Part 24 (2/2)

At this moment Gresley came up the steps.

”Ah, here's my man!” exclaimed Cullyngham. ”You are a sportsman, anyhow, Gresley. Come and have a hand at picquet till lunch.”

Gresley, much flattered at this notice from a celebrity, agreed readily, and the pair disappeared into the dressing-room, where, since the rain continued for the greater part of the day, they were destined to spend a considerable time.

IV

That evening there was an impromptu dance. It was much the same as other dances. There was plenty of music and champagne and laughter; and as usual several people tried, and as usual failed, to solve the problem of how it is that an ethereal-looking and fragile slip of a girl, wholly incapable of carrying a scuttle of coals upstairs or of walking five miles without collapsing, can go through an arduous night's exercise, waltzing strong men into a state of coma, without turning a hair.

Pip did his duty manfully, though his glimpses of Elsie were few and far between. That young lady, whether by accident or design, had filled her card rather fully before Pip reached her side. Consequently it was something like midnight when the piano and violin struck up the waltz that she had promised him, and Pip, hastily returning the eldest Miss Calthrop to her base of operations, braced himself for _the_ moment of the evening.

He waited for some time at the door of the dancing-room scanning the returning couples, but Elsie did not come; and Pip, who was preeminently a man of action, set out to look for her.

He came upon the truant rather suddenly, round a screen at the end of a pa.s.sage. She was sitting on a settee with Cullyngham, who, with his head close to hers, was talking softly and rather too earnestly Pip thought.

On seeing Pip, Cullyngham began to smile at once, but Elsie looked a little confused.

”My dance, I think,” said Pip gruffly.

Cullyngham rose to his feet.

”A thousand apologies, old boy,” he said easily. ”I had no idea the music had started again. So sorry! I surrender Miss Innes forthwith. _Au revoir_, partner, and thank you.”

He swung gracefully down the pa.s.sage and was gone.

Elsie felt a little uncomfortable. The woman never yet lived who did not enjoy playing two fish simultaneously, and under ordinary circ.u.mstances Elsie would have handled her line with all the pleasure and finesse of an expert. But somehow Pip was different. He was not the sort of person who shared a hook gracefully. He was perfectly capable of disregarding the rules of the game and making a fuss and breaking the line, unless treated with special and separate consideration.

She rose lightly.

”So sorry, Pip,” she said, taking his arm almost caressingly. ”I didn't mean to keep you waiting. Shall we go and dance?”

”No,” said Pip. ”Sit down a minute, please.”

Elsie obeyed.

”It's only this,” said Pip bluntly. ”I can't help it if I offend you.

Have as little to do with that chap as you can.”

A brief silence, and these two young people surveyed each other. There was no flinching on either side. Then Elsie's eyes blazed.

”How paltry! How mean!” she said hotly. ”Fancy trying to do it that way!”

”What do you mean by 'it'?” said Pip.

Elsie bit her lip. She had given herself away.

”You mean,” went on Pip, ”that I say this because I am jealous.”

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