United States or Ecuador ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Into Olga's face of flushed remonstrance there had flashed a very strange look, almost a petrified look, as if she had suddenly come upon a snake in her path. "Why?" she said quickly. "Oh, never mind why," said Max, passing rapidly on. "That wasn't the point. We were trying to picture Hunt-Goring's amusement. He stands about seven feet high, doesn't he?
"But you must give," he said. "Very well," she said again. "It it will be the last!" "Will it?" he questioned, pausing. "In that case, I feel almost inclined to postpone the pleasure, particularly as " "Don't torture me!" she said in a whisper half choked. Her eyes were tightly shut; but Hunt-Goring's were looking over her head, and a sudden gleam of malicious humour shone in them.
Of course you realize how completely my wiles have been thrown away on him. I declare I was never so humiliated in my life. However, I daresay I shall get over it. If I don't, I shall take refuge in Hunt-Goring's harem. Good gracious! What now?" A smart rap at the door had interrupted her plans for her future. She sprang off the end of Olga's bed, and stood poised on one foot, listening.
Max made no further comment of any sort, but Olga was aware of his green eyes studying her closely. Like Noel she avoided them. She shook hands hurriedly with Will, and went out to Nick and Daisy. As Max turned to follow her, she heard Hunt-Goring's smiling voice behind him. "Good-bye, Dr. Wyndham! Delighted to have met you again you and your fiancée.
That loosed the devil in Noel at last. He took a swift step forward. His right hand gripped his riding-whip. "If you ever go near her again," he said, "I'll break every bone in your body! You liar you damned blackguard you cur!" Full into Hunt-Goring's face he hurled his furious words. He was more angry in that moment than he had ever been in his life.
"It's rather a hole of a place, though I liked The Warren well enough. I'm not going back there. You can tell Olga so with my love." "She and Nick are dining here to-night," observed Daisy, "so you will be able to tell her yourself." "What! To meet me!" It was Hunt-Goring's turn to look surprised. He did so with an accompanying sneer. "How did you describe me, I wonder?
He opened the door as he spoke, and Olga passed out, uncertain whether to be glad or sorry that she had brought herself to speak. She went upstairs to Violet and acquainted her with the fact of Major Hunt-Goring's presence and its cause. "I do wish Nick had been here," she said in conclusion. "He may elect to stay for ever so long. I don't know what we shall do with him."
I generally do sleep after Hunt-Goring's cigarettes. But to-night I couldn't. They only seemed to make things worse." She sat down abruptly on the edge of the bed. "Don't cuddle me, Allegro! I'm so hot." Olga leaned back on her pillows, with a curious sense of something gone wrong. "Shall I light a candle?" she said. "No. It's light enough. I hate an artificial glare, Allegro!"
"No half-measures, mind! Just the whole truth!" And Olga stumbled on. She repeated with quivering lips Hunt-Goring's story of the taint in Violet's blood, of the tragedy that had preceded her birth. "Nick," she said, turning piteous eyes upon his face, "I know it must be partly true, but do you think it is really quite as bad as that? I believed it at the time. But but perhaps "
An involuntary exclamation of dismay escaped her, an inarticulate sound that seemed physically wrung from her; and then, without a second glance, ignominiously she turned and fled. The sound of Hunt-Goring's oily laugh followed her as she went, and added speed to her flying feet.
Word Of The Day