ssed
but always turned her cheek to be kissed.
"Since you wouldn't write, dearest Cousin Mary," she cried in a voice
strangely affected to Lady O'Gara's ear, "I've come to see what is the
matter. And I've brought my husband."
A shortish man with a keen, clear, plain face came from behind the
shadow of Eileen and her furs. Lady O'Gara had a queer thought. She
recognized Eileen's furs for sables. She had never attained to sables.
The coat must have cost three hundred guineas. How quick Eileen had
been about her marriage! And how soon she had begun to spend the lakh!
Meanwhile her lips were saying--
"I am very glad to meet you, Dr. Gillespie. But what a surprise! I
did not think Eileen had had time even to get engaged."
"You see there was so little to be done," the lakh responded in a very
pleasant voice, which at once secured Lady O'Gara's liking. Besides,
his hand-clasp was very warm, so unlike Eileen's chilly cheek. She
hoped Eileen was going to be good to him. "I was Eileen's slave
always. She had refused me innumerable times. She only had to say she
had changed her mind and I procured a special licence."
"You will take off your furs, Eileen. Of course you and Dr. Gillespie
will stay. Sir Shawn is so much better. And you have to hear all our
news. You have sent away your car?"
Eileen was taking off the sables, and flinging them carelessly to one
side, as though three hundred guinea sables were things of common
experience with her. The rose-silk lining fairly dazzled Lady O'Gara's
amused eyes, so sumptuous was it.
"Only between two trains, dearest Cousin Mary. We are going to London
on our way to Italy. We've been married a week and have been boring
each other dreadfully at Recess. I am longing for Italy, but I felt I
must see you and introduce Bobbin. We have till seven o'clock to stay."
Lady O'Gara glanced at the bridegroom to whom his bride had given so
absurd a name. He was looking amusedly, if adoringly, at Eileen. He
had a good strong chin, a firm mouth, which was sweet when he smiled:
his grey eyes were quizzical. She thought the marriage would be all
right.
"I am going to get warm in the sun," said Eileen with a little shiver.
"You see Bobbin has to go back to work. He has taken a house in Harley
Street and we wish to settle in as early as possible. There has been
an article in the _Medical Journal_."
"In fact London can't wait till I put up my brass plate, Lady
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