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"I fancied perhaps you might feel that our Society -hers is an unsatisfactory profession for young girls!" Cecilia saw the back of Hilary's neck grow red. She turned her head away. "Of course, there are many very nice models indeed," said the voice of Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace.
He had felt from the beginning that he was so much more the man to deal with an affair like this than poor old Hilary. When, therefore, Thyme put her head into his study and said, "Father, Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace!" he had first thought, 'That busybody! and then, 'I wonder perhaps I'd better go and see if I can get anything out of her.
He was also temperamentally distrustful of anything too feminine; and Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace was undoubtedly extremely feminine. Her merit, in his eyes, consisted of her attachment to Societies. So long as mankind worked through Societies, Stephen, who knew the power of rules and minute books, did not despair of too little progress being made.
When they had purchased a postal order for ten shillings, placed it in the envelope addressed to Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace, and passed the hundred doors of Messrs. Rose and Thorn, Martin said: "I'm going to see what that precious amateur has done about the baby. If he hasn't moved the girl, I expect to find things in a pretty mess." Thyme's face changed at once.
Balladyce prevented her from moving far, however, and the voice of Mrs. Smallpeace travelled to her ears. "I was talking about that little model. It was so good of you to take such interest in the girl. I wondered whether we could do anything for her." Cecilia's hearing was too excellent to miss the tone of Hilary's reply: "Oh, thank you; I don't think so."
Stephen consulted Cecilia with one of those masculine half-glances so discreet that Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace intercepted it without looking up. She found it rather harder to catch Cecilia's reply, but she caught it before Stephen did. It was, 'You'd better wait, perhaps, conveyed by a tiny raising of the left eyebrow and a slight movement to the right of the lower lip.
"Poor old chap! he's so rococo...." "There's a new man. "She's very sympathetic. "But the condition of the poor.... "Is that Mr. Balladyce? Oh, really. "It gives you such a feeling of life. "Bourgeois!..." The voice of Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace broke through: "But do please tell me who is that young girl with the young man looking at the picture over there. She's quite charming!"
The young girl wore a blue-green frock. Her face was charming, with eager, hazel-grey eyes, a bright colour, and fluffy hair the colour of ripe nuts. "That's your sister's picture, 'The Shadow, they're looking at, isn't it?" asked Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace. "I remember seeing it on Christmas Day, and the little model who was sitting for it an attractive type!
I've been meaning to come and see you for quite a long time, but I know you're always so busy." With doubting eyes, half friendly and half defensive, as though chaffing to prevent herself from being chaffed, Cecilia looked at Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace, whom she had met several times at Bianca's house.
A little surprised at herself, Cecilia answered "Too much for me!" Mrs. Tallents Smallpeace smiled. "I mean in art and social questions. Surely one can't be too interested in them?" Cecilia said rather hastily: "Oh no, of course not." And both ladies looked around them. A buzz of conversation fell on Cecilia's ears. "Have you seen the 'Aftermath'? It's really quite wonderful!"
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