Tales of Terror and Mystery

           Nopainshadbeensparedbyhimtomakemecomfortable.Myroomwasacharmingone.Heimploredmetotellhimanythingwhichcouldaddtomyhappiness.Itwasonthetipofmytonguetoinformhimthatablankchequewouldmateriallyhelptowardsthatend,butIfeltthatitmightbeprematureinthepresentstateofouracquaintance.Thedinnerwasexcellent,andaswesattogetherafterwardsoverhisHavanasandcoffee,whichlaterhetoldmewasspeciallyprepareduponhisownplantation,itseemedtomethatallmydriver’seulogieswerejustified,andthatIhadnevermetamorelarge-heartedandhospitableman.

           But,inspiteofhischeerygoodnature,hewasamanwithastrongwillandafierytemperofhisown.OfthisIhadanexampleuponthefollowingmorning.ThecuriousaversionwhichMrs.EverardKinghadconceivedtowardsmewassostrong,thathermanneratbreakfastwasalmostoffensive.Buthermeaningbecameunmistakablewhenherhusbandhadquittedtheroom.

           "Thebesttraininthedayisattwelve-fifteen,"saidshe.

           "ButIwasnotthinkingofgoingtoday,"Ianswered,frankly—perhapsevendefiantly,forIwasdeterminednottobedrivenoutbythiswoman.

           "Oh,ifitrestswithyou—"saidshe,andstoppedwithamostinsolentexpressioninhereyes.

           "Iamsure,"Ianswered,"thatMr.EverardKingwouldtellmeifIwereoutstayingmywelcome."

           "What’sthis?What’sthis?"saidavoice,andtherehewasintheroom.Hehadoverheardmylastwords,andaglanceatourfaceshadtoldhimtherest.Inaninstanthischubby,cheeryfacesetintoanexpressionofabsoluteferocity.