Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 23, 2025
Aubrey smiled, surveying Ronnie's eager face with slow enjoyment. He was mentally recalling phrases from reviews he had written for various literary columns, on Ronnie's work. Already he began wording the terse sentences in which he would point out the feebleness and lack of literary merit, in "the strongest thing" Ronnie had done yet. It might be well to know something more about it.
Ronnie's nervous misery assumed a new importance; and, coupled with her own suspicions, filled her with a dismayed horror. The duchess's veiled jokes took point, and hurt. A sense of unprotected loneliness engulfed her. Every man became a prospective and dreaded suitor; every woman's remarks seemed to hold an innuendo. Her name in the papers distracted her.
Ronnie's love to-night was very wonderful. She moved towards the door, but paused in passing, to look into the smouldering embers of the fire. At that moment the clocks struck midnight. She heard the Westminster chimes, up on the landing. It was Christmas Day. "Unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given," murmured Helen.
He was gripping the neck of the 'cello. The strings were biting deep into the flesh of his finger-tips. He raised the bow and swept it across the strings. Low throbbing music filled the studio, and a great delight flooded Ronnie's soul. He dared not give conscious thought to that which he was doing; he could only go on doing it. He knew that he he himself was at last playing his own 'cello.
"Dry your eyes," he said, "and leave off crying, like a good child! Ronnie's at the club, and won't be home at present. I didn't know you were all alone, or I would have brought him along with me. That's better. Now, shall we make a move?" He slung his horse's bridle on his arm and, still supporting her with the other, began to walk down the stony road. Hope made no further protest.
The refreshment alcove, which was really a good-sized room, a sort of chapel-of-ease to the larger drawing-room, was already packed with a crowd who felt that they could best discuss Ronnie's triumph between mouthfuls of fruit salad and iced draughts of hock-cup.
I have seen many fine instruments in my time, West, but I am inclined to think your 'cello is the finest I have yet come across. Do you mind if I tune it, and try the strings?" Ronnie's pleasure and enthusiasm were easily rekindled. "Do," he said. "I am grateful. I do not even know the required notes." Aubrey, leaning forward, carefully lifted the instrument, resting it against his knees.
"Ronnie's mental condition is a perfectly amiable one, unless anything was said or done to cause him extreme provocation. In fact, he would not be easily provoked. He is inclined rather to take a maudlinly affectionate and friendly view of things and people; to be very simply, almost childishly, pleased with the last new idea. That wretched Infant of his is a case in point.
I should dearly have liked to wait and wring his neck on arrival, but naturally Ronnie's welfare came first. I could not catch the night boat at the Hague, but I dashed off via Brussels, crossed from Boulogne this morning, reached London forty minutes too late for the 3 o'clock train to Hollymead. There was no other until five, and that a slow one.
It was quite unusually considerate of Ronnie to curb the glowing words he must have longed to pour forth. The very effort of that curbing, had reduced him to a somewhat stilted adjective. So Helen finished her lonely breakfast with thoughts of glad anticipation. Ronnie's return was drawing so near. Only two more breakfasts without him.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking