Part 10 (1/2)
The latter proceeded toto stay the evening, equally of course e sat down to table he must needs plant hi that kept hi himself to allow the attention of any one else in the room to stray for many moments from himself, and as usual the conversation consisted of Trask, with an occasional monosyllable of assent or dissent interjected elsewhere So hidebound was the self-coe found it profitless to cheek hie I am bound to say he tried his level best
”What stay are youthe conversation
Now this sort of query propounded to a guest right in the eye of his entertainers has always struck me as the very ac an acquaintance of twentyis more common to encounter than both forms of foolishness But before I could frame an adequate reply Brian answered forto put hi to fix up in this country then?”
I nodded, for I could not speak I had just caught Brian's eye, and the expression therein was too s I should have exploded had I attempted speech, for the blank astonishment on Trask's face was too comical He looked about as happy under the announceun to open fire upon hi about ”the enuine expression of sentiment in the present instance
”Pass the quince jam, please, Kenrick”
Clear and unconcerned rose Iris' voice Every one stared, while Brian eetting on,” he said
The little girl grinned withtwo extreht,” she said ”We've arranged all that He'sbrother now, hey, Kenrick?”
”Why, certainly,” I confirravely, but with more inward merriment over Trask's expression of countenance Indeed, the possible implication conveyed by the statement was calculated to evolve some sensation all round Even Brian looked puzzled for a moment, but only for a moment
”And when did you confer that supreme honour upon hiood a chap to go onhim,”
answered this impudent child, with a decisive nod of her pretty head
”Anyhoe're not going to do it, are we, Beryl?”
”I say, Iris, you'reme blush like theto know that one's trumpeter isn't dead”
”Ha-ha-ha! May I ask, Miss Matterson, whether you are included in this newly formed--ha--fraternity?” said Trask in his most asinine tones; but then he was always a tactless fool
”Call it the Confraternity of the shi+pwrecked Mariners,” said Brian, possibly in order to save Beryl the trouble of answering the idiotic question And as though to render the diversion roan escaped from the master of the house at the other end of the table
”Why, what is it, father?” cried Beryl, half starting up in alar, dear Only this confounded rheue than usual--couldn't help singing out Must have caught a chill on top of it”
”Father, you o to bed at once,” said Beryl decisively ”Brian and I will coht everybody Trask, you'll excusebut well, and his early retire from Trask's point of view, especially as Beryl was out of the roo after her father
Moreover, Trask prided his, which he accoive the devil his due, uncommonly well But under the circumstances there was no deht, and it was rather earlier than usual e found ourselves alone together, he and I, for he had needed no pressure to be induced to stay the night, and had been allotted a shakedown in the same room with me
Now, Trask was one of those men--of whom there are plenty, and woallery to play to; in a word, Trask alone with one was entirely different to Trask showing off before a crowd, and in fact ht have been taken for an ordinarily decent fellow, before you beca you in ould see conversation or discussion, only to reproduce with variations any idea you ht so have expressed, in order to turn you into ridicule when he should next get an audience But I, who had already experienced this idiosyncrasy, confined conversation with its exploiter to the uished Trask was asleep, and I was just drowsing off, when a tap at the door and Brian's voice started ?” I said
”Wrong? Yes, verya ht my candle
CHAPTER TWELVE