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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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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 rendered him independent for life； and had enabled him to turn his
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attention to the more scientific part of his profession； which had always
had a greater charm for him than its more practical and commercial aspect。
To this end he had given up his house in Weymouth Street； and had taken
this opportunity of moving himself； his scientific instruments； and his two
charming daughters （he had been a widower for some years） into the more
peaceful atmosphere of Norwood。
There was thus but one villa unoccupied； and it was no wonder that the
two maiden ladies watched with a keen interest； which deepened into a
dire apprehension； the curious incidents which heralded the coming of the
new tenants。 They had already learned from the agent that the family
consisted of two only； Mrs。 Westmacott； a widow； and her nephew； Charles
Westmacott。 How simple and how select it had sounded！ Who could
have foreseen from it these fearful portents which seemed to threaten
violence and discord among the dwellers in The Wilderness？ Again the
two old maids cried in heartfelt chorus that they wished they had not sold
their field。
〃Well； at least； Monica；〃 remarked Bertha； as they sat over their
teacups that afternoon； 〃however strange these people may be； it is our
duty to be as polite to them as to the others。〃
〃Most certainly；〃 acquiesced her sister。
〃Since we have called upon Mrs。 Hay Denver and upon the Misses
Walker； we must call upon this Mrs。 Westmacott also。〃
〃Certainly； dear。 As long as they are living upon our land I feel as if
they were in a sense our guests； and that it is our duty to welcome them。〃
〃Then we shall call to…morrow；〃 said Bertha； with decision。
〃Yes； dear； we shall。 But； oh； I wish it was over！〃
At four o'clock on the next day； the two maiden ladies set off upon
their hospitable errand。 In their stiff； crackling dresses of black silk； with
jet…bespangled jackets； and little rows of cylindrical grey curls drooping
down on either side of their black bonnets； they looked like two old
fashion plates which had wandered off into the wrong decade。 Half
curious and half fearful； they knocked at the door of number three； which
was instantly opened by a red…headed page…boy。
Yes； Mrs。 Westmacott was at home。 He ushered them into the front
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room； furnished as a drawing…room； where in spite of the fine spring
weather a large fire was burning in the grate。 The boy took their cards；
and then； as they sat down together upon a settee； he set their nerves in a
thrill by darting behind a curtain with a shrill cry； and prodding at
something with his foot。 The bull pup which they had seen upon the day
before bolted from its hiding…place； and scuttled snarling from the room。
〃It wants to get at Eliza；〃 said the youth； in a confidential whisper。
〃Master says she would give him more'n he brought。〃 He smiled affably
at the two little stiff black figures； and departed in search of his mistress。
〃Whatwhat did he say？〃 gasped Bertha。
〃Something about a Oh； goodness gracious！ Oh； help； help；
help； help； help！〃 The two sisters had bounded on to the settee；