Part 31 (2/2)
”Please don't let's be clever any more,” said Lady Tanagra. ”It's affecting my brain. Now we will play bridge for a little while and then all go home and get to bed early.”
In spite of her protests Bowen insisted on seeing Patricia to Galvin House. For some time they did not speak. As the taxi turned into Oxford Street Bowen broke the silence.
”Patricia, my mother wants to know you,” he said simply.
Patricia s.h.i.+vered. The words came as a shock. They recalled the incident of her meeting with Bowen. She seemed to see a grey-haired lady with Bowen's eyes and quiet manner, too well-bred to show the disapproval she felt on hearing the story of her son's first meeting with his fiance. She shuddered again.
”Are you cold?” Bowen enquired solicitously, leaning forward to close the window nearest to him.
”No, I was thinking what Lady Meyfield will think when she hears how you made the acquaintance of--of--me,” she finished lamely.
”There is no reason why she should know,” said Bowen.
”Do you think I would marry----?” Patricia broke off suddenly in confusion.
”But why----?” began Bowen.
”If ever I meet Lady Meyfield I shall tell her exactly how I--I--met you,” said Patricia with decision.
”Well, tell her then,” said Bowen good-humouredly. ”She has a real sense of humour.”
The moment Bowen had uttered the words he saw his mistake. Patricia drew herself up coldly.
”It was rather funny, wasn't it?” she said evenly; ”but mothers do not encourage their sons to develop such acquaintances. Now shall we talk about something else?”
”But my mother wants to meet you,” protested Bowen. ”She----”
”Tell her the story of our acquaintance,” replied Patricia coldly. ”I think that will effectually overcome her wish to know me. Ah! here we are,” she concluded as the taxi drew up at Galvin House. With a short ”good night!” Patricia walked up the steps, leaving Bowen conscious that he had once more said the wrong thing.
That night, as Patricia prepared for bed, she mentally contrasted the Bowens' social sphere with that of Galvin House and she shuddered for the third time that evening.
”Patricia Brent,” she apostrophised her reflection in the mirror.
”You're a fool! and you have not even the saving grace of being an old fool. High Society has turned your giddy young head,” and with a laugh that sounded hard even to her own ears, she got into bed and switched off the light.
CHAPTER XIV
GALVIN HOUSE MEETS A LORD
The effect of _The Morning Post_ announcement upon Galvin House had been little short of sensational. Although all were aware of the engagement, to see the announcement in print seemed to arouse them to a point of enthusiasm. Everyone from the servants upwards possessed a copy of _The Morning Post_, with the single exception of Mrs. Barnes, who had mislaid hers and made everybody's life a misery by insisting on examining their copy to make quite sure that they had not taken hers by mistake.
Had not Patricia been so preoccupied, she could not have failed to notice the atmosphere of suppressed excitement at Galvin House. Many glances were directed at her, glances of superior knowledge, of which she was entirely unconscious. Woman-like she never paused to ask herself what she really felt or what she really meant. Her thoughts ran in a circle, coming back inevitably to the maddening question, ”What does he really think of me?” Why had Fate been so unkind as to undermine a possible friends.h.i.+p with that d.a.m.ning introduction? After all, she would ask herself indifferently, what did it matter? Bowen was nothing to her. Then back again her thoughts would rush to the inevitable question, what did he really think?
Since the night of her adventure, Patricia had formed the habit of dressing for dinner. She made neither excuse nor explanation to herself as to why she did so. Miss w.a.n.gle and Mrs. Mosscrop-Smythe, however, had covertly remarked upon the fact; but Patricia had ignored them. She had reached that state in her psychological development when she neither explained nor denied things.
With delicacy and insight Providence has withheld from woman the uncomfortable quality of introspection. Had Patricia subjected her actions to the rigid test of reason, she would have found them strangely at variance with her determination. With a perversity characteristic of her s.e.x, she forbade Bowen to see her, and then spent hours in speculating as to when and how he would disobey her. A parcel in the hall at Galvin House sent the colour flooding to her cheeks, whilst Gustave, entering the lounge, bearing his flamboyant nickle-plated apology for the conventional silver salver, set her heart thumping with expectation.
As the day on which Bowen was to dine at Galvin House drew near, the excitement became intense, developing into a panic when the day itself dawned. All were wondering how this or that garment would turn out when actually worn, and those who were not in difficulties with their clothes were troubled about their manners. At Galvin House manners were things that were worn, like a gardenia or a patent hook-and-eye.
<script>