United States or Niue ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Their parting, if less passionate, was more tender than usual; and Roy rode away with a distinct ache in his heart at thought of losing her; a nascent reluctance to make mountains out of molehills in respect of her and Lance.... Riding back along the Mall, he noticed absently an approaching horsewoman, and recognised too late for escape Mrs Hunter-Ranyard.
Perhaps that was why he failed to escape Mrs Hunter-Ranyard, who skilfully annexed him in passing, and rained compliments on his embarrassed head. Fine horsemanship was common enough in India; but anything more superb ! Wide blue eyes and extravagant gesture expressively filled the blank. "My heart was in my mouth! That handkerchief trick is so thrilling.
But his satisfaction cooled at sight of Talbot Hayes by the mantelpiece, inclining his polished angularity to catch some confidential tit-bit from little Mrs Hunter-Ranyard. Of course that fellow would take her in. He, Roy, had no official position now; and without it one was negligible in Anglo-India. Besides, Mrs Elton openly favoured Talbot Hayes.
There went little Mrs Hunter-Ranyard, a fluffy pussy-cat person, with soft eyes and soft manners and claws. She was one of those disconnected wives whom he was beginning to recognise as a feature of the country: unobtrusively owned by a dyspeptic-looking Divisional Judge; hospitable and lively, and an infallible authority on other people's private affairs.