Part 21 (1/2)
They eyed her incredulously
”You can't iine,” Sydney exclai asses as to believe piffle like that”
Anna leam of humour After all, it was really rather funny
”Well, I don't know,” she said thoughtfully ”I always notice that people find it very easy to believe what they want to believe, and you see I'm not in the least popular Miss Ellicot, for instance, considers me a most improper person”
”Miss Ellicot! That old cat!” Sydney exclainantly
”Miss Ellicot!” Brendon echoed ”As if it could possibly hed outright
”You are positively eloquent to-night--both of you,” she declared
”But, you see, appearances are very ainstin Paris, and a irl for his wife, as a rule, for nothing He was painfully in earnest, too I think you will find that his story will be believed, whatever I say; and in any case, if he is going to stay on here, I shall have to go away”
”Don't say that,” Sydney begged ”We will see that he never annoys you”
Anna shook her head
”He is evidently a friend of Mrs White's,” she said, ”and if he is going to persist in this delusion, we cannot both reo,” she added ”This is s are moderately clean, and I should hate rooms all by myself Dear me, what a nuisance it is to have a pseudo husband shot down upon one from the skies”
”And such a beast of a one,” Sydney reorously
Brendon looked across the roohtfully
”I wonder,” he said, ”is there anything we could do to help you to get rid of hi?” Anna answered ”I can't! He appears to be a most immovable person”
Brendon hesitated for a ht to be so at him,” he said ”The fellow seems to know your naht we ask you if you have ever seen hi?”
She stood up suddenly, and turning her back to the street, a thoroughfare of boarding-houses and apartments The steps, even the paveers driven outside by the unusual heat of the evening,dress in Montague Street The sound of their strident voices floated upwards, the high nasal note of the predoirls quick to appreciate the wit of such of theirA young an was grinding out a _pot pourri_ of popular airs Anna raised her eyes Above the housetops it was different She drew a long breath After all, why need one look down Always the other things remained
”I think,” she said, ”that I would rather not have anything to say about that man”
”It isn't necessary,” they both declared breathlessly
Brendon dislanced at his watch
”Let us walk round to Covent Garden,” he suggested ”I daresay the gallery will be full, but there is always the chance, and I know you two are keen on Melba”
The girl shook her head