Chapter 2

A fine-framed dark-mustachioed gentleman, in dressing-gown and
slippers, was sitting there in the damp without a hat on. With one
hand he was tightly grasping his forehead, the other hung over his
knee. The attitude bespoke with sufficient clearness a mental
condition of anguish. He was quite a different being from any of the
men to whom her eyes were accustomed. She had never seen mustachios
before, for they were not worn by civilians in Lower Wessex at this
date. His hands and his face were white--to her view deadly white--
and he heeded nothing outside his own existence. There he remained
as motionless as the bushes around him; indeed, he scarcely seemed to
breathe.

Having imprudently advanced thus far, Margery's wish was to get back
again in the same unseen manner; but in moving her foot for the
purpose it grated on the gravel. He started up with an air of
bewilderment, and slipped something into the pocket of his dressing-
gown. She was almost certain that it was a pistol. The pair stood
looking blankly at each other.

'My Gott, who are you?' he asked sternly, and with not altogether an
English articulation. 'What do you do here?'

Margery had already begun to be frightened at her boldness in
invading the lawn and pleasure-seat. The house had a master, and she
had not known of it. 'My name is Margaret Tucker, sir,' she said
meekly. 'My father is Dairyman Tucker. We live at Silverthorn
Dairy-house.'

'What were you doing here at this hour of the morning?'

She told him, even to the fact that she had climbed over the fence.

'And what made you peep round at me?'

'I saw your elbow, sir; and I wondered what you were doing?'

'And what was I doing?'

'Nothing. You had one hand on your forehead and the other on your
knee. I do hope you are not ill, sir, or in deep trouble?' Margery
had sufficient tact to say nothing about the pistol.

'What difference would it make to you if I were ill or in trouble?
You don't know me.'

She returned no answer, feeling that she might have taken a liberty
in expressing sympathy. But, looking furtively up at him, she
discerned to her surprise that he seemed affected by her humane wish,
simply as it had been expressed. She had scarcely conceived that
such a tall dark man could know what gentle feelings were.

'Well, I am much obliged to you for caring how I am,' said he with a
faint smile and an affected lightness of manner which, even to her,
only rendered more apparent the gloom beneath. 'I have not slept
this past night. I suffer from sleeplessness. Probably you do not.'

Margery laughed a little, and he glanced with interest at the comely
picture she presented; her fresh face, brown hair, candid