Part 48 (1/2)
Sir John's reply was incoherent He called a waiter
”Garcon,” he said, ”will you ask the gentle a glass of ithHe had been on the point of leaving the restaurant He accepted the glass of wine, and bowed
”I drink your very good health, Sir John and Lady Ferringhall,” he said, ”and I wish you a pleasant journey back to England If I learatulate you upon your tie”
”Oh, da the loose ends inside his coat
”I propose,” Sir John said, ”that we pay for our dinner--which we haven't had--tip the garcon a sovereign, and take a cab to the Ritz”
Annabel shook her head
”Look at our clothes,” she exclaione down hi He would be so disappointed I a No, let us dine here, and then go and have our coffee on the boulevards We can take our things up with us and stay at the Continental or the Ritz”
”Excellent,” Sir John declared ”We will do Paris like the tourists, and thank God here coarcon was tipped as he had never been tipped before in his life They drove up into Paris in an open _fiacre_ with a soft cool wind blowing in their faces, hand in hand beneath the rug They went first to a hotel, and then out again on to the boulevards The natural gaiety of the place seehed and talked and stared about them She took his hand in hers
”Dear John,” she whispered ”We are to begin our ht--here where I first met you I shall only pray that I oodness to me”
Sir John, frankly oblivious of the possibility of passers-by, took her into his arms and kissed her Then he stood up and hailed a _fiacre_
”Hotel Ritz!”
_Chapter xxxI_
ANNA'S TEA PARTY
”I suppose you haven't the least idea who I am,” Lady Lescelles said, as she settled herself in Anna's most comfortable chair
”I have heard of you, of course,” Anna answered hesitatingly, ”but----”
”You cannot iel Ennison's sister!”
”Oh!” Anna said
”Nigel is like all men,” Lady Lescelles continued ”He is a sad blunderer He has helped h, no end of tiood sort--and now he has come to me to help him if I can Do you know that he is very much in love with you?”
Anna s of the sort”
”And you have sent him about his business He tells me that you will not even see him I don't want to bother you, of course A woel see a little ht, to have soht
There, that sounds frightfully involved, doesn't it, but perhaps you can el at all?”
Anna was silent for a raceful, very fashi+onably but quietly dressed, leaned back and watched her with shrewd kindly eyes