Part 10 (1/2)
II
Dalton found them all at dinner when he reached Huntersfield. He was not in the least prepared for the scene which met his eyes--s.h.i.+ning mahogany, old silver and Sheffield, tall white candles, Calvin in a snowy jacket, Mrs. Beaufort and Mrs. Paine in low-necked gowns, the Judge and Randy in dinner-coats somewhat the worse for wear, Becky in thin, delicate blue, with a string of pearls which seemed to George an excellent imitation of the real thing.
He had thought that the trail of Mrs. Paine's boarding-house might be over it all. He had known boarding-houses as a boy, before his father made his money. There had been bas.e.m.e.nt dining-rooms, catsup bottles, and people pa.s.sing everything to everybody else!
”I'm afraid I'm early,” he said in his quick voice.
”Not a bit. Calvin, place a chair for Mr. Dalton.”
There were fruit and nuts and raisins in a great silver epergne, with fat cupids making love among garlands. There was coffee in Sevres cups.
Back among the shadows twinkled a priceless mirror; shutting off Calvin's serving table was a painted screen worth its weight in gold.
It was a far cry from the catsup bottles and squalid service of George's early days. The Bannisters of Huntersfield wore their poverty like a plume!
The Judge carried Dalton off presently to the Bird Room. George went with reluctance. This was not what he had come for. Becky, slim and small, with her hair peaked up to a topknot, Becky in pale blue, Becky as fair as her string of imitation pearls, Becky in the golden haze of the softly illumined room, Becky, Becky Bannister--the name chimed in his ears.
Dalton had had some difficulty in getting away from Hamilton Hill.
”It's my last night,” Madge had said; ”shall we go out in the garden and watch the moon rise?”
”Sorry,” George had told her, ”but I've promised Flora to take a fourth hand at bridge.”
”And after that?” asked Madge softly.
”What do you mean?”
”Who is the new--little girl?”
It was useless to pretend. ”She's a beauty, rather, isn't she?”
”Oh, Georgie-Porgie, I wish you wouldn't.”
”Wouldn't what?”
”Kiss the girls--and make them--cry----”
”You've never cried----”
She laughed at that. ”If I haven't it is because I know that afterwards you always--run away.”
He admitted it. ”One can't marry them all.”
”I wonder if you are ever serious,” she told him, her chin in her hand.
”I am always serious. That's what makes it interesting----”
”But the poor little--hearts?”
”Some one has to teach them,” said George, ”that it's a pretty game----”
”Will it be always a game--to you--Georgie?”
”Who knows?” he said. ”So far I've held trumps----”