The Uninhabited House

by Mrs. J. H. Riddell

THE UNINHABITED HOUSE

MRS. J. H. RIDDELL

CONTENTS

1. [MISS BLAKE—FROM MEMORY]
2. [THE CORONER'S INQUEST]
3. [OUR LAST TENANT]
4. [MYSELF AND MISS BLAKE]
5. [THE TRIAL]
6. [WE AGREE TO COMPROMISE]
7. [MY OWN STORY]
8. [MY FIRST NIGHT AT RIVER HALL]
9. [A TEMPORARY PEACE]
10. [THE WATCHER IS WATCHED]
11. [MISS BLAKE ONCE MORE]
12. [HELP]
13. [LIGHT AT LAST]
14. [A TERRIBLE INTERVIEW]
15. [CONCLUSION]

1. MISS BLAKE—FROM MEMORY

If ever a residence, "suitable in every respect for a family of position," haunted a lawyer's offices, the "Uninhabited House," about which I have a story to tell, haunted those of Messrs. Craven and Son, No. 200, Buckingham Street, Strand.

It did not matter in the least whether it happened to be let or unlet: in either case, it never allowed Mr. Craven or his clerks, of whom I was one, to forget its existence.

When let, we were in perpetual hot water with the tenant; when unlet, we had to endeavour to find some tenant to take that unlucky house.

Happy were we when we could get an agreement signed for a couple of years—although we always had misgivings that the war waged with the last occupant would probably have to be renewed with his successor.

Still, when we were able to let the desirable residence to a solvent individual, even for twelve months, Mr. Craven rejoiced.