Part 9 (1/2)
She shook hands and waited for Eric to introduce Grierson
”You're interrupting an important discussion, Lady Barbara”
”Is it about your new play? Oh, then I can help! But, if you kne hungry I was----”
”They're expecting you to lunch at home,” Eric interrupted ”You told me you had a party”
”But I've just telephoned to say that I've been invited to lunch here!
I've burnt your boats Father was perfectly furious, becausewith Connie Maitland, and he counted on h”
As she smiled at Eric with her head on one side, he realized that as over for the h for four,” he answered
”Then for goodness' sake let's begin before any one else turns up unexpectedly!” she cried, catching hi him to the door
Grierson and Manders sar-ash fro the back of their hair
2
Elation battled with annoyance in Eric's ht hie Oakleigh, undisguisedly in love with her--ht have been preferred to him; but he was offended by her proprietory attitude towards his work and life Manders would have the whole story, too, helped out with first-rate h the Thespian Club by dinner-tih all of the London that knew him and half of the London that knew her; and Eric Lane would be quoted as the latest foil or companion in the latest Barbara Neave story One did not even want the girl to befor Manders'
wit
The luncheon, Eric observed morosely, was cheaply successful, for Barbara talked with barely concealed desire to lay Grierson and Manders under her spell By intuition or accident she gave them what tickled their interest most keenly--intimate stories about herself or her friends, the proved history of what to theossip, anecdotes of Government House and the minor secrets and scandals of her father's three ternity of a girl, as after all the daughter of a distinguished for herself and her friends so freely
They had lost count of time when Grierson looked furtively at his watch and juetically to his feet As he hurried out of the rooain asked Eric whether he had a rehearsal that day
”Because I want to coly, with her head on one side
Her eyes were dark and tired after her overnight excite; and for a ot to be irritated and only saw her as a child whoracious to disappoint Then he reetting her oay had caused her cavalier of the day to wait in his car frootten to leave a one hoy from Barbara Triu and valued nothing; aallowed to fall in love with her
”I'm afraid rehearsals aren't open to the public,” he told her, brusquely enough to dismiss the appeal, he hoped, but not so brusquely as to hurt her
She looked at hilint of defiance which he had seen once before; then she turned to Manders
”Please, I want to coed ”It's your theatre, Mr Manders”
”It'senough to say:
”I was asking Mr Manders”
”But it happens that I also----”
Manders intervened with a clucking noise of the tongue
”Keep the ring, keep the ring!” he cried ”You got out o' bed the wrong side, Eric boy Don't quarrel, do-ant quarrel! If Lady Barbara wants to coainst the rules, but I'll lowing smile ”You'll be bored, my dear, I warn you”