Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/195

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A STRANGE, SAD COMEDY
183

that she 'ad been in mortial terror ever since she first knew the blacks, for fear they would kill and eat her.

Chessingham was secretly much delighted with this, and confided his feelings to his wife and Ethel.

"It will take the old curmudgeon back to London quicker than anything on earth that could have been devised," he said. "He can't get on without Bridge—nobody else, I'm told, ever stayed with him more than three months—and he 'll be forced to quit."

In the library a characteristic interview was taking place between Bridge and his master. Bridge, feeling like a felon, announced his determination to leave.

"That 's quite satisfactory," remarked Mr. Romaine, raising his black eyes from his book. "I have been thinking for some time that I needed a younger and more active man. I do not like men of any sort when they become antiquated."

Bridge opened his mouth to speak, but dared not. He was at least twenty years younger than Mr. Romaine, and there he was reproached with his age!

However, some faint stirring of the heart