My gun leant up against the wall of the house; for, since the advent of that strange thing in the gardens, I had deemed it wise to take precautions.

I leant forward, and peered over, and down into the Pit, just beneath where I stood; and saw no further than a hideous, white swine-face, that had risen to within a couple of yards of my feet.

I leant the rifle on the coping, and pulled the trigger.

I waited some odd moments; then leant out of the window and felt the pipe.

I leant over, and glanced down to the foot of the wall, to see whether the body of the Thing I had shot the night before was still there.

My breath came with a gasp, and I leant against the wall.

' She leant back and half closed her eyes, as if in thought; then started up with one finger out.

She leant nearer to Crewe, and laid a persuasive hand on his arm.

I'm not sure we will buy any, but we will look at them, and I will learn what is your taste in art, and you will leant what is mine.

" He leant forward then and put his lips to her snarling fangs, but though she kept snarling she did not bite him.

Oh, my heart's love, don't you know how perfect you are?" They had stopped under some trees near the ruined chapel, and she leant against one of them and looked up at him with a strange, dreamy, far-away look in her eyes which were dark as the purple amethyst.

" She leant her elbows on her knees and her chin in the palms of her hands.

She glanced at him as it did so, but the white hand so soft and warm might have been a piece of senseless wood for all its effect upon him whose soul was still thrilling with Ida Heron's touch; and with a tightening of the lips, she took her hand away and leant back, but her eyes still clung to him, as, all unconscious, he bent over the dog.

Have you" He leant forward, and held out one claw-like hand, open.

She leant back in the luxurious lounge with her eyes bent on her jewelled fan, and seemed lost in thought.

It is nothing more nor less than the acquisition of certain land and rights which carry with them the privilege of constructing a railway in the most promising part of South Africa" Sir Stephen leant forward, his head on his hands, his eyes fixed on the heavy, stolid face of the speaker, the face which the keen, hawk-like eyes flashed under the lowered lids with a gleam of power and triumph.

" Sir Stephen leant forward, his eyes fixed eagerly on the speaker, and Stafford in his anxiety held his breath and pressed his father's shoulder encouragingly.

Falconer, who stood a little apart, apparently drinking with the others, but really with care and moderation, watched him under half-lowered lids; and presently he moved round to where Stafford leant against the table with his champagne-glass in his hand, and touching him on the arm, said: "I hear them enquiring for you in the ball-room, Stafford.

They went up second-class, and Mr. Joseph, who was in the best of humours, and wore a new pair of patent-leather boots and a glossy hat, to say nothing of a dazzling tie, enlivened the journey by whispering facetious remarks on their fellow-passengers to Ida, who in vain leant away from him, as far as possible, in her corner of the carriage, and endeavoured to concentrate her attention on the programme.

" He laughed with a touch of self-contempt, with an attempt at his old cynicism; but Stafford understood the fictitious character of the laugh, and as he leant his chin in his hand, he gave a short nod of acknowledgment.

" Stafford leant his head upon his hand and looked steadily at Howard.

The whole ward was wrapped up in the tiny mite, and Ida leant on her elbow and craned forward to get a glimpse of it; and felt towards it as she would have felt if it had been a little sick or wounded lamb in Herondale.

Now, for some time, she avoided that part of the road where the opening of the plantation gave a view of the Villa; but she was drawn towards it at last, and she leant forward on her horse and looked across the lake at the great, white place shining in the autumn sunlight.

" Captain Sharkey leant back in thought, with his huge thin beak of a nose jutting upwards.

" He leant forward to grasp it, and from that moment I have never doubted as to the reality of inspiration, for on the instant I caught him by the collar and pulled him straight again.