Part 3 (2/2)
Jan Cuxson made a movement to end a situation which was bordering on cruelty when Lady Hetth antic.i.p.ated him with her customary dire tactlessness.
”There now, Leonie! _Now_ perhaps you'll be satisfied. Give Mr.
Cuxson a kiss and say thank you nicely!”
Leonie would have cheerfully put her hand in the fire to serve this wonderful being who royally distributed gifts, and _live_ ones at that, and only hesitated for the barest fraction of a second before, her face suffused with crimson, she walked up to him.
”Of course if--if you want me to--I'll--I'll kiss you,” she said heroically, unconsciously squeezing the puppy under the stress of the awful moment until it yelped, ”but I'd--I'd wather----” She stopped and looked up hurriedly into the understanding face of the elder man.
He nodded as he caught her eye so that she finished all in a hopeful burst.
”But I'd wather not if you don't mind!”
Lady Hetth frowned and put out her hand, murmuring something about really having to go.
”I'll send for her and Nannie, Lady Hetth. And keep her out of doors as much as possible. Why don't you take her to the Zoo this afternoon?”
”I couldn't _possibly_!” came the prompt and irritable reply.
”What about me!” interrupted Jan Cuxson. ”Eh! kiddie? You and I riding big, fat elephants at the Zoo!”
”_You_--and _Jingles_--and _me_!” said Leonie, disengaging her hand from her aunt's. ”And you,” she said sweetly, laying it on the elder man's coat sleeve.
Heaven had opened wide its gates and she was for pulling everybody in with her, and her eyes danced, and so did her patent shod feet on the rug.
”It's _too_ kind of you, Jan!” broke in her aunt. ”I really don't like to let you waste your time with a child!”
”Not at all, Lady Hetth! I love kids--and the Zoo. Where shall I bring her to afterwards?”
”Oh! Yes! bring her to the Ladies' Union Club where I am staying. No!
you'd better take her to her Nannie as they don't allow children in the Club, thank goodness. They are staying in York Street, Baker Street, quite convenient for you.”
She trailed through the door as she spoke, pouring out a cascade of vapid thanks and announcing also that she had shopping to do at Debenham and Freebody's.
She hadn't, she was going to catch an omnibus in Cavendish Square, being of those who, blindly extravagant in most things, think they economise when spoiling their clothes and temper in a penny ha'penny bus, instead of keeping both unruffled in a taxi, at two s.h.i.+llings.
Ellen, returning later triumphantly with a taxi, held wide the door, a wide and loving smile across her plain face.
”You come too, Sir,” said Jan Cuxson. ”Do you heaps of good to ride an elephant!”
”I only wish I could, boy,” said the man as he laid one hand on the shoulder of the son he loved, and the other on Leonie's head. ”But I've much to do in that opium case, and I'm dining out, and shall read a bit when I get back----”
”And I'm dining out too, more's the nuisance, otherwise I could help.
Sure to be awfully late as it's a farewell dinner to a fellow at the hospital----”
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