"Thank you, Mr. Douglas. We had better go, I think."
As they left the room, Mrs. Fairfax purposely lingered behind them.
"Am I right in concluding that you are as frivolous as ever, Marian?"
he said.
"Quite," she replied. "To-day especially so. I am very happy to-day."
"May I ask why?"
"Something has happened. I will tell you what it is some day perhaps, but not now. Something that realizes a romantic dream of mine. The dream has been hovering vaguely about me for nearly two years; but I never ventured to teach myself exactly what it was until to-day."
"Realized here? in the Academy?"
"It was foreshadowed--promised, at home this morning; but it was realized here."
"Did you know beforehand that I was coming?"
"Not until to-day. Mrs. Leith Fairfax said that you would most likely be here."
"And you are happy?"
"So much so that I cannot help talking about my happiness to you, who are the very last person--as you will admit when everything is explained--to whom I should unlock my lips on the subject."
"And why? Am I not interested in your happiness?"
"I suppose so. I hope so. But when you learn the truth, you will be more astonished than gratified."
"I dare swear that you are mistaken. Is this dream of yours an affair of the heart?"
"Now you are beginning to ask questions."
"Well, I will ask no more at present. But if you fear that my long absence has rendered me indifferent in the least degree to your happiness, you do me a great injustice."
"Well, you were not in a very good humor with me when you went away."
"I will forget that if you wish me to."
"I do wish you to forget it. And you forgive me?"
"Most a.s.suredly."
"Then we are the best friends in the world again. This is a great deal better than meeting and pretending to ignore the very thing of which our minds are full. You will not delay visiting us any longer now, I hope."
"I will call on your father to-morrow morning. May I?"
"He is out of town until Monday. He will be delighted to see you then.
He has been talking to me about you a great deal of late. But if you want to see him in the morning you had better go to the club. I will write to him to-night if you like; so that he can write to you and make an appointment."
"Do. Ah, Marian, instinct is better and truer than intellect. I have been for two years trying to believe all kinds of evil of you; and yet I knew all the time that you were an angel."
Marian laughed. "I suppose that under our good understanding I must let you say pretty things to me. You must write me a sonnet before your enthusiasm evaporates. I am sure I deserve it as well as Clytemnestra."
"I will. But I fear I shall tear it up for its unworthiness afterward."
"Dont: I am not a critic. Talking of critics, where has Mrs. Leith Fairfax gone to? Oh, there she is!"
Mrs. Fairfax came up when she saw Marian look round for her. "My dear,"
she said: "it is past six. We must go. Elinor may be waiting for us."
They found Elinor seated in the vestibule with Conolly, at whom Mrs.
Fairfax plunged, full of words. Conolly and Douglas, introduced to one another by Marian, gravely raised their hats. When they had descended the stairs, they stood in a group near one of the doors whilst Conolly went aside to get their umbrellas. Just then Marmaduke Lind entered the building, and halted in surprise at finding himself among so many acquaintances.
"Hallo!" he cried, seizing Douglas"s hand, and attracting the attention of the bystanders by his boisterous tone. "Here you are again, old man!
Delighted to see you. Didnt spot you at first, in the beard. George told me you were back. I met your mother in Knightsbridge last Thursday; but she pretended not to see me. How have you enjoyed yourself abroad, eh?
Very much in the old style, I suppose?"
"Thank you," said Douglas. "I trust your people are quite well."
"Hang me if I know!" said Marmaduke. "I have not troubled them much of late. How d"ye do, Mrs. Leith Fairfax? How are all the celebrities?"
Mrs. Fairfax bowed coldly.
"Dont roar so, Marmaduke," said Marian. "Everybody is looking at you."
"Everybody is welcome," said Marmaduke, loudly. "Douglas: you must come and see me. By Jove, now that I think of it, come and see me, all of you. I am by myself on week-nights from six to twelve; and I should enjoy a housewarming. If Mrs. Leith Fairfax comes, it will be all proper and right. Let us have a regular party."
Mrs. Fairfax looked indignantly at him. Elinor looked round anxiously for Conolly. Marian, struck with the same fear, moved toward the door.
"Here, Marmaduke," she said, offering him her hand. "Good-bye. You are in one of your outrageous humors this afternoon."
"What am I doing?" he replied. "I am behaving myself perfectly. Let us settle about the party before we go."
"Good evening, Mr. Lind," said Conolly, coming up to them with the umbrellas. "This is yours, I think, Mrs. Leith Fairfax."
"Good evening," said Marmaduke, subsiding. "I----Well, you are all off, are you?"
"Quite time for us, I think," said Elinor. "Good-bye."
Mrs. Fairfax, with a second and more distant bow, pa.s.sed out with Conolly and Douglas. Elinor waited a moment to whisper to Marmaduke.
"First rate," said Marmaduke, in reply to the whisper; "and beginning to talk like one o"clock. Oh yes, I tell you!" He shook Elinor"s hand at such length in his grat.i.tude for the inquiry that she was much relieved when a servant in livery interrupted him.
"Missus wants to speak to you, sir, afore she goes," said the man.
Elinor shook her head at Marmaduke, and hurried away to rejoin the rest outside. As they went through the courtyard, they pa.s.sed an open carriage, in which reclined a pretty woman with dark eyes and delicate artificial complexion. Her beauty and the elegance of her dress attracted their attention. Suddenly Marian became aware that Conolly was watching her as she looked at the woman in the carriage. She was about to say something, when, to her bewilderment, Elinor nudged her. Then she understood too, and looked solemnly at Susanna. Susanna, observing her, stared insolently in return, and Marian averted her head like a guilty person and hurried on. Conolly saw it all, and did not speak until they rejoined Mrs. Fairfax and Douglas in Piccadilly.
"How do you propose to go home?" said Douglas.