatrice. perhaps she had been spoilt. perhaps she valued money for the pleasure it brought, and not according to the labour spent in the gaining of it. at any rate, she had been at few pains to show a liking for her environment before wilfrid's visit. here was a man who knew something of the world, who could speak of other things than the city and the latest musical comedy. there was that about his quiet, assured manner and easy unconsciousness that attracted beatrice. she knew, as every girl does when the right man comes, that he admired her. indeed, he had not concealed his feelings. but at that time wilfrid was ignorant of beatrice's real position. naturally enough, he had not associated her with samuel flower. he had somehow come to imagine that her prospects were no better than his own. there had been one or two delightful evenings when he had spoken freely of his future, and beatrice had thrilled with pleasure in knowing why he had made a confidante of her. he had said nothing definite, but the girl understood intuitively that one word from her would have brought a declaration to his lips.
it was a pretty romance and beatrice cherished it. the whole episode was in sharp contrast with her usual hard, brilliant surroundings. besides, there was a subtle flattery in the way in which he had confided in her. she had intended to keep her secret and not let wilfrid know how grand her prospects were till she had talked the matter over with her guardian. that flower would give his consent she did not doubt for a moment. he had no matrimonial views for her. indeed, he had more than once hinted that if she cared to marry any really decent fellow he would put no obstacle in the way. perhaps he knew enough of his own circle to feel convinced that none of them were capable of making beatrice happy.
these were the thoughts that stole through the girl's mind as she sat in front of the fire. she was glad to know that wilfrid had not forgotten her. she had read in his eyes the depth and sincerity of his pleasure. he had told her frankly enough that he was taken aback at her position, and the statement had showed to beatrice that there was no change in his sentiments regarding her. he would get used to her wealth in time. he would not love her any the less because she would come to him with her hands full. ay, and she would come ready and willing to lift him beyond the reach of poverty.
"how silly i am!" the girl murmured. "here am i making a regular romance out of a commonplace meeting between two people who have done no more than spend a few pleasant evenings together. positively i blush for myself. and yet——"
the girl rose with a sigh, conscious that she was neglecting her duties. she had come to her room without a thought for her maid who might be requiring attention. she stole across the corridor to the room where annette lay. the lights were nearly all out and the corridor looked somewhat forbidding in the gloom. the shadows might have masked a score of people and beatrice been none the wiser, a thought which flashed upon her as she hurried along. all the time she had lived at maldon grange she had never been troubled by timorous fears like these. perhaps the earlier events of the evening had got on her nerves. she could see with fresh vividness that long, thin, skinny hand fumbling for the lock of the conservatory door.
it was too ridiculous, she told herself. doubtless that prowling tramp was far enough away by this time. besides, there were too many dogs about the place to render a burglary likely. at the end of the corridor beatrice's little terrier slept. the slightest noise disturbed him; his quick ear detected every sound. doubtless those shadows shrouding the great west window contained nothing more formidable than the trailing plants and exotic flowers which beatrice had established there.
the door of the maid's room was open and the girl lay awake. beatrice could see that her face was damp and pale and that the girl's eyes were full of restless fear. she shook her head reproachfully.
"this is altogether wrong," she said. "dr. mercer told you to go to sleep at once. really, annette, i had no idea you were so nervous."
"i can't help it, miss," the girl whined. "i didn't know it myself till this afternoon. but every time i close my eyes i see those horrible creatures dancing and jabbering, till my heart beats so fast that i can hardly breathe."
"you know they were animals," beatrice protested. "they escaped from the circus in castlebridge. i read about it in the papers. doubtless they have been recaptured by now."
annette shook her head doubtfully.
"i don't believe it, miss," she whispered. "i have been lying here with the door open and the light of the fire shining on the wall opposite in the corridor, as you can see at this moment. i had almost persuaded myself the thing was a mere fright when i saw a shadow moving along the wall."
"one of the servants, of course."
"i wish i could think so, miss," the girl went on. "but it wasn't a bit like anybody in the house. it was short and thick with enormously long arms and thin crooked fingers. i watched it for some time. i would have called out if i only dared. and then when it vanished i was ashamed to speak. but it was there all the same. don't leave me, miss."
the last words came in a beseeching whisper. with a feeling of mingled impatience and sympathy beatrice glanced round the room. a glass and a bottle of medicine stood by the bedside.
"i declare you are all alike," beatrice exclaimed. "if you go to a dispensary and get free medicine you swallow it like water. but when a regular doctor prescribes it in this fashion you won't touch it. now i am going to give you your draught at once."
the girl made no protest. apparently she was ready to do anything to detain beatrice by her side. she accepted the glass and swallowed the contents. a moment or two later she closed her eyes and in five minutes was fast asleep. as the medicine was a sleeping draught annette would not wake before morning. closing the door behind her beatrice crept back to her room, looking fitfully over her shoulder as she walked along. she had caught something of annette's nameless dread, though she strove to argue with herself about its absurdity. she glanced over the balustrade and noted the lights in the hall below. seemingly her guardian had not retired. she found herself wondering if wilfrid mercer was still in the house. at any rate, it was pleasant to think there was help downstairs if necessary.
"i'll go to bed," beatrice resolved. "i dare say i shall have forgotten this nonsense by the morning. that is the worst of an old house like this; these gloomy shadows appeal so to the imagination."
nevertheless, beatrice dawdled irresolutely before the fire. as yet she had not closed the door. she would go out presently and see that her dog was in his accustomed place. usually he was as good as half-a-dozen guardians.
as beatrice stood there she began to be conscious that the room was becoming filled with a peculiar, sweet odour, the like of which she had never smelt before. perhaps it came from her flowers. she would go and see. she stepped out in the darkness and paused half hesitating.
