Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 23, 2025
How pleased she had been to see him, and how she had enjoyed their little dinner. Next week would be something to look forward to. He would look out some of his work which he knew would interest her. After all, it had been she who had been the first person in the world to say a word of encouragement to him. In the hall of the club some one shouted that Drexley had been inquiring for him.
"Not altogether," Douglas answered, laughing. "Well, it isn't altogether a laughing matter," Drexley said, grimly. "I've got rid of my message. Now I'm going to speak to you on my own account. You're young and you haven't seen much of life. You are no more capable of understanding a woman like Emily de Reuss than you are of talking Hindustanee. For the matter of that neither am I, nor any of us.
I remember your story, for I put the blue chalk on it myself and took it up to Drexley. It is a meeting this, and we must celebrate. Your story will probably be used next week." Douglas's eyes were bright and his cheeks were flushed. The flavour of living was sweet upon his palate.
It was over. Then it chanced that Cicely came to me. She was sympathetic, bright, and cheerful. She made me forget for a little while my despair. I have always been fond of her, I think that she has always been fond of me. You know the rest." "You are going to marry Cicely Strong," Drexley said, slowly. "But you love Emily de Reuss?" Douglas winced. "I am afraid that you are right," he said.
They took up the thread of their conversation and it was the unexpected which intervened. Drexley relaxed still further; there was a quiet humour in everything he said; he took upon his shoulders the whole entertainment of the little party. The coming of Emily de Reuss might well have been a matter of indifference to him. With Douglas it was strangely different.
His coat was torn, his eyes seemed starting from his sockets, his breath reeked of brandy and his face was pale with passion. Opposite him was Douglas, his cheek bleeding from the sudden blow which Drexley had struck him, gazing with blank surprise at his late assailant.
The slouching figure which they had been watching had half collapsed against the railings. He was obviously overpowered with drink. "He was once like that," Drexley said, "as young and eager and confident as you. When she was first unkind, he laughed and tried a week in Paris. But he came back. Always there is the coming back.
You never went. So she wrote Drexley to give you no encouragement. It was your punishment. You were to go to her." "I don't believe it," Douglas declared hotly. "Then you don't believe me," Rice said quietly, "for on my honour I tell you that I have seen the letter." Douglas leaned his head upon his hand. "I'm sorry," he said, wearily. "I believe absolutely in you, but I believe also in her.
"Well once or twice," she admitted. "Any more dinner parties?" "We went to Richmond one afternoon. Mr. Drexley rows so nicely. He introduced me to his sister." "Never knew he had one," Douglas muttered. "Here we are. Come in and sit down while I change." Douglas was not long over his toilet. When he returned he was inclined to be thoughtful.
"Don't be too sure, Drexley," Douglas said, smiling. "The public must decide, you know. They may not like it as you do. A first-night audience takes strange whims sometimes." Drexley shook his head. "Disappointed playwrights may tell you so, but don't believe it," he answered. "A London audience as a rule is absolutely infallible. But then such a play as this lays itself open to no two opinions.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking