Part 28 (2/2)
”Do you mind so much?” he asked.
”Oh, no; but mamma.”
”She didn't show me much consideration the last time we met.”
”I was very sorry for you,” she replied, ”but as it had to come I thought I was better out of the way.”
”Do you mean to say that you deliberately left me to my fate?”
”You mustn't be too hard on mamma. She wouldn't have thought she was doing right if she had not spoken.”
”But,” he continued relentlessly, ”you----”
”Oh! I----?”
”Yes, supposing I had--succ.u.mbed.”
She paused a minute, and then looked shyly up at him.
”In that case,” she began, when Mrs. Roberts rose, and gave the signal for the ladies to retire.
Stanley cursed the convention, yet perhaps it was fortunate, as the Dowager had been growing dangerously red and puffy in the face, owing to the fact that the two young people had, unconsciously, drawn closer together in the excitement of those unfinished words.
The cigars seemed interminable; but at last they were over, and the gentlemen were at liberty to seek the drawing-room.
There is generally a moment of indecision when the men come up from dinner. The ladies have appropriated the most comfortable and naturally the most isolated chairs, and their lords and masters huddle like sheep in the doorway, uncertain where to flee for refuge and the most desirable companion. The Secretary had studied this peculiarity of his s.e.x, and had learned to choose his goal beforehand. One glance showed him that Lady Isabelle was absent; either she had retired, her mother was quite capable of ordering her off to bed to keep her out of harm's way, or else she was in the conservatory. He trusted that this last supposition was correct, and disappeared among the palms, when the Marchioness' attention was directed elsewhere.
”And in that case?” he said, as he stood beside her, recalling her last words at the table. ”In that case?”
”In that case,” she replied, flus.h.i.+ng slightly, ”I should probably have said something I might have regretted, had not Mrs. Roberts come to my rescue.”
”And now?”
”Don't be stupid, Mr. Stanley. Surely you know that any well-brought-up girl would always obey her mother--and--and you ought to see that this conversation is impossible.”
”It's certainly unique.”
”Don't you think we had better change the subject?”
”By all means, if you wish it, after I've asked you one more question. I trust you won't think me rude to persist, but--do you care for me, Lady Isabelle?”
”As a friend, yes.”
”But in no other way?”
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