United States or Montserrat ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Has it come to that? when we used to make mudpies together! Dolores said that you " "Not so fast, Laffie!" called the girl, as she came dancing into the room in her most animated manner. "Don't forget I'm Miss Gantry now." Ashton continued to address Genevieve, without turning: "I came all the way down from Michamac just to congratulate you left my bridge!"
Lord James did not call upon Genevieve until late afternoon of the next day, and then he did not come alone. He had called first upon Mrs. Gantry and Dolores, who brought him on in their coupe. Genevieve came down to them noticeably pale and with dark shadows under her fine eyes, but her manner was, if anything, rather more composed than usual.
"Well, I never! indeed! When the fellow has neither character nor reputation!" "Dear auntie," soothed Genevieve, "I know you too well to believe you could intentionally harm any one." "I would do anything to save you from ruining your life!" exclaimed Mrs. Gantry, moved almost to tears.
"I didn't," Gantry denied, adding: "You may not realize it, but what you don't tell people about yourself would make a pretty big book if it were printed." Blount's smile was altogether friendly. "What's the use, Richard?" he asked. "The world has plenty of banalities and commonplaces without the adding of any man's personal contribution. Why should I bore you or anybody?"
Gantry left his chair and came to stand beside the quitter. "Honestly, Evan," he said slowly, "I thought you were a grown man. You'll forgive the mistake, won't you?" Blount turned upon his tormentor and swore pathetically. "What's the use what in the devil is the use?" he rasped, when the outburst began to grow measurably articulate.
Having been lost in the shuffle, as he expressed it, Blount made the most of these reflective excursions during the period of the box-party captivity. From the rising of the curtain to the going down thereof the Weatherfords, mother and daughter, kept him from exchanging so much as a word with Patricia, whom Gantry was shamelessly monopolizing.
Gantry smoked in silence for a little time. Then he said: "You can't do it, Evan. It's fine and glorious and heart-breaking, and all that; but you can't do it." "I can, and I will!" "I say you can't. I know a good bit more now than I knew this morning!" "Catalogue it," said Blount tersely. "Mr. McVickar came in on the noon train to-day, and I had an interview with him."
"You are always in time, Earl," she remarked. "We are just about to leave. May I ask if you have seen Dolores?" "Not a moment ago. I daresay she has gone for her wraps." "Huh! Ran off from you, eh?" bantered Mr. Leslie. "She's a coltish kitten. Didn't scratch, did she?" "She misses no opportunity for that, the hoyden!" put in Mrs. Gantry. "Ah, Earl, we are the last."
"Boston is all right when you know it or, rather, when it comes to know you," returned Blount, remembering that Boston or Cambridge which is Boston in the process of elucidation was the birth and dwelling place of Patricia. Gantry grinned broadly and lighted his cigar. "The 'effete East' has psychically and psychologically corralled you, hasn't it, Evan? to put it in choice Bostonese.
"You know what I mean. But I didn't think she'd behave in this dog-in- the-manger fashion. She might have at least given me a chance for a tete-a-tete with him, even if he is her hero." "I am only too well aware what Lord Avondale will think of you, going on in this silly way," observed Mrs. Gantry. "If Lord Avondale doesn't like me and my manners, he needn't. Need you, Mr. Scarbridge?"
Word Of The Day