Part 35 (1/2)
Pembroke's toes, you prophesy, and then you grow mysterious.”
My glance and Pembroke's met. He burst out laughing. A possible contretemps was averted by the approach of Mrs. Wentworth, who asked us to have a cup of chocolate before we went out into the chill air.
Finally we rose to make our departure. While Pembroke was bidding Ethel a good morning, Phyllis spoke to me.
”The last flowers you sent me were roses,” she said softly.
”Were they?” said I. ”I had forgotten. Shall I send you some for this evening?”
It was something in her eyes that I did not understand.
”Thank you, but Mr. Pembroke has promised to do that.” And then she added: ”So you have really had two romances?”
”Yes,” said I; ”and both ended badly.”
”Let us hope that the third will be of happier termination,” she smiled. The smile caused me some uneasiness.
”There never will be a third,” I said. ”It is strange, is it not, when you think that there might have been--but one? You will give me a waltz to-night?”
”With pleasure. Good morning.”
Pembroke and I pa.s.sed down the broad stairs. On the street we walked a block or so in silence.
Finally Pembroke said: ”What the deuce made you step on my foot? And why does she not want me to know that she was in Vienna last winter?”
”Because,” said I, ”Miss Landors never was in Vienna.”
”But, man, my eyes!”
”I do not care anything about your eyes.”
”What makes you so positive?”
”Knowledge.”
”Do you love her?” bluntly.
”No.”
”Because--?”
”There is another. Pembroke, to-night will be pregnant with possibilities. You will see the woman you love and the woman I love.”
”What do you mean?”
”Have you ever heard of her Serene Highness the Princess Hildegarde of Hohenphalia?”
”So high?”
”Yes.”