United States or Madagascar ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Everything in the house was solid and prosperous, as befitted a family who had had few reverses and sufficient perspicacity to marry a rich heiress now and then at right moments in their history. This early Georgian house had been in the then Lady Bracondale's dower, and still retained its fine carvings and Old-World state.
For the time being she raised her eyes and looked into Lord Bracondale's, and something told her they were the nicest eyes she had ever seen in this world. Then when a voluble French count had rushed up, with garrulous apologies for being late, the party was complete, and they swept into the restaurant.
"Oh yes," said Theodora; "you have guessed well this time." "Then here we are, almost arrived," he said, presently. They had been going very fast, and could see the square, white house in front of them, and when they alighted at the gates she found the guardian was an old friend of Lord Bracondale's, and they were left free to wander alone in the rooms between the batches of tourists.
There was not above two years' difference between her age and Lady Bracondale's; indeed, the latter had been one of her bridesmaids; but no one to look at them at a distance could have credited it for a minute. Lady Harrowfield had golden hair and pink cheeks, and her embonpoint retained in the most fashionable outline.
The Count took all ups and downs as of the day's work, sure of a good breakfast, sooner or later, unpaid for by himself. And Lord Bracondale's thoughts ran somewhat thus: "She is even more beautiful in daylight than at night. She can't be more than twenty what a skin! like a white gardenia petal and, good Lord, what a husband! How revolting, how infamous!
"How shall I see her again?" was all the thought which ran in Lord Bracondale's head. "She won't be at a ball, but she might chance to have thought of the opera. It would be a place Mr. Brown would like to exhibit her at. I shall certainly go." Lady Anningford was tucked up on a sofa in her little sitting-room when her brother arrived at her charming house in Charles Street.
I must find out her name." "She is a beautiful creature," said Jack Ellerwood, as if to himself, while he carefully surveyed Theodora from his position at the side of the table. Hector Bracondale's irritation rose. Relations were tactless, and he felt sorry he had asked them. "You must tell me her name, Hector," pleaded Mrs. Ellerwood; "the very white, pretty one I mean."
Lord Bracondale's conversation pleased her. He seemed to understand exactly what she wanted to talk about; he saw all the things she saw and he had read Jean d'Agrève! they got to that at the end of the first half-hour, and then she froze up a little; some instinct told her it was dangerous ground, so she spoke suddenly of the weather, in a banal voice.
They talked on for about ten minutes before he left her to dress, running against Streatfield in the passage. She had known him since his birth, and beamed with joy at his return. He chaffed her about growing fat, and went on his way to telephone to his sister. "His lordship looks pale, my lady," said the demure woman, as she fastened Lady Bracondale's bracelet.
He used great tact he turned the conversation to Anne and the children, and then to Lady Bracondale and Hector's home, all in a casual, abstract way, and he told her of Lady Bracondale's great love for her son, and of her hopes that he would marry soon, and how that Hector would be the last of his race for Evermond Le Mesurier did not count and many little tales about Bracondale and its people.
Word Of The Day