Part 5 (1/2)
”Ah, Miss Dalryed ”An unexpected pleasure, Prince,” she said with alaiety
He answered in kind; she caallantly raised the sers to his lips, Mr Heatherbloom seemed to fade away into the dark subterranean entrance
CHAPTER IV
FATE AT THE DOOR
Although Mr Heatherbloom waited expectantly that day for his dismissal, it did not come This surprised him somewhat; then he reflected that Miss Elizabeth Dalry her rather effusive greeting of that fortunate individual--she had forgotten such a s valet ejected from the premises She would remember on the morrow, of course
But she didn't! The hours passed, and he was suffered to go about the even, or uneven, tenor of his way This he did mechanically; he scrubbed and co at the door, he passed her on to Miss Van Rolsen, to be freshly be-ribboned by that lady's own particular hand The thin bony finger he thought would be pointed accusingly at him, busied itself solely with the knots and bows of a new ribbon; after which the grim lady dismissed him--from her presence, not the house--curtly
Several days went by; still no one accused him; he was still suffered to re--seely interminable week--he put hioing froered around the area entrance, purposely to encounter her whom he had heretofore, above all others, wished to avoid A feverish desire possessed hio about his way, no ht lead hith ht but toward dusk, as she returned, this time on foot, to the house
”Miss Dalrymple, may I speak to you?” he said to the indistinctly seen, slender figure that started lightly up the front steps
She did not even stop, although she must have heard him; a moment he saw her like a shadow; then the front door opened He heard a crisp metallic click; the door closed Sloith head a little downbent he walked out, up the way she had come; then around the corner a short distance to the stables over which he had his rooht, probably because he liked horses They--four or five thoroughbreds--whinnied as he opened the door He had started up the dark narrow stairs to his charoped about froar After which all seemed well as far as he and they were concerned
Only that other problen now?--under fire? Hoished he ht! But to remain?--his situation was intolerable He went up to his roohost; his mind was full of dark presences, as if he had lived a thousand times before and had been surrounded only by hostile influences that now caht to haunt hi to the house the next day, but he went Perhaps, he reflected, she was only allowing hie; to trap him and put him beyond the pale of respectable society He remembered the cruel lips, the passionate dislike--conteht be it--the reason for her tes; sooner or later--
”Are you quite satisfied, Madam, with my services?” said Mr
Heatherbloom that afternoon to Miss Van Rolsen
”You seehtened ”Perhaps some one else would do better”
”Perhaps,” she returned dryly ”But I' to try”
”But,” he said desperately, ”I--I don't think they--the dogs, like hty, in particular,” he added quickly
”I--I thought yesterday he would have liked to--growl and nip athi keenness, ”actually do that?”
”No But--”
”Do I understand you wish to give me notice?” she interrupted sharply
”Not at all” In an alarht you ht have felt dissatisfied--people usually do with ive esture ”That will do I ah smaller than usual--only three hundred and seventy-six letters--has to be attended to”
Thus thecontinued, much to that person's discomfiture, _in statu quo_ It is true he found, later, a coht, little knowing the extraordinary neeb he eaving!--but before that tis happened In the first place he discovered that Miss Dalrymple was not entirely pleased at the publication of the story of her engagement to the prince; her position--her family's and that of Miss Van Rolsen, was such that newspaper advertising or notoriety could not but be distasteful