Part 56 (1/2)
”Would it?” he murmured rather dubiously and smiling. ”Well--I shall be quite contented if you will talk to me, Lady Errington!”
”Ah, but I am not at all clever in conversation,” responded Thelma quite seriously. ”I am sure you, as well as many others, must have noticed that. I never do seem to say exactly the right thing to please everybody. Is it not very unfortunate?”
He laughed a little. ”I have yet to learn in what way you do not please everybody,” he said, dropping his voice to a low, caressing cadence.
”Who, that sees you, does not admire--and--and love you?”
She met his languorous gaze without embarra.s.sment,--while the childlike openness of her regard confused and slightly shamed him.
”Admire me? Oh yes!” she said somewhat plaintively. ”It is that of which I am so weary! Because G.o.d has made one pleasant in form and face,--to be stared at and whispered about, and have all one's dresses copied!--all that is so small and common and mean, and does vex me so much!”
”It is the penalty you pay for being beautiful,” said Sir Francis slowly, wondering within himself at the extraordinary incongruity of a feminine creature who was actually tired of admiration.
She made no reply--the wheel went round faster than before. Presently Lennox set aside his emptied cup, and drawing his chair a little closer to hers, asked--
”When does Errington return?”
”I cannot tell you,” she answered. ”He said that he might be late. Mr.
Neville is with him.”
There was another silence. ”Lady Errington,” said Sir Francis abruptly--”pray excuse me--I speak as a friend, and in your interests,--how long is this to last?”
The wheel stopped. She raised her eyes,--they were grave and steady.
”I do not understand you,” she returned quietly. ”What is it that you mean?”
He hesitated--then went on, with lowered eyelids and a half-smile.
”I mean--what all our set's talking about--Errington's queer fancy for that actress at the Brilliant.”
Thelma still gazed at him fixedly. ”It is a mistake,” she said resolutely, ”altogether a mistake. And as you are his friend, Sir Francis, you will please contradict this report--which is wrong, and may do Philip harm. It has no truth in it at all--”
”No truth!” exclaimed Lennox. ”It's true as Gospel! Lady Errington, I'm sorry for it--but your husband is deceiving you most shamefully!”
”How dare you say such a thing!” she cried, springing upright and facing him,--then she stopped and grew very pale--but she kept her eyes upon him. How bright they were! What a chilling pride glittered in their sea-blue depths!
”You are in error,” she said coldly. ”If it is wrong to visit this theatre you speak of, why are you so often seen there--and why is not some harm said of _you_? It is not your place to speak against my husband. It is shameful and treacherous! You do forget yourself most wickedly!”
And she moved to leave the room. But Sir Francis interposed.
”Lady Errington,” he said very gently, ”don't be hard upon me--pray forgive me! Of course I've no business to speak--but how can I help it?
When I hear every one at the clubs discussing you, and pitying you, it's impossible to listen quite unmoved! I'm the least among your friends, I know,--but I can't bear this sort of thing to go on,--the whole affair will be dished up in the society papers next!”
And he paced the room half impatiently,--a very well-feigned expression of friendly concern and sympathy on his features. Thelma stood motionless, a little bewildered--her head throbbed achingly, and there was a sick sensation of numbness creeping about her.
”I tell you it is all wrong!” she repeated with an effort. ”I do not understand why these people at the clubs should talk of me, or pity me.
I do not need any pity! My husband is all goodness and truth,”--she stopped and gathered courage as she went on. ”Yes! he is better, braver, n.o.bler than all other men in the world, it seems to me! He gives me all the joy of my life--each day and night I thank G.o.d for the blessing of his love!”
She paused again. Sir Francis turned and looked at her steadily. A sudden thought seemed to strike her, for she advanced eagerly, a sweet color flus.h.i.+ng the pallor of her skin.