Part 5 (1/2)

They should not be able to say I could not chaperone myself in any situation.

”Dam good port this, Christopher,” Lord Robert said, when the '47 was handed round. ”Is this what you asked me down to sample?”

”I thought it was to give your opinion about the pictures?” I exclaimed, surprised. ”Mr. Carruthers said you were a great judge.”

They looked at each other.

”Oh--ah--yes,” said Lord Robert, lying transparently. ”Pictures are awfully interesting. Will you show me them after dinner?”

”The light is too dim for a connoisseur to investigate them properly,” I said.

”I shall have it all lit by electricity as soon as possible; I wrote about it to-day,” Mr. Carruthers announced, sententiously. ”But I will show you the pictures myself, to-morrow, Bob.”

This at once decided me to take Lord Robert round to-night, and I told him so in a velvet voice while Mr. Barton was engaging Christopher's attention.

They stayed such a long time in the dining-room after I left that I was on my way to bed when they came out into the hall, and could with difficulty be persuaded to remain--for a few moments.

”I am too awfully sorry,” Lord Robert said. ”I could not get away. I do not know what possessed Christopher; he would sample ports, and talked the hind-leg off a donkey, till at last I said to him straight out I wanted to come to you. So here I am. Now you won't go to bed, will you?--please, please.”

He has such pleading blue eyes, imploring pathetically, like a baby in distress, it is quite impossible to resist him--and we started down the gallery.

Of course, he did not know the difference between a Ca.n.a.letto and a Turner, and hardly made a pretence of being interested; in fact, when we got to the end where the early Italians hang, and I was explaining the wonderful texture of a Madonna, he said:

”They all look sea-sick and out of shape. Don't you think we might sit in that comfy window-seat and talk of something else?” Then he told me he loved pictures, but not this sort.

”I like people to look human, you know, even on canvas,” he said. ”All these ladies appear as if they were getting enteric, like people used in Africa; and I don't like their halos and things; and all the men are old and bald. But you must not think me a Goth. You will teach me their points, won't you?--and then I shall love them.”

I said I did not care a great deal for them myself, except the color.

”Oh, I am so glad!” he said. ”I should like to find we admired the same things; but no picture could interest me as much as your hair. It is the loveliest thing I have ever seen, and you do it so beautifully.”

That did please me. He has the most engaging ways--Lord Robert--and he is very well informed, not stupid a bit, or thick, only absolutely simple and direct. We talked softly together, quite happy for a while.

Then Mr. Carruthers got rid of Mr. Barton and came towards us. I settled myself more comfortably on the velvet cus.h.i.+ons. Purple velvet cus.h.i.+ons and curtains in this gallery, good old relics of early Victorian taste. Lots of the house is awful, but these curtains always please me.

Mr. Carruthers's face was as stern as a stone bust of Augustus Caesar. I am sure the monks in the Inquisition looked like that. I do wonder what he was going to say, but Lord Robert did not give him time.

”Do go away, Christopher,” he said. ”Miss Travers is going to teach me things about Italian Madonnas, and I can't keep my attention if there is a third person about.”

I suppose if Mr. Carruthers had not been a diplomat he would have sworn, but I believe that kind of education makes you able to put your face how you like, so he smiled sweetly and took a chair near.

”I shall not leave you, Bob,” he said. ”I do not consider you are a good companion for Miss Evangeline. I am responsible for her, and I am going to take care of her.”

”Then you should not have asked him here if he is not a respectable person,” I said, innocently. ”But Italian Madonnas ought to chasten and elevate his thoughts. Anyway, your responsibility towards me is self-const.i.tuted. I am the only person whom I mean to obey,” and I settled myself deliberately in the velvet pillows.

”Not a good companion!” exclaimed Lord Robert. ”What dam cheek, Christopher! I have not my equal in the whole Household Cavalry, as you know.”

They both laughed, and we continued to talk in a sparring way--Mr.