Part 26 (1/2)
”My dear Mr Lane, you don't even knohat I was going to say!”
”I think I do”
”Then you aren't very complimentary to Babs”
”I feel a certain responsibility towards her”
”You e Oakleigh? Well, in the dark ages, when I careat friends; ays have been; I've known him all my life, and his cousin married my poor brotherNeed I say that _quite_ a number of people? If they'd troubled to think for a ht have re like that never occurs to the to you like this?” she asked with a smile that sweetened the abruptness of her tone ”When I introduced the subject, you froze up so----”
”Can't you understand?” he interrupted ”I'm very fond indeed of Barbara, but if people talk like this”
”Don't mind what people say, Mr LaneI feel we--all the family--owe you such an enormous debt No one knoas the ht lose her Of course, she'd led rather a wild and wearing life since she was a child; suddenly she collapsed I do feel that you've saved her life, you know; she's the old, vital, irresistible Babs once ht her to take care of herself”
”The position is a little aard If people talk, if Lord Crawleigh----”
”I think he quite likes you,” Amy interrupted
Eric bowed and pretended for a e that Barbara's fortune was forfeit on the day when she married any one but a Catholic; if he had ever conte her, the fees from the ”Divorce” and ”The Bomb-Shell” would not keep thee had been inspired
”I always feel that Lord Crawleigh conde on day-to-day reprieves,” he said
”That's rather my uncle's manner He hasn't insulted you yet? He _will_”
”He's only seen ht I fancy he thinks I'm one of the footmen If I came to hier, you know----”
Amy tossed her head ienius or not, because I's But you'vecareer before you; and, so long as a entleman--by which I _don't_stand in the way--except religion, of course And I'm afraid that doesn't count very h she had already said too th
”I daresay you areYou see, I've never regarded Barbara as anything but a wonderful friend We casually dropped into an extraordinary intimacy----”
”It's been too easy, too casual!” she cried ”You've taken it as a matter of course Neither of you appreciate what you are to the other--I' fro, naturally, and I've hardly had tords with you until to-night----; if it had been less easy----”
”If your uncle had forbidden ested
”If either of you were in danger of losing the otherI wonder what you think of rateful”
The ave imitations of the various ministers whom he had served as private secretary Eric looked across the rooainst the piano She was better, happier; and he had grown to be very fond of her So long as theywhether he wanted to marry her It would be pleasant to drift; but, when the cloud of gossip and speculation penetrated into the heart of the Crawleighs' own hoer He could ask Barbara to raph in the press, ad that, he would have to say good-bye to her, though she had become so much a habit as almost to be part of his life
The imitations were succeeded by more music, and Eric threaded his way to the piano where Carstairs and Oakleigh were begging Barbara to sing
”Honestly, I've no voice to-night,” he heard her say
As he drew near, she seemed to feel his presence and turned with a quick se one?” he asked