Part 14 (2/2)
”Sarah, tell me truly, have I lost my good looks?”
She regarded him attentively a moment, and answered: ”Not quite. You have some good points yet. You have grown thin and gray, and lost something, and perhaps gained something; but you are not very old, and then, you know, you have your t.i.tle, and your castle, and your very old, old family, and I suppose a good deal of money.” In reality, she was sure that he had never before been so attractive; for he had now the magic of a countenance informed by intellect and experience, eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with light, lips neither loose nor coa.r.s.e, yet full of pa.s.sion and the faculty of enjoyment.
He smiled grimly at Sarah's list of his charms, and said, ”When will you introduce me to your future sister?”
”This evening. Come about nine. I have a few sober people who will be delighted to hear your South American adventures. Ria goes to Lady Chester's ball soon after nine. Do not miss your chance.”
”Could I see her now?”
”You could not.”
”What for?”
”Do you suppose she would leave a _modiste_ for--you?”
”I wonder where Aspatria is!”
”Go and find out.”
”Sarah, who is the young lady I saw in your carriage?”
”She is the sister of the officer you saw me with, the man I am going to marry.”
”Where did you meet him?”
”At a friend's house.”
”Where did you meet her?”
”Her brother brought her to my house. I asked her to stay with me, and finally we went to Italy together.”
”She has a very aristocratic manner.”
”She ought to have. She was educated at Mrs. St. Alban's, and she visits at the Earl of Arundel's, the Duke of Norfolk's, and the very exclusive Boleyns',--Lady Mary Boleyn is her friend, and she has also had the great advantage of my society for nearly two years.”
”Then of course she is not Aspatria, and my heart is a liar, and my memory is a traitor, and my eyes do not see correctly. I will call about nine. I am at the Star and Garter. If she should name me at all--”
”Do you imagine she noticed you? and in such a public place as Howell's?”
”I really do imagine she noticed me. Ask her.”
”I see you are in love again. After all that experience has done for you! It is a Nemesis, Ulfar. I have often noticed that, however faithless a man may be, there comes at last one woman who avenges all the rest. Enter Nemesis at nine to-night!”
”Sarah, you are an angel.”
”Thank you, Ulfar. I thought you cla.s.sed me with the other side.”
”As for Aspatria--”
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