Part 39 (1/2)
Mr. c.o.xon asked for Lady Eynesford. When he entered, she rose with a newspaper in her hand.
”What a shocking, shameful thing this is!” she said. ”What a blessing it is that the Government was beaten!”
c.o.xon acquiesced in both these opinions.
”I never thought well of him,” continued the lady. ”Now everybody sees him in his true colours. And it's you we have chiefly to thank for our deliverance.”
c.o.xon murmured a modest depreciation of his services, and said,
”I hope Miss Derosne is well?”
Something in his tones brought to his hostess one of those swift fits of repentance that were apt to wait for her whenever she allowed herself to treat this visitor with friendliness. He was so very prompt in responding!
”She is not very well,” she answered, rather coldly.
”I--I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing her?”
Mr. c.o.xon's wishes were fulfilled to the moment. The door opened and Alicia came in. On seeing him she stopped.
”Come in, Alicia,” said Lady Eynesford. ”Here's Mr. c.o.xon come to be congratulated.”
c.o.xon stood up with a propitiatory smile.
”How do you do, Mr. c.o.xon?” said Alicia, giving him a limp hand. ”Shall I ring for tea, Mary?”
”They'll bring it. You haven't wished him joy.”
”Oh, are you in the new Ministry?”
”I have that honour, Miss Derosne. I hope you are on our side?”
”I don't quite know which side you are on--now,” observed Alicia, in slow but distinct tones.
c.o.xon grew red.
”I--I have joined Sir Robert Perry's Ministry,” he answered.
”Of course he has, Alicia,” interposed Lady Eynesford hastily.
Alicia seated herself on the sofa, remarking as she did so,
”Well, you do change a good deal, don't you?”
”Really, Miss Derosne,” he stammered, ”I don't understand you.”
”Oh, I only mean that you were first with Sir Robert, then with Mr.
Medland, and now with Sir Robert again! And presently with Mr. Medland again, I suppose?”
”She doesn't appreciate the political reasons,” began Lady Eynesford, with troubled brow and smiling lips; but c.o.xon, frowning angrily, broke in,