Part 26 (2/2)
”I did, the other day, in that drawing-room; but not in this. People are all kind in this.”
”You are right. Our hostess is most genial and sympathetic.”
”And the guests are nice, too,” said Prissie; ”at least, they look nice.”
”Ay, but you must not be taken in by appearances. Some of them only look nice.”
”Do you mean--” began Prissie in her abrupt, anxious voice.
Hammond took alarm. He remembered her peculiar outspokenness.
”I don't mean anything,” he said hastily. ”By the way, are you fond of pictures?”
”I have scarcely ever seen any.”
”That does not matter. I know by your face that you can appreciate some pictures.”
”But, really, I know nothing of art.”
”Never mind. If the painter who paints knows you----”
”The painter knows me? I have never seen an artist in my life.”
”Nevertheless, there are some artists in the world who have conceived of characters like yours. There are some good pictures in this house.
Shall I show you one or two?”
Prissie sprang to her feet.
”You are most kind,” she said elusively. ”I really don't know how to thank you.”
”You need not thank me at all; or, at any rate, not in such a loud voice, not so impressively. Our neighbors will think I have bestowed half a kingdom upon you.”
Prissie blushed and looked down.
”Don't be shocked, with me,” said Hammond. ”I can read your grateful heart. Come this way”
They pa.s.sed Maggie Oliphant and her two or three remaining satellites.
Prissie looked at her with longing and tripped awkwardly against her chair. Hammond walked past Maggie as if she did not exist to him.
Maggie nodded affectionately to Priscilla and followed the back of Hammond's head and shoulders with a supercilious, amused smile.
Hammond opened the outer drawing-room door.
”Where are we going?” asked Priscilla. ”Are not the pictures here?”
”Some are here, but the best are in the picture gallery-- here to the left and down these steps. Now, I'm going to introduce you to a new world.”
He pushed aside a heavy curtain, and Prissie found herself in a rather small room, lighted from the roof. It contained in all about six or eight pictures, each the work of a master.
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