Part 19 (1/2)
”She must have come in while I was upstairs inquiring about Edith,”
madam observed. ”I must find my brother, and be presented to her.
Excuse me--I will see you later.”
With a graceful obeisance, madam turned away and went in search of Emil Correlli.
But, as she went, she wondered if she could ever have seen Mrs.
Stewart before.
The woman's face seemed strangely familiar to her, and yet she could not remember having met her before.
The sensation was something like those mysterious occurrences which sometimes make people feel that they are but a repet.i.tion of experiences in a previous state of existence.
The stranger was an undeniably handsome woman. She was more than handsome, for there was a sweet grace and influence about her every movement and expression that proclaimed her to be a woman of n.o.ble and lovely character.
She was a woman to be singled out from the mult.i.tude on account of the taste and elegance of her costume, as well as for her great personal beauty.
”She cannot have less than fifty thousand dollars' worth of diamonds on her person,” murmured Anna G.o.ddard, with a pang of envy, as she covertly watched her strange guest while she made her way through the throng in search of her brother.
She met him near the door, he having just come in from the house, to excuse himself to his sister, after having been to Edith's door for the sixth time to inquire for her.
His face was pale, his brow gloomy, his eyes heavy with anxiety.
”Well, how is she now?” questioned his sister.
”She has fallen into her third swoon, and the doctor thinks she is in a very critical state. He says her condition must have been induced by a tremendous shock of some kind.”
”Ah!” exclaimed Mrs. G.o.ddard, looking relieved. ”Judging from that, I should say that the girl has not yet revealed the true state of affairs.”
”No; Dr. Arthur did not appear to know how to account for her condition, and asked me if I knew anything that could have caused it.”
”Of course, you did not?” said madam, meaningly.
”No; except the excitement, etc., of the occasion.”
”Well, don't worry,” Mrs. G.o.ddard returned; ”everything will come out all right in time. It is a great piece of luck that she did not wail and rave and let out the whole story before the doctor and the maids.
Your Mrs. Stewart is here--you must come and greet her and introduce me,” she concluded, glancing toward her guest as she spoke.
”I was coming to tell you that I am going to my room and to bed--I have no heart for any gayety to-night,” said Emil Correlli, gloomily.
”Nonsense! don't be so absurdly foolish, Emil,” responded his sister, impatiently.
”Indeed! I think it would be improper for me to remain when my wife is so ill,” he objected, but flus.h.i.+ng as he uttered the word.
”Well, perhaps; do as you choose. But come and introduce me to Mrs.
Stewart before you go; she must feel rather awkward to be a guest here and not know her hostess.”
CHAPTER XV.