And then Mr. Lamb was only Irish
Secretary--without a seat in the cabinet. How was it possible to take an
important share in steering the ship of state, and to look after a giddy
wife at the same time?
* * * * *
Ashe and his guests lingered late below-stairs. When, somewhere about
one o'clock, he entered his dressing-room, he was suddenly alarmed by a
smell of burning. It seemed to come from Kitty's room. He knocked
hastily at her door.
"Kitty!"
No answer. He opened the door, and stood arrested.
The room was in complete darkness save for some weird object in the
centre of it, on which a fire was burning, sending up a smoke which hung
about the room. Ashe recognized an old Spanish brazier of beaten copper,
standing on iron feet, which had been a purchase of his own in days when
he trifled with
bric-a-brac. Upon it, a heap of some light material,
which fluttered and crackled as it burned, was blazing and smoking away,
while beside it--her profile set and waxen amid the drifts of smoke, her
fair hair blanched to whiteness by the strange illumination from below,
and all her slight form, checkered with the light and shade of the fire,
drawn into a curve of watchfulness, vindictive and intent--stood Kitty.
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