Part 14 (1/2)

Philip feels left out. A jealous pang shoots through him like the stab of a knife, or the burning of iron red-hot on his flesh. Yet Eleanor, unconscious of the evil feelings she arouses, takes but little notice of her husband, and hangs upon Carol's words with eager interest, agrees with all he says, prevents him leaving twice when he rises to go, and hopes he will ”look in again” soon.

”You might have asked him to stay and dine, Philip,” she declares, when they are again alone. ”He is so chatty and amusing. Why, what are you looking so black about?”

”I can't bear the fellow,” mutters Philip. ”I should like to knock him down when he looks at you out of those loathsome eyes, and talks rot enough to make one sick. The worst of it is you _like_ him. I shudder for your taste.”

”You are prejudiced,” replies Eleanor hotly, ”you can't bear me to have a friend that is not of your own choosing! My taste wasn't a thing to be shuddered at when I married _you_, was it? A selfish, egotistical----”

”Hush, Eleanor,” he says, laying his hands firmly but not unkindly on her shoulders. ”Don't let us quarrel, you will be sorry afterwards.”

”I don't care _that_” (with a snap of her fingers) ”whether we quarrel or not. It is better, though, to speak out than bottle it up inside.

There! now you have got your reproachful look again, like the day you said I was vulgar! Let me go,” wriggling herself free.

She stifles a sob, bangs through the door, and runs upstairs whistling.

The refrain of the ”Miller's” song is wafted down to the hall in Eleanor's clear, rich voice:

I care for n.o.body, no, not I If n.o.body cares for me.

Philip walks slowly back to the sofa, gazes a moment at the cus.h.i.+ons, then buries his face in their midst, grinding his teeth.

CHAPTER VIII.

KIND HEARTS ARE MORE THAN CORONETS.

Giddy Mounteagle's face is wreathed in smiles as she talks animatedly to Eleanor.

”Yes, my dear,” she says triumphantly, ”Lady MacDonald comes to me to-morrow. She is one of the smartest women in town and moves in the best circles. She will stay the night and be the belle of my 'At home'

the following day. I long to introduce her to you. Such a stately, aristocratic-looking woman, a little 'difficult' sometimes, but usually charming. She takes offence if you introduce her to any one not _quite_ up to the mark, and, since her marriage, is very particular whom she knows. I used to see a great deal of her before she was Lady MacDonald, but lately we have drifted apart.”

”Is she stuck up?” asks Eleanor bluntly.

”No, that is hardly the word. 'Proud,' shall we say? 'dignified.'”

”Because she has married an old lord? How amusing! I shall like to see her.”

”I will bring her to tea with you, Eleanor,” replies Mrs. Mounteagle, feeling she is conferring an immense honour on Mrs. Roche. ”Mind you use that duck of a service, and wear your heliotrope gown. You look so _distingue_ in it, and dear Lady MacDonald notices clothes.”

”Any more orders?” asks Eleanor, laughing.

Giddy's glance sweeps over the room.

”Yes. Remove that awful photograph, the one of the old people outside a farmhouse. It is not ornamental, and quite spoils the beauty of that corner. Lady MacDonald is so critical it might catch her eye.”

”Then she will have to sit with her back to it or suffer,” replies Eleanor staunchly. ”It is my favourite picture, and I don't mean to take it down.”

Giddy sighs, puts on a martyred expression, and kicks the footstool.