Part 36 (1/2)
Lavinia was not over-pleased that they should have elected to visit London, and still less pleased that they should evince such an affection for the Hon Richard and his wife
”Well, to be sure, Lavvy, 'tis pleasant to sit here and ad, for perhaps the twentieth tirown positively old-fashi+oned fro in the country!yes, my dear, positively old-fashi+oned!I cannot but ! I am sure mine is not half the size of yours, and the lady down there in the stage-box has one even larger!”
Lavinia directed her gaze towards the box in question At any other time she would have been annoyed to see that the occupant was Lady Carlyle, her pet rival in all nified, and arlands of roses on the dress quite grotesque
Behind, Holt was directing Mr Fle's attention to a box at the back of the house
”'Pon my soul, William! 'Tis the duchess of Queensberry and her sonMarch, you know I assure you there is no one more amiable in town When I last visited her-”
”Charles knoell-nigh everyone here,” reenuously, and wondered why her cousin laughed
When the curtain rose on the first act, Lovelace was nowhere to be seen, and Lavinia tried to interest herself in the play But it is difficult to be interested in anything when one's wholeShe was not the only one of the party that Garrick failed to amuse Richard sat wretchedly in the shadow of the box, thinking how, in a short while, he would never again conduct his wife to the theatre and never again sit at her side watching her every change of expression
In the first interval Lovelace had still not arrived, but many other acquaintances had arrived and called to see the Carstares Markha, Devereux, Sir John Fortescueall cae to Lavinia, were introduced to Mrs Flehed and cracked jokes with the ain
Hoas it she had never before realised how much she enjoyed her life? wondered Lavinia She settled down to listen to the second act, and Garrick's skill caught her interest and held it For a ot her woes and clapped as heartily as anyone, laughing as gaily
The next instant she relooh, and his heart was even gloomier than hers
There was no help for it: Lavinia was delighted at the thought of leaving hi suddenly demanded if it was not Tracy seated in the box over on the other side Lavinia turned to look In the box, alone, sat his Grace, seely unaware of her presence
”Is it not Tracy?” persisted Mrs Fle ”I remember his face so well”
”Yes,” nodded Lavinia, and waved to him
Andover rose, bowed, and left his box In a fewhis cousin's hand
Lavinia now caught sight of Lovelace standing on the floor of the theatre looking up at her He, too, disappeared fro to speak with her He had evidently failed to perceive the Duke, as just a little behind her in the shadow
Richard and Mr Fleing Mrs Fleo! Hoas she ever to give Lovelace her ansith hily
Captain Lovelace knocked at the door Carelessly she bade hi hih narrowed lids, and shot a swift glance at Lovelace, whose disco him there was palpable Not a trace of emotion was visible on that impassive countenance, but Lavinia felt her brother's attitude to be sinister, as if he divined her wishes and was determined to frustrate the hin, she was not sure which, he had so placed the chairs that he himself was between her and the captain Skilfully he drew Mrs Flee
Lavinia found herself listening to the amiable Mr Holt, and out of the tail of her eye observed that Lovelace had fallen a victi to hie- the scene Lavinia was now quite certain that he was ed to speak to Lovelace to-night, and was deterine, but she was too well acquainted with hirace herself if he could help itshe knew that In whatever ht behave, his sister's conductthem until he could cause Lovelace to be removed She did not in the least knoould contrive to-do this, but she never doubted that he could and would And then she would have to stay with RichardRichard, who did not want her If only Tracy would go! Ah! he was rising!
His Grace of Andover begged Captain Lovelace to bear him company in his box He would brook no refusal He bore his captive off in triu re-entered the box The third act had just begun when Richard re-appeared, and softly took his seat On went the play Neither Tracy nor Lovelace ca the next interval, and froe Lavinia could see that Andrew had been introduced to the latter She could guess how cleverly his Grace was keeping the Captain by hio returned from Bath, came to pay his respects He had much to tell dear Lady Lavinia How Cholht a duel in Crescent Fields, and had been arrested How furious the Beau was, but how his age was beginning to tell on hi
All of which at any ordinary tiiously, but now bored and even annoyed her
On went the play Scrub and Boniface kept the house in a roar; all but Richard and his ere enthralled The incomparable Kitty failed to hold Lavinia's attention Would Lovelace e to speak to her in the last interval? A solicitous enquiry fro roused her, and she had perforce to sht headache, and to evince some interest in the play One more interval: would he come? She becaravely courteous, sounded in her ears
”You are heated, my dear Will you walk outside a little?”
She felt ato his hand, and suppressed it forcibly She rose, hesitating Mrs Fle How considerate of you, Mr Carstares! I shall like to walk a to escort us, too! What say you, Lavvy?”
”Ioh, I shall be pleased to do what suits you best, cousin,” she answered
”Then let us go, my love Charles has an arm for each, so we may leave our husbands to chat”
They went out into the broad passage and walked towards the foyer There Lord March espied Lavinia, as always a favourite with hi his arm Lavinia took it, thankful to escape from Mr Holt's vapid conversation She let March conduct her to where his , with Mr Selwyn at her elbow
Sou ca out of his box, Richard fell into the arms of his Grace of Andover
”Ah! dick!”
Richard eyed hi approaching ”Only to ask if Iimportant to say”
”Certainly,” bowed Richard, and turned aside
Lovelace, who had succeeded in escaping from the Bel her in her box, he gathered she must be in the foyer andshe set down her glass and rose to her feet
”Oh, Captain Lovelace! Have you come to fetchNo, Markham, you may not come! No, nor you, my lord!
Madam-” She curtsied low to the old duchess and walked away on Harold's are behind the boxes, he turned eagerly towards her
”Well, my dearest? Well?”
Lady Lavinia's mouth drooped miserably
”Yes,” she said, ”I shall have to co, to say the least of it, but he did not seem to notice it
”Lavinia! You mean it?”
”Yes,” she assented, still more dejectedly