FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152  
153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   >>   >|  
high and powdered--a black silk scarf over white satin, and a blue sash. "Awfully becoming!" said Kitty, nodding to her. "Who are you?" "My great-great aunt!" said Mary, courtesying. "You, I see, go even farther back." "Isn't it fun?" said Kitty, pausing beside her. "Have you seen William? Poor dear! he's so hot. How do you do?" This last careless greeting was addressed to Cliffe, whom she now perceived standing behind Mary. Cliffe bowed stiffly. "Excuse me. I did not see you. I was absorbed in your dress. You are Artemis, I see--with additions." "Oh! I am an 'article de Paris,'" said Kitty. "But it seems odd that some people should take me for Joan of Arc." Then she turned to Mary. "I think your dress is quite lovely!" she said, in that warm, shy voice she rarely used except for a few intimates, and had never yet been known to waste on Mary. "Don't you admire it enormously, Mr. Cliffe?" "Enormously," said Cliffe, pulling at his mustache. "But by now my compliments are stale." "Is he cross about William's letter?" thought Kitty. "Well, let's leave them to themselves." Then, as she passed him, something in the silent personality of the man arrested her. She could not forbear a look at him over her shoulder. "Are you--Oh! of course, I remember--" for she had recognized the dress and cap of the Spanish grandee. Cliffe did not reply for a moment, but the harsh significance of his face revived in her the excitable interest she had felt in him on the day of his luncheon in Hill Street; an interest since effaced and dispersed, under the influence of that serenity and home peace which had shone upon her since that very day. "I should apologize, no doubt, for not taking your advice," he said, looking her in the eyes. Their expression, half bitter, half insolent, reminded her. "Did I give you any advice?" Kitty wrinkled up her white brows. "I don't recollect." Mary looked at her sharply, suspiciously. Kitty, quite conscious of the look, was straightway pricked by an elfish curiosity. Could she carry him off--trouble Mary's possession there and then? She believed she could. She was well aware of a certain relation between herself and Cliffe, if, at least, she chose to develop it. Should she? Her vanity insisted that Mary could not prevent it. However, she restrained herself and moved on. Presently looking back, she saw them still together, Cliffe leaning against the pedestal of a bust, Mary beside
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152  
153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Cliffe
 

interest

 

advice

 

William

 

expression

 
bitter
 
taking
 

apologize

 
serenity
 

Street


Spanish

 

grandee

 
moment
 

recognized

 
shoulder
 

remember

 
effaced
 
dispersed
 

luncheon

 

significance


revived

 

excitable

 

influence

 

develop

 

Should

 

vanity

 

relation

 

insisted

 

prevent

 

leaning


pedestal

 
However
 

restrained

 

Presently

 

believed

 
forbear
 

recollect

 
looked
 

sharply

 
wrinkled

reminded
 

suspiciously

 
conscious
 
trouble
 

possession

 

straightway

 
pricked
 

elfish

 
curiosity
 

insolent