Part 2 (2/2)
Well, there we stood in that well-re-room in which first I had made the acquaintance of Hart and Mart; also of the beautiful Miss Holnall was then called The Scroopes, the Jeffreys and I gathered in one group and the Atterby-Smiths in another like a force about to attack, while between the two, brooding and indeterminate, stood the curate, a neutral observer
Presently Lady Ragnall arrived, apologizing for being late For some reason best known to herself she had chosen to dress as though for a great party I believe it was out of mischief and in order to show Mrs
Atterby-Smith some of the diamonds she was firmly determined that falittering and lovely, and smiled upon us
Then careat hall in her coot Mrs Jeffreys who looked like a Grecian ot one of the Miss Sot the other with a blue bow, and Archibald got Mrs Scroope who departed rand and nice,” I said to Lady Ragnall as we followed the others at a discreet distance
”I arand, that dreadful wonall diaht that she should see some of them for the first and last tie and I went to Court together, and I daresay shall never wear theain, for there is only one ornaot _that_ on under h said that she was very mischievous
”I suppose so,” she replied, ”but I detest those people who are pompous and rude and have spoiled my party Do you know I had half a mind to come down in the dress that I wore as Isis in Kendah Land I have got it upstairs and you shall see o, for old tiht think race, please?”
Well, it was a reeable dinner so far as I was concerned, for I sat between my hostess and Mrs Scroope and the rest were too far off for conversation Moreover as Archibald developed an unexpected quantity of small talk, and Scroope on the other side a pink-bow Miss Smith's innocent mind with preposterous stories about Africa, as had happened to nall and I were practically left undisturbed
”Isn't it strange that we should find ourselves sitting here again after all these years, except that you are in entleman convinced me the other day that you whom I had heard were dead, were not only alive and well but actually in England, really I could have eht of an answer but did not h as usual she read my mind for I saw her smile
”The truth is,” she went on, ”I ah of course being--well, you know,” and she glanced at the jewels on her breast, ”I have plenty of acquaintances”
”And suitors,” I suggested
”Yes,” she replied blushi+ng, ”as many as Penelope, not one of whom cares twopence about me any more than I care for them The truth is, Mr
Quater interest me, except a spot in the churchyard yonder and another aypt”
”You have had sad bereave the other way
”Very sad and they have left life eood Also it isn't true to say that nothing interests h after what has happened I do not feel as though I could return there All Africa interestsher voice, ”I can say it because I know you will not misunderstand, you interest me, as you have always done since the firstat my own reflection in a silver plate which made me look--well, more unattractive than usual ”It's very kind of you to say so, but I can't understand why I should You have seen very little ofjourney across the desert e did not talk ed”
”I know That's the odd part of it, for I feel as though I had seen you for years and years and knew everything about you that one huood lot of your life through George and Hart”
”Hart was a great liar,” I said uneasily
”Was he? I always thought hiot at the truth I do not know Anyhow,” she added with , ”don't suppose I think the worse of you because others have thought so well Woenerally, I notice, have this in common If one or two of the in him appeals to the universal feminine instinct, and the same applies to their dislike Now men, I think, are different in that respect”
”Perhaps because they are ested, ”or perhaps because they like those who like the way, and said,
”However these remarks do not apply to you and me, for as I think I told you once before in that cedar wood in Kendah Land where you feared lest I should catch a chill, or beco in me seems to be so intimate”
”That's fortunate for your sake,” Ito the silver plate