Part 35 (1/2)

”James,” she began, ”Mr. Barnard says----”

But Milbanke's mind was elsewhere.

”My dear,” he said hurriedly, ”you must really excuse me. A man like Mr. Angelo Tombs is a personage of importance.”

”Yes; but, James----”

She paused, disconcerted. Milbanke had left the table.

For quite a minute she sat silent, her cheeks burning with a sudden sense of mortification and neglect. To a reasoning and experienced mind, the incident would have carried no weight; at most it would have offered grounds for a pa.s.sing amus.e.m.e.nt. But with Clodagh the case was different. Circ.u.mstances had never demanded the cultivation of her reason, and experience was an a.s.set she was not possessed of. To her sensitive, youthful susceptibilities, the incident could only wear one complexion. Her husband had obviously and wittingly humiliated her in presence of his friend.

She sat with tightened lips, staring unseeingly at the table.

Then suddenly and softly some one crossed the room behind her, and paused beside her chair. Turning with a little start, she saw the pale, clean-cut features and searching dark eyes of Valentine Serracauld.

”Mrs. Milbanke,” he said at once in his easy, ingratiating voice. ”If you are not doing anything else this evening, may I place my uncle's gondola at your disposal? Both he and I would be considerably honoured if you and your husband----”

Clodagh looked up into his face with a quick glance of pleasure and relief.

”Oh, thank you!” she said. ”Thank you so very much! I should love to come, only my husband is--is busy to-night.”

She paused; and in the pause Barnard leaned close to her again, with his most friendly and rea.s.suring manner.

”After all, Mrs. Milbanke,” he said, ”do you think that need preclude you from the enjoyment? James is perfectly happy; Lord Deerehurst's gondola is quite the most comfortable in Venice; and I'm sure _I'm_ staid enough to play propriety! Suppose we make a party of four?”

Serracauld laughed delightedly.

”How splendid!” he said. ”Mrs. Milbanke, may I find my uncle and bring him to be introduced?”

He bent forward quickly, leaning across Milbanke's empty chair.

For one second Clodagh sat irresolute; then she glanced swiftly from one interested, admiring face to the other, and again the blood rushed into her face in a wave of self-conscious pleasure.

”Yes,” she said softly--”yes. Bring your uncle to be introduced.”

CHAPTER IV

Serracauld smiled his acknowledgment of the granted permission, and departed in search of his uncle; while Barnard looked at Clodagh with amused interest.

”If you can waive your prejudices against the milk baths, Mrs.

Milbanke,” he said, ”you'll find old Deerehurst quite a delightful person. But, of course, when one is very young, prejudices are adhesive things.”

He finished his coffee meditatively, stealing a glance at her from the corner of his eye.

She remained silent for a moment, tentatively fingering her cup.

”Do I seem so very young?” she asked at last, without raising her eyes.