E. Phillips Oppenheim

“ I had no alternative but to obey her invitation.
"Mr. Neillson," she said in an agitated tone, "as you are going to stop here for a day or two, there is something connected with this household which you ought to know. Has my husband told you anything?"
I bowed, and told her gravely that I knew all, and that she had my profoundest sympathy.
She sighed.
"Perhaps you are surprised that I should ask whether Fred has told you," she said, turning a little away from me. "It seems strange, doesn't it, that one should be mad and be conscious of it? It only comes on in fits, and they are terrible." ”

“ CERTAINLY if there is one time more than another when a bachelor commences to doubt whether his state of single blessedness is the most desirable form of existence, it is at Christmas-time. The joys of the season are essentially domestic joys; and everyone is either looking forward to convivial meetings with a circle of relations and friends, or a happy reunion within his own family. At such a time a middle-aged bachelor with no relations feels rather out of it. ”

“ I made my way to Burditt's room, but he had gone to bed; and seeing it was nearly eleven o'clock I decided to follow his example, and, preceded by a servant (I could never have found the way myself) , I mounted again the wide stairs and threaded the numerous passages which led to my room. It was at the end of a wide corridor, on either side of which were six doors.
"Does anyone sleep up here?" I asked the man as he bade me good-night. ”