Wilkie Collins

Little Novels Wilkie Collins

THE guests would have enjoyed their visit to Sir Peter's country house-but for Mr. Cosway. And to make matters worse, it was not Mr. Cosway but the guests who were to blame. Theyrepeated the old story of Adam and Eve, on a larger scale. The women were the first sinners; andthe men were demoralized by the women. Mr. Cosway's bitterest enemy could not have denied that he was a handsome, well-bred, unassuming man. No mystery of any sort attached to him. He had adopted the Navy as aprofession-had grown weary of it after a few years' service-and now lived on the moderateincome left to him, after the death of his parents. Out of this unpromising material the livelyimaginations of the women built up a romance. The men only noticed that Mr. Cosway was rathersilent and thoughtful; that he was not ready with his laugh; and that he had a fancy for taking longwalks by himself. Harmless peculiarities, surely? And yet, they excited the curiosity of the women assigns of a mystery in Mr. Cosway's past life, in which some beloved object unknown must haveplayed a chief part. As a matter of course, the influence of the sex was tried, under every indirect and delicate form ofapproach, to induce Mr. Cosway to open his heart, and tell the tale of his sorrows. With perfectcourtesy, he baffled curiosity, and kept his supposed secret to himself. The most beautiful girl in thehouse was ready to offer herself and her fortune as consolations, if this impenetrable bachelor wouldonly have taken her into his confidence. He smiled sadly, and changed the subject. Defeated so far, the women accepted the next alternative. One of the guests staying in the house was Mr. Cosway's intimate friend-formerly his brotherofficer on board ship. This gentleman was now subjected to the delicately directed system ofinvestigation which had failed with his friend. With unruffled composure he referred the ladies, oneafter another, to Mr. Cosway. His name was Stone. The ladies decided that his nature was worthy ofhis name. The last resource left to our fair friends was to rouse the dormant interest of the men, and to trustto the confidential intercourse of the smoking-room for the enlightenment which they had failed toobtain by other means