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vehicle。
〃Can I be of any use to you； aunt？〃 asked the large youth； framing
himself in the open doorway。
〃Not the slightest；〃 panted the enraged lady。 〃There； you low
blackguard； that will teach you to be impertinent to a lady。〃
The cabman looked helplessly about him with a bewildered；
questioning gaze； as one to whom alone of all men this unheard…of and
extraordinary thing had happened。 Then； rubbing his head； he mounted
slowly on to the box and drove away with an uptossed hand appealing to
the universe。 The lady smoothed down her dress； pushed back her hair
under her little felt hat； and strode in through the hall…door； which was
closed behind her。 As with a whisk her short skirts vanished into the
darkness； the two spectatorsMiss Bertha and Miss Monica Williamssat
looking at each other in speechless amazement。 For fifty years they had
peeped through that little window and across that trim garden； but never
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BEYOND THE CITY
yet had such a sight as this come to confound them。
〃I wish；〃 said Monica at last； 〃that we had kept the field。〃
〃I am sure I wish we had；〃 answered her sister。
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BEYOND THE CITY
CHAPTER II。
BREAKING THE ICE。
The cottage from the window of which the Misses Williams had
looked out stands； and has stood for many a year； in that pleasant suburban
district which lies between Norwood； Anerley； and Forest Hill。 Long
before there had been a thought of a township there； when the Metropolis
was still quite a distant thing； old Mr。 Williams had inhabited 〃The
Brambles；〃 as the little house was called； and had owned all the fields
about it。 Six or eight such cottages scattered over a rolling country…side
were all the houses to be found there in the days when the century was
young。 From afar； when the breeze came from the north； the dull； low
roar of the great city might be heard； like the breaking of the tide of life；
while along the horizon might be seen the dim curtain of smoke； the grim
spray which that tide threw up。 Gradually； however； as the years passed；
the City had thrown out a long brick…feeler here and there； curving；
extending； and coalescing； until at last the little cottages had been gripped
round by these red tentacles； and had been absorbed to make room for the
modern villa。 Field by field the estate of old Mr。 Williams had been sold
to the speculative builder； and had borne rich crops of snug suburban
dwellings； arranged in curving crescents and tree…lined avenues。 The
father had passed away before his cottage was entirely bricked round； but
his two daughters； to whom the property had descended； lived to see the
last vestige of country taken from them。 For years they had clung to the
one field which faced their windows； and it was only after much argument
and many heartburnings； that they had at last consented that it should
share the fate of the others。 A broad road was driven through their quiet
domain； the quarter was re…named 〃The Wilderness；〃 and three square；
staring； uncompromising villas began to sprout up on the other side。
With sore hearts； the two shy little old maids watched their steady progress；
and speculated as to what fashion of neighbors chance would bring into
the little nook which had always been their own。
And at last they were all three finished。 Wooden balconies and
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BEYOND THE CITY
overhanging eaves had been added to them； so that； in the language of the
advertisement； there were vacant three eligible Swiss…built villas； with
sixteen rooms； no basement； electric bells； hot and cold water； and every
modern convenience； including a common tennis lawn； to be let at L100 a
year； or L1；500 purchase。 So tempting an offer did not long remain open。
Within a few weeks the card had vanished from number one； and it was
known that Admiral Hay Denver； V。 C。； C。 B。； with Mrs。 Hay Denver and
their only son； were about to move into it。 The news brought peace to
the hearts of the Williams sisters。 They had lived with a settled
conviction that some wild impossible colony； some shouting； singing
family of madcaps； would break in upon their peace。 This establishment
at least was irreproachable。 A reference to 〃Men of the Time〃 showed
them that Admiral Hay Denver was a most distinguished officer； who had
begun his active career at Bomarsund； and had ended it at Alexandria；
having managed between these two episodes to see as much service as any
man of his years。 From the Taku Forts and the _Shannon_ brigade； to
dhow…harrying off Zanzibar； there was no variety of naval work which did
not appear in his record； while the Victoria Cross； and the Albert Medal
for saving life； vouched for it that in peace as in war his courage was still
of the same true temper。 Clearly a very eligible neighbor this； the more
so as they had been confidentially assured by the estate agent that Mr。
Harold Denver； the son； was a most quiet young gentleman； and that he
was busy from morning to night on the Stock Exchange。
The Hay Denvers had hardly moved in before number two also struck
its placard； and again the ladies found that they had no reason to be
discontented with their neighbors。 Doctor Balthazar Walker was a very
well…known name in the medical world。 Did not his qualifications； his
membership； and the record of his writings fill a long half…column in the
〃Medical Directory；〃 from his first little paper on the 〃Gouty Diathesis〃 in
1859 to his exhaustive treatise upon 〃Affections of the Vaso…Motor
System〃 in 1884？ A successful medical career which promised to end in
a presidentship of a college and a baronetcy； had been cut short by his
sudden inheritance of a considerable sum from a grateful patient； which
had