TWO SUNDAY AFTERNOONS 265 



expression, the expression of an animal when its 

 ears are laid baek to listen. 



" I've known plenty of women after Devine," she 

 said, resuming the eonversation with a jerk, " but 

 that's a different affair. I can tell him that a smart, 

 handsome-looking girl like yourself is the wife for him, 

 and I guess I know what's what, after ten years in 

 the States." 



A gust of wind boomed in the ehimney, and shook a 

 door with a rattling latch somewhere in the back of 

 the house. Mrs. Nolan's cup paused on its way to 

 her lips, and was set down again quickly. She 

 clenched the hand that held her handkerchief, and her 

 full under-lip hung a little as her breath came short. 

 Kate sat silent and half giddy with self -consciousness, 

 waiting for Mrs. Nolan to continue. In the silence a 

 whistle that might have come from the lane at tee 

 baek of the stable was audible, a peculiar whistle with 

 two notes and a crescendo in it. Being accustomed 

 to every variety of noise from that quarter, Kate did 

 not notice it. 



Wien Mrs. Nolan spoke, it was not on the topic that 

 her companion expected. 



" My husband has a notion of starting in the lodging 

 business in this street," she said, speaking rather fast, 

 " and I should like just to have a look round at the 

 basement here, to see what sort of accommodation 

 there is. I suppose that's the larder there," looking 

 at a door with a key in the lock and a small square of 

 perforated zinc let into the woodwork; " I'd hke to 

 see what sort of larders they have in these houses. 

 Would you show it to me, hke a good girl? " 



She placed an affectionate arm round her friend, 

 and walked her to the door. Kate turned the key 

 and opened the door, revealing a gloomy interior of 

 shelves decked with gi-easy relics of an early dinner. 



