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KING PELLINORE’S LITERARY MAGAZINE

THE OPEN WINDOW

by SAKI

“My aunt will be down presently, she judged that they had had suffi-
Mr. Nuttel,” said a very self-possessed cient silent communion.
young lady of fifteen; “in the mean- “Hardly a soul,” said Framton. “My
time you must try and put up with sister was staying here, at the rectory,
me.” you know, some four years ago, and
Framton Nuttel endeavoured to say she gave me letters of introduction to
the correct something which should some of the people here.”
duly flatter the niece of the moment He made the last statement in a
without unduly discounting the aunt tone of distinct regret.
that was to come. Privately he doubt- “Then you know practically noth-
ed more than ever whether these for- ing about my aunt?” pursued the self-
mal visits on a succession of total possessed young lady.
strangers would do much towards “Only her name and address,” ad-
helping the nerve cure which he was mitted the caller. He was wondering
supposed to be undergoing. whether Mrs. Sappleton was in the
“I know how it will be,” his sister married or widowed state. An unde-
had said when he was preparing to finable something about the room
migrate to this rural retreat; “you will seemed to suggest masculine habita-
bury yourself down there and not tion.
speak to a living soul, and your nerves “Her great tragedy happened just
will be worse than ever from moping. three years ago,” said the child; “that
I shall just give you letters of intro- would be since your sister’s time.”
duction to all the people I know there. “Her tragedy?” asked Framton;
Some of them, as far as I can remem- somehow in this restful country spot
ber, were quite nice.” tragedies seemed out of place.
Framton wondered whether Mrs. “You may wonder why we keep that
Sappleton, the lady to whom he was window wide open on an October af-
presenting one of the letters of intro- ternoon,” said the niece, indicating a
duction, came into the nice division. large French window that opened on
“Do you know many of the people to a lawn.
round here?” asked the niece, when “It is quite warm for the time of the
year,” said Framton; “but has that

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