Part 7 (2/2)
”You are not pleased to be there?” Keenly
”I?--Oh, of course!” Quickly
She did not appear to note his changed manner ”This Miss Van Rolsen,--isn't she the one whose niece--Miss Elizabeth Dalrymple--recently refused the hand and heart of a Russian prince?” she said ly
”Refused?” he cried suddenly ”You mean--” He stopped; the words had been surprised from him
”Accepted?” She looked at hi it in the paper; I was thinking of some one else One of the other lords, dukes, or nobleot up rather suddenly, bowed and went With narrowing eyes she watched hione all melancholy disappeared frohed ”_Voila!_ Sonia Turgeinov, comedienne!”
Mr Heatherbloom did not repair to the point of elevation the next day, nor the day after; but she met him the third day near the Seventy-second Street entrance More than that, she insinuated herself at his side; at first rather to his discoot the constraint her presence occasioned hi she said caused him to look upon her with new favor Beauty had ilance and enjoyed a mad romp after a squirrel before she was captured
What, his coested, would have happened if Beauty had really escaped, and he, Mr Heatherbloom, had been forced to return to the house without her? What? Mr Heatherblooht lose his position, _n'est-cepas?_ He did not answer
The idea was born; why _not_ lose Beauty? No, better still, Naughty; the prihty's eyes, and they seehty had been his friend--supposititiously, and to abandon him now to the world, a cold place devoid of French las and men, alike! About to waive the temptation, Mr Heatherbloom paused; the idea was capable of modification or expansion Most ideas are
But he shortly afterward dismissed the entire matter from his mind; it would, at best, be but a compromise, an evasion of the pact he had ht of At this moment his companion swayed and Mr Heatherbloom had just time to put out his arm; then helped her to a bench
She partly recovered; it was nothing, she reets sometimes a little faint when--it was the old, old story of privation and want that now fell with see reluctance from her lips Mr
Heatherblooreatly distressed A wo words!--in Central Park, the playground of the most opulent metropolis of the world It was monstrous; he tendered her his purse, with several weeks' pay in it Her reply had a spirited ring; he felt abashed and returned the money to his pocket She sat back with eyes half-closed; he sa that her face looked drawn and paler than usual
He, thought and thought; had he not hiet a position, to procure employment without friends and helpers? He, a riping pangs of hunger; had wished for night, and, later, wished for the morn, only to find both equally barren
Suddenly he spoke--slowly, like a ued carefully in his own ured her face She would have thanked him profusely but he did not remain to hear her In fact, he seemed hardly to see her now; his features had become once more reserved and introspective
He reappeared at the Van Rolsen house that day without Naughty Miss Van Rolsen, when she heard the news, burst into tears; then becahty, winner of three blue ribbons, and ”out of the contest” no end of times because superior to all competition!
A broken leash!+ Fiddlesticks! She penned advertise lady responded to protestations and questions with a slightly indifferent expression on her proud languid features What did she think of it? She didn't really know; her manner said she really didn't care
Mr Heatherbloo pensively upon him, she didn't seem to see at all; he had once more become a nullity He rather preferred that role, however; perhaps he felt it was easier to impersonate annihilation, in the inception, than to have it, or a wish for it, thrust later too strongly upon hihty I should never have e her fiery eyes on Mr Heatherblooive me your opinion?” To her niece
”I haven't any, Aunt”
”You are discerning; you have judgment” Miss Van Rolsen spoke aler--”ca about him”
Miss Dalryown”What was he? Who was he?
Maybe, nothing more than--” She paused for want of breath, not of words, to characterize her opinion of Mr Heatherblooht outdoors; people went by briskly, full of life and i on roller skates
”When I asked your opinion,employed this person in the first place, under the circumstances, why did you keep silent?” Was Miss Van Rolsen still talking, or rairl? ”You should have called me foolish, eccentric; yes, that's what I was, to have taken him in as I did”
Miss Dalrymple raised her brows and moved to a piano to adjust the flowers in a vase; she smatic lips