acquaintance, the centre of a nine days' wonder.

Most of them, indeed, merely touched the hem of the mystery and
were not involved therein, but even for them a reflected glory
shone. They were at least objects of attraction elsewhere, and for
many months furnished conversation of a more interesting and
exciting character than any could ever claim to have provided
before.

The attitude to such an event, and the opinions concerning it, of
such people might have been pretty accurately predicted; nor would
it be fair to laugh at their terror and bewilderment, their
confusion of tongues and the fatuous theories they adventured by
way of explanation. For wiser than they--men experienced in the
problems of humanity and trained to solve its enigmas--were
presently in no better case.

A very trivial and innocent remark was prelude to the disaster; and
had the speaker guessed what his jest must presently mean in terms
of human misery, grief, and horror, it is certain enough that he
would not have spoken.

The women were gone to bed and the men sat around the fire smoking
and admiring Sir Walter's ancient blend of whisky. He himself had
just flung away the stump of his cigar and was admonishing his
son-in-law. "Church to-morrow, Tom. None of your larks. When
first you came to see me, remember, you went to church twice on
Sunday like a lamb. I'll have no backsliding."

"Mary will see to that, governor."