United States or Bolivia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Having read Lashmar's letter, she brooded for a few minutes, then betook herself to the post-office, and telegraphed "Come at once." A few hours later she received a telegram informing her that Lashmar would reach Eastbourne at eleven o'clock on the next morning. At that hour, she waited in her lodgings on the sea-front. A cab drove up; Lashmar was shown into the room.
"It may be so. I had almost thought that how shall I express it?" Mrs. Toplady searched for a moment. "Perhaps Lady Ogram might have made a suggestion, which Mr. Lashmar, for some reason, did not feel able to disregard. He has quite a chivalrous esteem for Lady Ogram, haven't you noticed? I like to see it. That kind of thing is rare nowadays.
"I hope you will let me come and see you again, Mr. Blaydes," he exclaimed heartily, as he grasped the old man's hand. "Here you will commonly find me, Mr. Lashmar, after eight o'clock, and if you bear with my whimsies I shall thank you for your company. This ale, I try to believe, will last my time.
One of them is " She broke off, and rose from her chair. "Please wait; I will be back in a moment." Lashmar sat looking about the room. He began to be aware that he had not breakfasted, a physical uneasiness added to the various forms of disquiet from which his mind was suffering.
Lady Amys gave the signal of retirement; May and Constance followed; the baronet and the peer chatted for yet a few minutes with their hostess, then bade her good-night. But, just as he was leaving the room, Dymchurch heard Lady Ogram call his name; he stepped back towards her. "I forgot to tell you," she said, "that Mr. Lashmar will lunch with us the day after to-morrow.
And how many preachers of Socialism in this, that or the other form, had in truth the socialistic spirit? Lashmar, with his emphasis on the obligation of social service was he not simply an ambitious struggler and intriguer, careless of everything but his own advancement? Probably enough.
"What time is it?" broke in Lady Ogram. "Why doesn't that man come? What business has he to keep us waiting?" "It's only just half-past one," said Miss Bride. "Then he ought to be here." She turned to Lashmar. "I'm expecting a friend you've heard of Sir William Amys. How long are we to sit here waiting for him, I wonder?" "What do you think of Herbert Spencer, Mr. Lashmar?" inquired May.
After a brief silence, Lashmar told of the will as it concerned Constance Bride, insisting on the fact that she was a mere trustee of the wealth bequeathed to her. With a humorously doleful smile, he spoke of Lady Ogram's promise to defray his election expenses, and added that Miss Bride, in virtue of her trusteeship, would carry out this wish.
Lashmar durst not raise his eyes lest a gleam of joy should betray him. He knew now what he had so long desired to know. Six hundred a year; it was enough. "You are very kind. That relieves me. For two or three days I have been in despair. Yes, you shall hear all about it. I owe you the whole truth, for no one ever understood me as you did, and no one ever gave me such help of every kind.
She was perfectly calm, entirely herself, and, as Lashmar entered, she looked up with the usual smile. "Have you been out this afternoon?" he began by asking. "Yes. Why?" "You went on business of Lady Ogram's?" "Yes. Why?" Dyce gave no answer. He laid aside his hat and stick, sat down not far from Constance, and looked at her steadily. "I have something rather odd to say to you.
Word Of The Day