United States or Costa Rica ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Mary and Miss Vanderpoel were talking with a curious intimacy, in another part of the garden, where they were together alone, Sir Nigel having been reattached to Lady Alanby. "You have known Sir Thomas a long time?" Betty had just said. "Since we were children. Jane reminded me at the Dunholms' ball that she had played cricket with him when she was eight." "They have always liked each other?"
It pleased her to see that he did not hurry to his feet clumsily, but even stood upright, with a shade of boyish dignity, and did not release her hand before he had bent his head low over it again. Sir Nigel was bringing with him Lady Alanby, Mrs. Manners, and his wife, and when Betty met his eyes, she knew at once that he had not made his way to this particular garden without intention.
"Taken together they produce an effect that is somehow rather amazing," old Lady Alanby commented. "He is a magnificently built man, you know, and she is a magnificently built girl. Everybody should look like that. My impression would be that Adam and Eve did, but for the fact that neither of them had any particular character. That affair of the apple was so silly.
She was a great county potentate, who was known as Lady Alanby of Dole her house being one of the most ancient and interesting in England. "I am glad to see you here to-night," she said. "You are looking very nice. But you cannot help that." Betty asked permission to present her sister and brother-in-law.
It was an outburst of eloquence, and she took it in the prettiest way with the prettiest laugh, which had in it no touch of mockery or disbelief in him. "What I have said is quite final if Lady Alanby should inquire," she said adding rather quickly, "Someone is coming."
"Jane," she said, "are you SUFFERING about Tommy?" "Yes, I am. Oh, what a question to ask in a ballroom! Do you want me to burst out crying?" "No," sharply, "look at the Prince. Stare at that fat woman curtsying to him. Stare and then wink your eyes." Lady Alanby was talking about Mount Dunstan. "Lord Dunholm has given us a lead. He is an old friend of mine, and he has been talking to me about it.
And she did, as a year ago she had not known she could. "Is it Lady Alanby?" she ventured. "Yes. Tommy will be helplessly poor if she does not leave him her money. And she won't if he makes her angry. She is very determined. She will leave it to an awful cousin if she gets in a rage. And Tommy is not clever. He could never earn his living. Neither could Jane. They could NEVER marry.
You will be whirled about in a vortex, and people will sit on the edge, and cast big strong lines, baited with the most glittering things they can get together. You won't be able to get away. Lady Alanby knows there would be no chance for Tommy then. It would be too idiotic to expect it. He must make his try now."
It was wonderfully well done. Apparently there had been no past at all. All began with this large young man, who, despite his Viking type, really looked particularly well in evening dress. Lady Alanby held him by her chair for some time, openly enjoying her talk with him, and calling up Tommy, that they might make friends. After a while, Betty said to herself, he would come and ask for a dance.
I am easily frightened and Lady Alanby will think we are conspirators." For an instant he was taken by surprise. He had been pleased to believe that there was no way in which she could defend herself, unless she would condescend to something stupidly like a scene. He flushed and drew himself up.
Word Of The Day