United States or Comoros ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
You know Blanche Bramfell Viscountess Bramfell, sister to Lillian Astrupp." His words conveyed nothing to Loder, but he did not consider that. All explanations were irksome to him and he invariably chafed to be done with them. "And you've got to put in an appearance for party reasons?" Loder broke in. Chilcote showed relief. "Yes. Old Fraide makes rather a point of it so does Eve."
The thought of Lady Bramfell mingled disconcertingly with some other thought more distant and less easy to secure. "To obtain the best results," went on the seer, "the subject lays his uncovered hands outspread upon a smooth surface."
"You are exempt from all penalties to-night," she said. Then she turned to greet the members of his party who had strolled across from the window in his wake. As she moved aside Bramfell looked at Loder. "Well, Chilcote, have you dipped into the future yet?" he asked, with a laugh. Loder echoed the laugh but said nothing.
Watching her with interest, he saw the change of expression as her eyes turned from Eve to him, and noticed a colder tone in her voice as she addressed him directly. The observation moved him to self-assertion. "That's a poor compliment to me," he said "To be bored is surely only a polite way of being inane." Lady Bramfell smiled. "What!" she exclaimed. "You defending your social reputation?"
Blessington made a wry face "Something is on its way that's why I am on duty to-right. Old Bramfell and the pater are working it between them. So if Lady Bramfell or Lady Astrupp happen to drop a fan or a handkerchief this evening, I've got to be here to pick it up. See?" "As you picked up my fans and handkerchiefs last year and the year before?" Eve smiled.
As he gained her side, the little court about Lady Bramfell was left well in the rear, the great throng at the farther end of the room was not yet reached, and for the moment they were practically alone. There was a certain uneasiness in that moment of companionship. It seemed to him that Eve wished to speak, but hesitated.
Why, of course!" she said. "She should make a very beautiful seer. We are all quite curious." Bramfell pursed up his lips. "She has a very beautiful tent at the end of the conservatory. It took five men as many days to rig it up. We couldn't hear ourselves talk, for hammering. My wife said it made her feel quite philanthropic, it reminded her so much of a charity bazaar."
The conservatory was a feature of the Bramfell townhouse, and to Loder it came as something wonderful and unlooked-for with its clustering green branches, its slight, unoppressive scents, its temperately pleasant atmosphere. He felt no wish to speak as, still guided by Blessington, he passed down the shadowy paths that in the half-light had the warmth and mystery of a Southern garden.
He spoke fast and without much meaning, but his boyish voice eased the strain. Eve thanked him with a smile. "Then we mustn't interfere with a person on active service," she said. "Besides, we have our own duties to get through." She smiled again, and, touching Loder's arm, indicated the reception-rooms. When they entered the larger of the two rooms Lady Bramfell was still receiving her guests.
Everybody laughed; and at the same moment Blessington came quickly across the room and joined the group. "Hallo!" he said. "Anybody seen Witcheston? He's next on my list for the crystal business." Again the whole party laughed, and Bramfell, stepping forward, touched Blessington's arm in mock seriousness. "Witcheston is playing bridge, like a sensible man," he said. "Leave him in peace, Bobby."
Word Of The Day