Part 28 (1/2)

Reaching the inn at Wiek at ten o'clock on the Sunday night I went straight and very softly to bed; and leaving the inn at Wiek at eight o'clock on the MondayMrs Harvey-Browne again if the re kindness had not stirred e

Mrs Harvey-Browne, having heard all about my day on the _Bertha_ from the landlady, and how I had coleness, the Professor safely handed over to his wife, forgave the chin-chucking, forgave the secret setting out, and hurried on to the landing in a wrapper, warmth in her heart and honey on her lips

'What, you are leaving us, dear Frau X?' she called over the baluster

'So early? So suddenly? I can't come down to you--do co to-day?' she continued when I had co with eether melted and mellifluous bishop's wife

'I hadn't quite decided I fear I o home to-day They want me badly'

'That I can _quite_ understand--of course they want their little ray of sunshi+ne,' she cried, growing more andthe hand she held, 'when are you co to see us all at Babbacombe?'

Babbacombe! Heavens When indeed? Never, never, never, shrieked my soul

'Oh thanks,' murmured my lips, 'how kind you are But--do you think the bishop would like me?'

'The bishop? He would lory in you'

'Glory in lorying, that bishop of whoht to think as steeped in chronic sorroam before my dazzled eyes 'How kind you are But I'm afraid you are too kind I'lory and rieve'

'Well, well, we mustn't be so modest Of course the bishop knoe are all human, and so must have our little faults But I can assure you he would be _delighted_ to e-minded man Now _promise_'

I murmured confused thanks and tried to draw ht 'I shall o at once,' I appealed--'I really ain, I aet ho your ho Gerh the country one gets no chance of a peep into it'

'Yes, I have felt that myself in other countries Good-bye--I absolutely y of panic I got down the ladder as quickly as I could without actually sliding, for I knew that in another moment the bishop's ould have invited herself--oh, it did not bear thinking of

'And the Nieberleins?' she called over the baluster, suddenly re them

'They're on an island Quite inaccessible in this wind Ato it Good-bye!'

'But do they not return here?' she called still louder, for I was through the door now, and out on the path