Part 73 (2/2)
”Exactly; but the point's whether you'll allow her to remain, isn't it?”
Nick looked slightly mystified. ”Why shouldn't she do as she likes?”
”In that case she'll probably go.”
”Yes, unless she stays.”
”Don't let her,” Peter dropped; ”send her away.” And to explain this he added: ”It doesn't seem exactly the right sort of thing, fresh young creatures like Bid meeting _des femmes de theatre_.” His explanation, in turn, struck him as requiring another clause; so he went on: ”At least it isn't thought the right sort of thing abroad, and even in England my foreign ideas stick to me.”
Even with this amplification, however, his plea evidently still had for his companion a flaw; which, after he had considered it a moment, Nick exposed in the simple words: ”Why, you originally introduced them in Paris, Biddy and Miss Rooth. Didn't they meet at your rooms and fraternise, and wasn't that much more 'abroad' than this?”
”So they did, but my hand had been forced and she didn't like it,” Peter answered, suspecting that for a diplomatist he looked foolish.
”Miss Rooth didn't like it?” Nick persisted.
”That I confess I've forgotten. Besides, she wasn't an actress then.
What I mean is that Biddy wasn't particularly pleased with her.”
”Why she thought her wonderful--praised her to the sides. I remember that.”
”She didn't like her as a woman; she praised her as an actress.”
”I thought you said she wasn't an actress then,” Nick returned.
Peter had a pause. ”Oh Biddy thought so. She has seen her since, moreover. I took her the other night, and her curiosity's satisfied.”
”It's not of any consequence, and if there's a reason for it I'll bundle her off directly,” Nick made haste to say. ”But the great Miriam seems such a kind, good person.”
”So she is, charming, charming,”--and his visitor looked hard at him.
”Here comes Biddy now,” Nick went on. ”I hear her at the door: you can warn her yourself.”
”It isn't a question of 'warning'--that's not in the least my idea. But I'll take Biddy away,” said Peter.
”That will be still more energetic.”
”No, it will be simply more selfish--I like her company.” Peter had turned as if to go to the door and meet the girl; but he quickly checked himself, lingering in the middle of the room, and the next instant Biddy had come in. When she saw him there she also stopped.
XLIII
”Come on boldly, my dear,” said Nick. ”Peter's bored to death waiting for you.”
”Ah he's come to say he won't dine with us to-night!” Biddy stood with her hand on the latch.
”I leave town to-morrow: I've everything to do; I'm broken-hearted; it's impossible”--Peter made of it again such a case as he could. ”Please make my peace with your mother--I'm ashamed of not having written to her last night.”
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