Part 35 (1/2)
”Hey? What's that you say?”
”Nought When you have quite finished your eulogy, perhaps you would consent to tell s the pair! Think of it!Well, the pointthere is one, you seeis this: it is Richard's desire that you honour him with your presence at Wyncham on Friday week, at three in the afternoon exactly To which effect he sends you this” He tossed a letter on to the desk ”You are like to have the felicity ofme there”
Tracy ripped open the packet and spread the single sheet on the desk before hih very deliberately, turned it over, as if in search of more, re-read it, folded it, and dropped it into the wastebasket at his side He then picked up his quill and dipped it in the ink again
”What think you?” demanded Andrew, impatiently
His Grace wrote tranquilly on to the end of the line
”What think I of what?”
”Why, the letter, of course! What ails the reat import to impart to us,' forsooth! What means he?”
”Yes, I noticed 'twas very badly worded,” couest notion as to his ”
”But what do you make of it? Lord, Tracy, don't be such a fish!+ dick is su quite a party!”
”You appear to be in his confidence, ratulate you
No doubt we shall know o, then?”
”Quite possibly” He went on writing unconcernedly
”And you've no idea of what 'tis about? dick is very strange He hardly listens to what one has to say, and fidgetLord!”
”Ah!”
”I think he looks ill, an' 'pon ht amiss?”
”I really have no idea Pray do not let me detain you”
Andrew hoisted hi, never fear!I suppose you cannot oblige uineas?”
”I should be loth to upset your suppositions,” replied his Grace sweetly
”You will not? Well; I didn't think you would soht contrive to let ious ill-luck of late, and the Lord knows 'tis not ain”
”I should not let the perforreed the other ”Fifty, you said?”
”Forty-five would suffice”
”Oh, you ed his Grace ”At once?”
”Blister ood of you, Tracy! At once would be convenient to me! ”
His Grace produced a key from his vest pocket and unlocked a drawer in the desk Frouineas, and added another to the pile
Andrew stared at it
”What's that for?” he inquired
”The stockings,” replied Tracy, with a ghost of a sood! Gad! but you're devilish a, 'pon rep you are!” He thanked his Grace profusely and gathering up the ave vent to a lohistle of astonishment ”Tare an' ouns! he !” he marvelled ”I shall awaken soon, I doubt not” He chuckled a little as he descended the staircase, but his face was full of wonderment
Lovelace called nearly every day at Wyncham House, but was always refused admittance, as Lady Lavinia deemed it prudent not to see hiainsaid, and was ushered into her drawing-roo while in his
”Lavinia! Cruel fair one!”
She drew her hands away, not too well pleased at his intrusion
”How silly, Harold! I cannot have you tease me every day!”
She allowed hiain possessed hioing to be foolish Of course not He did not believe her, and started to plead his suit, i her to coed him to be quiet; she had stirred up a blaze, and it threatened to consu Richard at any moment, and terrified lest there should be a disturbance, she pro, at the theatre She h, watched him walk down the square She was very fond of dear Harry, but really, he was dreadfully tiresoht her tiny mirror out fro a tweak to one curl, and s rather old this evening, and hoped that Richard would not think so She glanced up at the clock, wondering where he was; surely he should be in by now? Then she arranged a chair invitingly, pushed a stool up to it and sat down opposite With a sigh, she reflected that it was an entirely new departure for her to strive to please and captivate her husband, and she fell a-thinking of how heas she aiting nowhoping for her arrival Lady Lavinia was beginning to realise that perhaps dick's life had not been all roses with her as wife
The door opened and Richard came into the room Deep lines were between his brows, but his mouth was for once set fir how very beautiful she was
Lady Lavinia smiled and nodded towards the chair she had prepared
”Sit down, dicky! I alad you have come! I was monstrous dull and lonely, I assure you!”
”Were you?” he said, fidgeting with her scissors ”No, I will not sit down I have so to tell you”
”Oh, have you?” she asked ”So nice, dicky?”
”I fear you will hardly think so I am about to make an end”
”Oh-oh, are you? Of what? ”