Part 8 (1/2)
I think he might introduce us to some of his friends who _do_ know!
It's the literary people who interest me most. And the artists. It's too tiresome!”
”Keep calm, Sweet One! We'll ask him when he comes back, and,” Grizel smiled, a slow, sweet smile, ”_I_ might know one or two myself! If we sit here patiently, some one is sure to pa.s.s. I'll keep a bright look-out.”
”Oh, do! Yes, of course, you meet all kinds of people. I've lived in a rut. Grizel, do you know, I'm getting _tired_!”
The words were used in their deeper sense, and Grizel's long glance proclaimed her understanding. Grizel always _did_ understand, Katrine acknowledged ungrudgingly, but the deep, contemplative glance aroused a remembrance of the parting of the night before, and to her annoyance she felt the blood once more stain her cheeks. Now if Grizel proceeded to joke, question, insinuate, she felt she could _not_ endure it, but Grizel was silent, and spoke no word. They sat together for a long five minutes without exchanging a remark, then suddenly strolling towards them came a strikingly handsome woman followed at a few yards' distance by a man and a girl, evidently members of the same party, whom for the moment she chose to ignore. She wore a trailing gown of a deep rose pink, and over it a cloak of chiffon, elaborately embroidered in silks.
Her head was swathed in turban-like folds, on the front of which a diamond bosque held the end of a rampant plume. Her expression was as unusual as her appearance, the blankness on most of the pa.s.sing faces being replaced in her case by a radiant audacity which proved her to be no ordinary character. So striking and queenly a figure attracted instant attention, and Katrine's melancholy reflection that this _must_ be one of the many unrecognised celebrities, was followed by a thrill of joy, as Grizel rushed forward with friendly _empress.e.m.e.nt_.
”Grizel Dundas, by all that is charming! And who brought _you_ here, dear person?” enquired the tall lady warmly, at which question Grizel's eyes turned upon Katrine, with a twinkling gleam. One hand still rested on her friend's arm, pressing upon it as with a special significance; with the other she made a sweeping gesture of introduction.
”I drove over from c.u.mly. I am staying with my friends, the Martin Beverleys. Let me introduce you... This is Miss Beverley, and she has been lamenting all afternoon that she does not know Who's Who, and is surrounded by celebrities, whom she can't recognise. Now she's going to have a treat. Providence has been kind in sending you to our aid, for you are one of her special heroines. Prepare yourself, Katrine! You _are_ a lucky girl! If you've had to wait, you've got a big catch at the end... Guess what is the name of this fine, this very fine, this superfine lady whom you now behold before you.”
Katrine smiled, blushed, waited, agape with curiosity; so--it would have appeared to the eye of a beholder--did the superfine lady also. Grizel gave another sweep of the small gloved hand, and p.r.o.nounced a name in a tone of triumph:
”Mrs--Humphrey Ward!”
”Oh-h!” an irresistible exclamation burst from Katrine's lips, her att.i.tude became on the moment instinct with deference, with the most transparent and whole-hearted adulation. The lady on her part cast a rapid glance at Grizel, from Grizel to Katrine, simpered, att.i.tudinised, and gently coughed.
”So pleased!” she murmured softly. ”So happy; so _braced_! In the midst of this alien throng to meet a Kindred Soul,--that is refreshment indeed!” She held Katrine's hand between both of her own, gazing at her with a fond affection. ”Tell me, dear; I am so pining to know,--_which_ of my books do you cherish most?”
That ”cherish” struck a jarring note, but Katrine's answer came none the less promptly. She had no hesitation in p.r.o.nouncing her preference for _Eleanor_; it was her hearer who for a moment looked blank and vague.
”Ah-h!” she said thoughtfully, then with a sudden radiant smile, ”I call her Nellie! We mothers have pet names for our children. Dear little Nell! She was a sweet thing. Hard on her, wasn't it, while still so young? So dear of you to love her... Well, dear, I shall always remember you, and love you for your sweet sympathy. And you want my autograph, of course? Don't mind asking--I shall be only _too_ pleased!”
Katrine's flush deepened to rose. Bewilderment, embarra.s.sment, and a chilling disillusion seemed for the moment to have deprived her of speech. The gorgeous figure towered over her, the brilliant eyes blazed relentlessly upon her face. Grizel stood meekly in the background, her face all infantile sweetness.
”I,--thank you! I don't collect autographs, but I shall be--honoured to have yours. Miss Dundas can give you my address.”
”That's quite all right. I'll send it soon, with an appropriate quotation for your dear little alb.u.m. 'Be good, sweet maid, All lame dogs aid,' With best wishes from Nellie's Mother...”
She smirked once more. Katrine was breathlessly demanding of herself if this could indeed be the woman who had written such masterly books, when the girl who had been standing at a discreet distance during the short interview, came forward and spoke in an apologetic voice:--
”Mrs Singleton! I'm sorry, but father has an appointment to meet a friend in the rose garden, I'm afraid we must really move on.”
”Singleton... Incognito! The name she travels by, don't you know,”
naughty Grizel mumbled in explanation, as the little party turned away, but the truth burst upon Katrine in an all-illuminating flash, and she was not to be caught again.
”Grizel, you horror! To make me a laughing stock... What a fool she must have thought me, standing gaping with admiration! 'Nellie's Mother' indeed! An idol toppled at that moment. I _was_ disillusioned, but living in the same house with an author prepares one for so many eccentricities, that I still believed... Well! it came off very well that time, but don't try it again!”
Grizel continued to chuckle in soft, retrospective enjoyment.
”Oh, it was grand! Mrs Singleton is a capital actress, and she played up like a man. It _was_ delicious to see you standing there, all humility and adulation, such a douce, modest, young woman, burning incense to a master mind. If only that tiresome girl had not come up at the wrong moment, I might have faked all the wig bigs in turn, and had the time of my life!”
Katrine's lips twisted in an enigmatical smile. She was feeling gay and young; the p.r.i.c.kly dignity which had made her resent any approach to a joke at her own expense, had given place to a humorous enjoyment.
Mentally she stood beside Grizel, looking on at the little scene which had just been enacted, appreciating the alertness of Mrs Singleton, and enjoying the spectacle of her own credulity.
Meantime each pa.s.sing moment brought with it a fresh picture. Now it was a group of Chinamen, attired in the gorgeous colourings of the East, conversing with friendly cordiality with their black-coated friends; again it was a slender, dark-skinned woman, moving to the jingle of innumerable bangles, her timid eyes alight with childlike curiosity; anon, it was an ecclesiastic of the Church, or a group of court officials. The kaleidoscopic groups streamed in and out of the great house, pa.s.sing each other on the marble staircase of the terrace, while the strains of ma.s.sed bands sounded from a discreetly-arranged distance.
Presently Martin returned, and was duly regaled with an account of the Singleton episode, which being done Grizel laid upon him her own commands.