The Mandarins Fan

them, presenting rather a sombre appearance, and a few were bare sunburnt grass-plots, with no adornment whatsoever. A broad road divided the gardens from the grassy undulations of the cliffs, and along this thoroughfare rolled carriages, bicycles, and metor-cars all day during the season. Then came the grass on the cliff tops which stretched for a long distance, and which was dotted with shelters for nervous invalids. At one end there was a round bandstand where red-coated musicians played lively airs from the latest musical comedy. Round the stand were rows of chairs hired out at twopence an afternoon, and indeed all over the lawns seats of various kinds were scattered. At the end of the grass the cliffs sloped gradually and were intersected with winding paths which led downward to the asphalt Esplanade, which ran along the water's edge when the tide was high, and beside evil-smelling mud when the tide was out. And on what was known as the beach? a somewhat gritty strand?were many bathing machines. Such was the general appearance of Marport, which the Essex people looked on as a kind of Brighton, only much better. Miss Sophia Wharf owned a cosy little house at the far end of the cliffs, and just at the point where Marport begins to melt into the country. It was a modern house, comfortably furnished and brilliant with electric lights. The garden in front of it was well taken care of, there were scarlet and white shades to the windows, and flower boxes filled w...