Part 20 (1/2)
”The stationers who sent out the invitations will do that.”
”Oh, well--I can only say I never came. But the waiter would swear to me, and very likely describe my dress. No, I shall wait a little longer.
Stay here and keep me company.”
”Oh, it will be delightful!” quavered Miss Snow, though worrying at the prospect of getting away late on foot, and ill able to afford cab-hire.
”You've heard of the engagement, I suppose?”
”Which of them?” asked Miss Snow, skilfully hedging.
”Why, the only one, so far as I know. Why, haven't you heard? Ralph Underwood and Winnie Parke.”
”Oh, yes! has that come out? I have been away from home for a few days, and had not heard. Very pleasant, I'm sure.”
”Very--for her. It was her sister who did it, Mrs. Al Smith. She's a very clever young woman; fished for Al herself in the most barefaced way, and now she's caught Ralph for her sister; and she's not nearly so good-looking, either, Winnie Parke, though I should say she had a better temper than Margaret. You know Margaret Smith of course?”
”Not very well,” said Miss Snow, deprecatingly. ”I thought when you spoke of an engagement you meant Malcolm Johnson and Caroline Foster.”
”That never will be an engagement!” said Mrs. Freeman scornfully.
”Oh! I am very glad to hear you say so--only I have met him so much there lately, and it quite worried me; it would be such a bad thing for dear Caroline; she is a sweet girl.”
”You need not worry about it any longer, for I know positively that she has refused him.”
”I am very glad. I was so afraid that Caroline--she is so amiable a girl, you know, and so apt to do what people tell her to--I was afraid she might say yes for fear of hurting his feelings.”
”She would never dream of his having feelings--her position is so different. Why, Caroline is a cousin of my own.”
”Oh, yes, of course--only he would doubtless be so much in love; and many people think him delightful--he _was_ very handsome.”
”Before Caroline was born, maybe. No, no, Caroline has plenty of sense, though she looks so gentle--and then the family would never hear of it.
His affairs are in a shocking condition. Why, you know what he lost in Atchison--and I happen to know that his other investments are in a very shaky condition.”
”He has that handsome house.”
”Mortgaged, my dear, mortgaged up to its full value. No, he's badly off--and then there are such discreditable rumours about him; Thorndike knows all about it.”
”Dear me! I never heard anything against his character.”
”I could tell you plenty,” said Mrs. Freeman, with a little shrug. ”And then he drinks, or at least he probably will end in drinking--they always do when they are driven desperate. Oh, no, Caroline is a cousin of mine, and a most charming girl. Don't for heaven's sake hint at such a thing.”
”Oh, I a.s.sure you, I never have. I am always so careful.”
”Yes, I never say a thing that I am not certain is true,” said Mrs.
Freeman, yawning. ”Why, where do all these lovely youths come from? Ah!
I see; past six o'clock; the shop is closed, and they have turned the clerks on duty here. Well, now, I can get something to eat, for I never buy anything of them. Tell that one over there to come to me, the light-haired one, I mean; he looks strong and good-humoured.”
As Miss Snow rose to obey this order, a fair-haired girl in a dark-blue velvet gown, who on entering had been pinned close against the wall within hearing by the crowd, made a frantic struggle for freedom, and succeeded in reaching the entrance hall, to the amazement of the other guests, who did not look for such a display of strength in so gentle-looking and painfully blus.h.i.+ng a creature.