Lady Merrenden is so nice--one of those kind faces that even a tight
fringe in a net does not spoil. She is tall and graceful, past fifty
perhaps, and has an expression of Lord Robert about the eyes. At luncheon
she was sweet to me at once, and did not look as if she thought I must be
bad just because I have red hair, like elderly ladies do generally.
I felt I wanted to be good and nice directly. She did not allude to my
desolate position or say anything without tact, but she asked me to lunch
as if I had been a queen and would honor her by accepting. For some reason
I could see Lady Ver did not wish me to go--she made all sorts of excuses
about wanting me herself--but also, for some reason, Lady Merrenden was
determined I should, and finally settled it should be on Saturday, when
Lady Ver is going down to Northumberland to her father's, and I am
going--where? Alas! as yet I know not.
When she had gone Lady Ver said old people without dyed hair or bridge
proclivities were tiresome, and she smoked three cigarettes, one after
the other as fast as she could. (Welby is going to the theatre again
to-night!)
I said I thought Lady Merrenden was charming. She snapped my head off for
the first time, and then there was silence, but presently she began to
talk, and fix herself in a most becoming way on the sofa--we were in her
own sitting-room, a lovely place, all blue silk and French furniture and
attractive things. She said she had a cold and must stay in-doors. She had
changed immediately into a tea-gown, but I could not hear any cough.
"Charlie has just wired he comes back to-night," she announced, at length.
"How nice for you!" I sympathized; "you will be able to make his heart
beat!"
"As a matter of fact, it is extremely inconvenient, and I want you to be
nice to him, and amuse him, and take his attention off me, like a pet,
Evangeline," she cooed; and then: "What a lovely afternoon for November! I
wish I could go for a walk in the park," she said.
I felt it would be cruel to tease her further, and so announced my
intention of taking exercise in that way with the angels.
"Yes, it will do you good, dear child," she said, brightly, "and I will
rest here and take care of my cold."
"They have asked me to tea in the nursery," I said, "and I have accepted."
"Jewel of a snake-girl!" she laughed--she is not thick.
"Do you know the Torquilstone history?" she said, just as I was going out
of the door.