HARRY
Harry de Freyne stood in his usual position, smoking a cigarette, and
leaning a little forward, with his back to the mirror as if to resist
the temptation of looking into it. The family good looks were acutely
accentuated in this young man. He had the smooth, glossy dark hair,
white teeth, and speaking dark grey eyes that women like; clearly-cut
features, and the rather prominent chin, generally and mistakenly
supposed to show strength of character. His pleasant, clean-shaven,
slightly sunburnt face bore an expression of animation with a certain
humorous anxiety natural in a man who was generally a good deal in debt
and always a little in love. Further he had the advantage of a tall,
strong yet supple figure, with a natural grace of movement and much
personal charm. Harry knew he was good-looking and did not undervalue
the fact, but regarded it solely as an asset, not as a private
satisfaction. He regarded everything as an asset. He was no fop,
although he wore a single eye-glass rather as a concession to some ideal
of dandyism than as a help to clear vision. He could see remarkably
well, with or without it.
The long Empire mirror was placed above a delightful early English large
open fireplace, in which burnt a Parisian-looking wood fire. Harry was
the possessor of a fine--indeed, a magnificent studio, full of good old
things, chiefly other people's, and bad new things, principally his own.
The theory that all bad art is the result of sincere feeling was
certainly not exemplified in his case. The portrait of his cousin that
had been regarded as so full of promise was, as he always, said, the
only decent piece of work he had ever done. He had been educated for
diplomacy, and learnt eight languages, some of which he spoke fluently,
and in all of which he could look with expression.
The room was no mere exhibition of bric-à-brac, but was a cosy, shadowy,
miscellaneous place, not without an ecclesiastical touch here and there.
One felt every subject could be gone into there, from stockbroking to
love, and that everything could be done there, whether it was praying,
eating, singing, or flirting--everything except perhaps painting.
When the servant announced Mrs. Wyburn and Miss de Freyne one might have
fancied Harry looked slightly disappointed, but he greeted the pretty
creatures with suitable effusion and high spirits.
They both sat down rather carefully in the corner seats by the fire.
"Romer can't come, he's dining with his mother," announced Valentia. "He
ought to, you know, now and then."
"I don't like her," said Daphne, "she abuses every one."
"I know she does, but she's really not so bad, dear, all the same; there
are many worse. She's rather spiteful, but warmhearted--awfully kind if
you break your leg," said Valentia.
"But you don't break your leg," said Harry.
"Oh, sometimes you do. At any rate you might. Don't encourage Daphne to
argue, Harry. Who did you say you'd ask instead if we couldn't get
Romer?"
"Rathbone's just written to accept in his place," said Harry, taking out
a letter. "But--don't you think we could persuade Romer if we tried
hard? However, you know best."
He took out a list. "Hereford Vaughan, Van Buren, Rathbone and
me--that's four; you two, Lady Walmer, and Miss Luscombe, the actress. I
think that'll do."
"Lady Walmer?" repeated Valentia. "Why?"
"And a real actress!" murmured Daphne.
"Not a real actress. She's walked on at all the principal theatres in
London, and somebody's always going to take a theatre for her, but
there's no danger. I told Van Buren that on the stage they think she's
in society, and in society they believe she's on the stage. And he
thinks it's real cute, and an extraordinary English type."
"How are you getting on with him?"
"Beautifully,--if he weren't so beastly intelligent and inquisitive. He
always wants to know all the news and all the latest gossip. What do you
think he asked me last night? Why Big Ben was called Big Ben! How on
earth should I know!"
"Big who?"
"Not big anybody;--the place, the thing;--the clock. He said no doubt I
must think him dreadfully ignorant for not knowing, but he felt he must
ask."
Smiling at the recollection, Harry lighted another cigarette.
"What did you say?" Daphne asked.
"If it had been the afternoon I think I'd have taken the risk and told
him I didn't know, but as it was the evening--he always gets rather
excited in the evening after dinner and so much Perrier water,--walking
back to the Ritz in the moonlight, and talking about London, I invented
a long story.--No, he won't repeat it, don't be frightened; it was
really rather awful; and when Van Buren gives you his word of honour not
to tell a thing ..."
"You're all right! That must be a great help," said Valentia
sympathetically.
"It shows he has a nice loyal nature," Daphne remarked. "I admire that
sort of thing very much."
"A nice loyal nature! I should think he has! He hates spreading scandal,
and he wouldn't say a single word now to take away the character of Big
Ben--if it was----"
"What?"
"Oh, if it was ever so! You ought to make Daphne wear one of those thin
tulle veils to match her hat. They're jolly--you can get them at that
shop close to me."
"Oh, she needn't, she's going to be manicured, and she's coming back
here for me in a quarter of an hour."
"Good-bye, darling," said Daphne, standing up, and she made a kind of
face, which Valentia understood to mean the word Foster.
"What is the child playing at?" said Harry. "If you two have a code it
would be as well to learn it."
"All right," said Valentia to Daphne.
Harry walked with her to the door and she ran out, saying, "I won't be
long."
"She wants Foster, the baby Guardsman," explained Valentia.
"Oh, why didn't you say so at first? Of course I suppose they've
arranged it. At any rate it's as good as done. Then there must be one
more woman. But never mind now."
Harry sat down beside her and said, in a different voice--he had a very
good voice, especially when he spoke caressingly--
"How interesting you are! One of your eyebrows is a little thicker than
the other."
"Oh, Harry!..."
"How are we all going to get home that evening?"
"What do you think?" she asked.
"Well, it's like this, as you may say. We'll all meet at the Ritz and
dine there. Good. Then we drive in separate vehicles to here, and have
some music. Then I see you both home, and--well, I think that's all.
It's not much."
"I don't quite like the way Lady Walmer looks at you, Harry."
"Oh, Valentia! If it comes to that, how do you fondly imagine I shall
like the way Rathbone is sure to look at you?"
"Oh, Harry! Why, he's tattooed!"
"You see," went on Harry seriously, "I really am making a dash for it
about Daphne. She'll really be happy with Van Buren, and _I_ shall be
ever so much happier,--with Van Buren and everyone else,--because,
through Daphne being always with you, I never see you alone for one
single second."
"Oh, you exaggerate, Harry!"
"I know I do. I don't see you for half a second."
"Romer has been so nice lately," she answered gently.
"Very amusing, I suppose?"
"But--I often think how very nice he really is."
"Oh, don't say that, even in fun. I'm coming to stay with you in the
summer--at the Green Gate--unless you'd rather ask Rathbone instead."
"Or unless you'd rather go yachting with the Walmers," she remarked.
"They have a daughter, haven't they?"
"Oh, Valentia, be anything but blasphemous!..."
"Really?... Oh, Harry!"
"Do you mean to say you need my saying it?"
"No."
"Then, I will. Valentia, I--"
She got up and opened the door so that Daphne should not have to ring
when she returned.
When the two sisters left a few minutes later, Harry sat down again as
if in deep thought and lighted a cigarette. His servant came in.
"Please, sir, Mr. Van Buren is at the telephone."
"Oh well, tell him ... Oh no--, all right--I'll go."