Part 28 (2/2)

Her face flushed.

”How does it happen you haven't mentioned it?”

His answering laugh was frank and free from any taint of bitterness.

”Because I knew you didn't like Dudley, dear girl, and I didn't see any use in discussing a matter on which we were bound to differ.” He evidently had had no intention of saying more; but, as he saw her downcast face, he went on, ”Truly, Beatrix, I couldn't decently refuse the fellow, without any good reason.”

She raised her eyes to his face a little haughtily.

”But it seems to me you had a good reason.”

Lorimer laughed again. It was plain that he was determined not to be jarred out of his genial mood.

”A good reason; but not one that was very tellable. You really don't want me saying to a man that I can't eat his dinner because my wife dislikes him.”

Lorimer had no notion that his words could sting his wife, and he was surprised at her heightened color and at the sudden aggressive poise of her head. Then swiftly she controlled herself.

”Next time, you can concoct some more specious reason,” she answered, with forced lightness.

In his turn, Lorimer felt himself irritated by her calm feminine a.s.sumption that his acceptance or refusal of invitations in future was to be bounded by her dislikes.

”Next time, we will hope you will have annulled the reason,” he retorted. ”Dudley isn't a bad fellow. Moreover, he has the saving grace of knowing how to order a good dinner and get together a good crowd.”

She felt the half-veiled hostility of his tone, and it cut her. She had received similar cuts before, during the past three or four months.

Instead of rendering her callous, they had left a sore sensitiveness in their scars. She battled against the soreness bravely. The Danes were a race with level nerves, trained by generations of self-control to look upon moods and lack of breeding as synonymous terms; and Beatrix had had no conception of the swift alternations of feeling which marked and marred the temperament of Lorimer. Often as they had been together during their rather long engagement, he had been able to maintain a moderately even mood whenever Beatrix was within reach. On one or two occasions, he had betrayed the fact that he was gloomy and depressed; but it was not until they came into the every-day and all-day contact which follows upon the heels of the marriage ceremony that she had supposed he could be either irritable or petulant. By the time they had come home from Europe, she was quite aware of both characteristics; yet they were alternated with hours of pa.s.sionate devotion, of a tender chivalry which took away much of their sting. Lorimer loved his wife loyally; nevertheless, the very traits which most won the admiration of his better hours, were the first ones to antagonize him when his moments of irritation were upon him.

If Beatrix had been of the same temper, the danger for the future would have been infinitely less. Flash would have answered to flash; and then the quiet current would have run on as if the perfect contact had never been broken. Instead of that, her quieter, better-controlled nature received his flashes and made no outward sign of the shock. In the end, she remained painfully sensitive to his petulance, while his real love for her left her unbelieving, cold and apathetic. She had proof of the one; the other was mainly negative, in so far as practical results were concerned.

”Who are to be there?” she asked, as soon as she could trust her voice to be properly inexpressive.

”Austin, and Tom Forbes, and Lloyd Avalons, and two or three men you don't know, and Thayer.”

”Mr. Thayer?” Her accent was incredulous.

”Certainly. Why not?”

”I didn't know that he ever had anything to do with Mr. Dudley, and I really can't imagine his caring to make a table companion of Lloyd Avalons.”

Lorimer's answering laugh was slightly bitter.

”What a social Philistine you are, Beatrix! Thayer is not so narrow.”

”Does that mean I am narrow?” she asked resentfully.

”Yes, for a woman who frowned disapproval upon Sally Van Osdel's late utterances.”

”Sally was talking of Mrs. Lloyd Avalons. Mrs. Lloyd Avalons is not bad, only foolish: Mr. Lloyd Avalons is both.” She drew a long breath, as she paused with her teeth shut upon her lower lip. Suddenly her chin began to quiver, and two heavy tears slid down her cheeks. Then she rallied swiftly, for she knew that all men hate domestic tears. ”Sidney,” she said slowly and with an evident effort towards steadiness; ”let's not discuss this any more. I will go to mother's, and you may come for me there, after your dinner is over. I wish you could go with me; but never mind. Only, Sidney,--next time, please tell me a little sooner when you make a dinner engagement, and then I shall know just how to fit my plans into yours. And--?” She raised her eyes to meet his squarely.

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