dear Sir Walter. I shall certainly go."

They greeted the suggestion--indeed, clutched at it. Their
bewildered minds welcomed action. They were hushed and perturbed.
Death, crashing in upon them thus, left them more than uncomfortable.
Some, at the bottom of their souls, felt almost indignant that an
event so horrible should have disturbed the level tenor of their
lives. They shared the most profound sympathy for the sufferers
as well as for themselves. Some discovered that their own physical
bodies were upset, too, and felt surprised at the depth of their
emotions.

"It isn't as if it were natural," Felix Fayre-Michell persisted.
"Don't imagine that for a moment."

"It's too creepy--I can't believe it," declared his niece. She
was incapable of suffering much for anybody, and her excitement
had a flavour not wholly bitter. She saw herself describing these
events at other house parties. It would be unfair to say that she
was enjoying herself; still she knew nobody at Chadlands very well,
it was her first visit, and adventures are, after all, adventures.
Her uncle discussed the psychic significance of the tragedy, and
gave instances of similar events. One or two listened to him for
lack of anything better to do. There was a general sensation of
blankness. They were all thrown. Life had let them down. Under
the circumstances, to most of them it seemed an excellent idea to
go to church. Vane joined them presently. He was able to give
them many details and excite their interest. They crowded round
him, and he spoke nakedly. Death was nothing to him--he had seen
so much. They heard the motor return with Dr. Mannering.