Part 26 (1/2)
”I hope better than you did that odious little widow. But she is well paid out.”
”Follow me to the riverside,” said Joseph; ”at 8.33 p.m. I am due there, and so is another--a lady.”
”And pray why did you not make her come here instead of lugging me all the way down there?”
”Because I could not make an appointment with a young lady in my bachelor's apartments.”
”That's all very fine. But I am there.”
”Yes, you--but you are only an imaginary character, and she is a substantial reality.”
”I think I had better accompany you,” said Lady Mabel.
”I think not. If your ladys.h.i.+p will kindly occupy my fauteuil till I return, that chair will ever after be sacred to me. Come along, Poppy.”
”I'm game,” said she.
On reaching the riverside Joseph saw that Miss Vincent was walking there in a listless manner, not straight, but swerving from side to side. She saw him, but did not quicken her pace, nor did her face light up with interest.
”Now, then,” said he to Poppy, ”what do you think of her?”
”She ain't bad,” answered the fict.i.tious character; ”she is very pretty certainly, but inanimate.”
”You will change all that.”
”I'll try--you bet.”
Asphodel came up. She bowed, but did not extend her hand.
”Miss Vincent,” said Joseph. ”How good of you to come.”
”Not at all. I could not help. I have no free-will left. When you wrote Come--I came, I could do no other. I have no initiative, no power of resistance.”
”I do hope, Miss Vincent, that the thing you so feared has not happened.”
”What thing?”
”You have not been snapped up by a fortune-hunter?”
”No. People have not as yet found out that I have lost my individuality.
I have kept very much to myself--that is to say, not to myself, as I have no proper myself left--I mean to the semblance of myself. People have thought I was anaemic.”
Leveridge turned aside: ”Well, Poppy!”
”Right you are.”
Leveridge waved his hand. Instantly all the inertia pa.s.sed away from the girl, she stood erect and firm. A merry twinkle kindled in her eye, a flush was on her cheek, and mischievous devilry played about her lips.
”I feel,” said she, ”as another person.”