In a freak of unaccountable reluctance to believe it was really the
Marquis girl, Lucinda looked a second time. More than a month had passed
since that brief, distressing chapter of their acquaintance, which
Lucinda had put out of mind so completely that her efforts to recall the
features of the other conjured up only a foggy impression of a shabby,
haggard, haunted shadow, by turns wistful and feebly defiant, that bore
what might be no more than chance likeness to this figure of flaunting
extravagance at Bellamy's table.
A question forming on her lips, Lucinda turned back to Summerlad, but
surprised the tail of his eye veering hastily away, and fancied a shade
of over-elaboration in the easy, incurious air he was quick to resume;
as if he wished her to believe he either hadn't noticed those two or
else saw no significance in their association on terms apparently so
intimate and mutually diverting.
So she held her tongue for a while, till the comforting suggestion
offered that Lynn in all probability had but sought to spare her
feelings....
She stole another glance across the room. By every indication Bellamy
found his company most entertaining; he was paying her sallies a tribute
of smiling attention which she as evidently found both grateful and
inspiring. It was plain that she had had enough to drink and something
more; but on that question she held strong views of her own, and while
Lucinda was looking drained her highball glass and with an air
peremptory and arch planted it in front of Bellamy to be replenished; a
service which he rendered with the aid of a pocket flask--adding to his
own glass, however, water only.
Not that _that_ necessarily meant anything. Bellamy knew the chances
were that Lucinda was watching him. Still, one had to admit he was
showing none of those too familiar symptoms; in that gathering, where
the cold sober were few and far between, Bel looked conspicuously so.
Was he, then, to be believed when he insisted he had finally foresworn
alcohol in remorse for having driven Lucinda to leave him? One
wondered....
Summerlad was eyeing her with a quizzical air. Lucinda managed half a
smile.
"Having a good time, Linda?"
"I can't complain." A slight movement of shoulders rounded out the
innuendo.