Part 10 (1/2)
”Is that your daughter?” she asked, glad to escape from her subject, now that it was stated plainly--”the very pretty girl in red?”
The question gave Pruyn the excuse he wanted or looking about him.
”I believe she's in red--but I don't see her.”
He searched the dimly lighted room, where Mrs. Wappinger sat, silent and satisfied, behind her tea-table, while Mrs. Eveleth was conversing with Lucilla on Knickerbocker genealogy; but neither of the young people was to be seen. His look of anxiety did not escape Diane, who responded to it with her usual straightforward promptness.
”I fancy she's still in the ball-room with young Mr. Wappinger,” she explained. ”We were all there a few minutes ago, looking at the decorations for the dance Mrs. Wappinger is giving to-night. It was before you came.”
The shadow that shot across his face was a thing to be noticed only by one accustomed to read the most trivial signs in the social sky. In an instant she took in the main points of the case as accurately as if Mrs.
Wappinger had named those names over which she had shown such laudable reserve.
”Wouldn't you like to see them?--the decorations? They're very pretty.
It's just in here.”
She rose as she spoke, with a gesture of the hand toward the ball-room.
He followed, because she led the way, but without seeing the meaning of the move until they were actually on the polished dancing-floor. Owing to the darkness of the December afternoon, the large empty room was lit up as brilliantly as at night. For a minute they stood on the threshold, looking absently at the palms grouped in the corners and the garlands festooning the walls. It was only then that Pruyn saw the motive of her coming; and for an instant he forgot his worry in the perception that this woman had divined his thought.
”There's no one here,” he said, at last, in a tone of relief, which betrayed him once more.
”No,” Diane replied, half turning round. ”Perhaps we had better go back to the drawing-room. My mother-in-law will be getting tired.”
”Wait,” he said, imperiously. ”Isn't that--?”
He was again conscious of having admitted her into a sort of confidence; but he had scarcely time to regret it before there was a flash of red between the tall potted shrubs that screened an alcove. Dorothea sauntered into view, with Carli Wappinger, bending slightly over her, walking by her side. They were too deep in conversation to know themselves observed; but the earnestness with which the young man spoke became evident when he put out his hand and laid it gently on the m.u.f.f Dorothea held before her. In the act, from which Dorothea did not draw back, there was nothing beyond the admission of a certain degree of intimacy; but Diane felt, through all her highly trained subconscious sensibilities, the shock it produced in Derek's mind.
The situation belonged too entirely to the cla.s.sic repertoire of life to present any difficulties to a woman who knew that catastrophe is often averted by keeping close to the commonplace.
”Isn't she pretty!” she exclaimed, in a tone of polite enthusiasm.
”Mayn't I speak to her? I haven't met her yet.”
Before she had finished the concluding words, or Wappinger had withdrawn his hand from Dorothea's m.u.f.f, she had glided across the floor, and disturbed the young people from their absorption in each other.
”Mr. Wappinger,” Derek heard her say, as he approached, ”I want you to introduce me to Miss Pruyn. I'm Mrs. Eveleth, Miss Pruyn,” she continued, without waiting for Carli's intermediary offices. ”I couldn't go away without saying just a word to you.”
If she supposed she was coming to Dorothea's rescue in a moment which might be one of embarra.s.sment, she found herself mistaken. No experienced dowager could have been more amiable to a nice governess than Dorothea Pruyn to a lady in reduced circ.u.mstances. A facility in adapting herself to other people's manners enabled Diane to accept her cue; and presently all four were on their way back to the drawing-room, where farewells were spoken.
[Ill.u.s.tration: DRAWN BY FRANK CRAIG PRESENTLY ALL FOUR WERE ON THEIR WAY BACK TO THE DRAWING-ROOM]
While Miss Lucilla was making Mrs. Eveleth renew her promise to come and see her, and ”bring young Mrs. Eveleth with her,” Pruyn found an opportunity for another word with Diane.
”You must understand,” he said, in a tone which he tried to make one of explanation for her enlightenment rather than of apology for Dorothea--”you must understand that girls have a good deal of liberty in America.”
”They have everywhere,” she rejoined. ”Even in France, where they've been kept so strictly, the old law of Purdah has been more or less relaxed.”
”If you take up teaching as a work, you'll naturally be thrown among our young people; and you may see things to which it will be difficult to adjust your mind.”
”I've had a good deal of practice in adjusting my mind. It often seems to me as movable as if it was on a pivot. I'm rather ashamed of it.”