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Updated: May 9, 2025
Lady Grenside nodded several times. "I can't refuse Stephen in his own house," she said, "and Mr. Maraton is leaving to-morrow." The young man sighed. "He is just one of those thoughtful chaps with plenty of gas, that Elisabeth likes to talk to," he complained. "Never mind, it's got to be put up with, I suppose." "I am sending you in with Lily," Lady Grenside continued. "She'll keep you amused.
Her eyes were brilliant, her face was full of animation. Lady Grenside's face darkened as the unseen man came into sight. It was Maraton. "Never saw Elisabeth look so ripping," Carton repeated. "Just my luck, not to take her in." "To-morrow night," Lady Grenside promised. "That's all very well," Carton grumbled. "I wish she didn't look so thundering pleased with herself."
As soon as the service of luncheon was concluded, Lady Grenside rose. "I dare say we shall all meet again before you go," she said. "Coffee is being served to you in the library, Stephen. We won't say good-bye to anybody. Jack, don't forget that you are dining here to-night. You shall take in the blackest young lady I can pick out for you." Elisabeth followed her mother.
He gave at once the information required, speaking fluently and with the appreciative air of a connoisseur, of many of the pictures which were under discussion. Soon afterwards, Lady Grenside rose and the men drew up their chairs. The evening papers had arrived and there was a general air of seriousness. Mr.
Foley's there, a famous polo player and sportsman; Lord Carton, whose eyes seldom left Elisabeth's face; Sir William Blend, the great lawyer; Mr. Horrill and Lord Armley. These, with Elisabeth's mother and herself, made up the party. "I think I am going to bar politics," Lady Grenside said, as she took her place. "Impossible!" Mr. Foley retorted, in high good humour. "This is a political luncheon.
"We are going to talk about Universal Manhood Suffrage," he announced. "Scandalous," Elisabeth declared, "before we have our votes!" "Perhaps," Maraton suggested, "it was Universal Suffrage that Mr. Foley meant." "Including children and aliens," Lady Grenside remarked. "I am sure the children at the school I went over yesterday could have ruled the nation admirably.
Foley's eyes lit with joyful appreciation of his sister's naïveté. Perhaps one reason why they got on so well together was because she was continually ministering to his sense of humour. "It wasn't altogether that," he said, "but never mind. We can't send the people away now that's certain. What I wanted to tell you was that Elisabeth must sit next Maraton to-night." Lady Grenside was horrified.
Lady Grenside leaned a little towards him. "Elisabeth is a dear girl," she declared. "She is doing all this for her uncle's sake. Mr. Foley is very anxious indeed to conciliate this man, and Elisabeth is helping him. You know how keen she is on doing what she can in that way." Carton nodded a little more hopefully. His eyes were fixed now upon Maraton.
"Can't think how the fellow learnt to turn himself out like that. I thought these sort of people dressed anyhow." Lady Grenside shrugged her shoulders. "I believe," she said, "that this man is full of queer contradictions. Some one once told me that he was enormously wealthy; that he had been to an English public school and changed his name out in America.
Lady Grenside made a little grimace as she laid her fingers upon her brother's arm and pointed towards an empty settee close at hand. "Beautiful, yes," she sighed, "but oh, so difficult!" Almost at that moment, Elisabeth had paused on her way through the furthest of the three crowded rooms and Maraton, happening simultaneously to glance in her direction, their eyes met.
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