EFFIE'S BUSINESS 219 



better one to match her " — or words to that 

 effect. 



Dinner at The Martens was a midday function. 

 At half-past one, when Mr French came home 

 from a walk over the high downs, he foimd dinner 

 waiting for him. Miss Grimshaw, during the meal, 

 seemed to be suffering from a dumbness affecting 

 not only her speech but her manner; her move- 

 ments were stiff and formal and inexpressive, and 

 she never once looked in his direction, but engaged 

 herseff entirely with Effie, who also had a wilted 

 air and appearance. 



At tea it was the same. 



After tea Mr French ht a cigar and went out on 

 the verandah to smoke. 



He could not make it out at all. Something 

 had happened in the space of a few hours to make 

 all this difference in the girl. What could that 

 something be? At eleven o'clock she had been all 

 right, yet at half-past one she was a different 

 person. 



He was not a man to keep up a misunderstand- 

 ing without knowing the reason of it, and, having 

 smoked his cigar haff through, he w^ent back into 

 the house and to the sitting-room, where the girl 

 was curled up on the sofa reading Punch. 



"Look here," said French, "what's the matter? " 



" I beg your pardon? " said Miss Grimshaw, 

 uncurhng herseff and sitting half erect. 



" What's the matter? Something is wrong. 

 Have I done anything, or what is it? " 



