S Gerard; or,
There was an eager expectation of some manifestation of his
powers this afternoon, as he walked across the lawn with Lady
Fridoline, and people who had been on the point of departure
lingered in the hope of being thriUed and frightened, as they had
heard of other people being thrilled and frightened, by this amiable-
looking youth with the fah complexion and yellow hair. The very
incongruity of that fair and youthful aspect with the ghastly
or the supernatural made Justin Jermyn so much the more
interesting.
He walked about the grounds with his hostess for some time, all
her duties of leave-taking suspended, and she to all appearance
absorbed in earnest conversation with the Fate-Revealer, every one
watchful and expectant. Hillersdon and Mrs. Champion were sitting
side by side upon a rustic bench, the lady no longer in a hurry to
depart.
" You don't believe in any nonsense of this kind, I know," she
said, in her low, listless voice, without looking at her companion.
" I believe in nothing but disillusion, the falsehood inherent in
all things."
" You are in an unhappy mood to-day, I think," she said, with a
touch of interest.
" Atmospherical, perhaps," he answered, with a laugh. " You
can hardly expect anybody to feel very happy under that leaden
sky."
Lady Fridoline and her companion had separated. He was
walking towards the house; she was going rapidly from group to
group, talking and explaining with animated gestures.
" There is going to be a performance," said Mrs, Champion,
rising. " If there is any excitement to be had let us have our share
of it."
" You want the secrets of your life to be read ? " asked Gerard.
" Yes, yes, yes. I want to see what modern magic can do."
" And you are not afraid ? That is because yours is only a
surface life—an existence that begins and ends in wealth and
luxury, fine clothes and fine horses. What have you to fear from
sorcery? There are no more secrets in your life than in a doll's
life."
" You are very impertinent."
" I am going away, and I can afford to quarrel with you. Would
to God I could stir some kind of feeling in you—yes, even make
you aujij- before I go."
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