But a much more important event was now about to happen which the
theatrical papers would have been glad to get for their weekly gossip,
had the persons chiefly concerned thought fit. Just at this time there
was being formed in London, under distinguished patronage, a
loan-collection of arms and embroideries of the Middle Ages, and
there was to be a Private View on the Saturday preceding the opening of
the exhibition to the public. Among others, Miss Burgoyne received a
couple of cards of invitation, whereupon she came to Lionel, told him
that her brother Jim was going to see some football match on that day,
explained that she was very anxious to have a look at the precious
needle-work, and virtually asked him to take her to the show. Lionel
hung back; the crowd at this Private View was sure to include a number
of fashionable folk; there might be one or two people there whom he
would rather not meet. But Miss Burgoyne was gently persuasive, not to
say pertinacious; he could not well refuse; finally it was arranged he
should call for her about half past one o'clock on the Saturday, so that
they might have a look round before the crush began in the afternoon.
Trust an actress to know how to dress for any possible occasion! When he
called for her, he found her attired in a most charming costume; though,
to be sure, when she was at last ready to go, he may have thought her
furs a trifle too magnificent for her height. They drove in a hansom to
Bond Street. There were few people in the rooms, certainly no one whom
he knew; she could study those gorgeous treasures of embroidery from
Italy and the East, he could examine the swords and daggers and coats of
mail, as they pleased. And when they had lightly glanced round the
rooms, he was for getting away again; but she was bent on remaining
until the world should arrive, and declared that she had not half
exhausted the interest of the various cases.
As it chanced, the first persons he saw whom he knew were Miss Georgie
Lestrange and her brother; and Miss Georgie, not perceiving that any one
was with him (for Miss Burgoyne was at the moment feasting her eyes on
some rich-hued Persian stuffs), came up to him.
"Why, Mr. Moore, you have quite disappeared of late," the ruddy-haired
damsel said, quite reproachfully. "Where have you been? What have you
been doing?"
"Don't you ever read the newspapers, Miss Lestrange?" he said. "I have
been advertised as being on view every night at the New Theatre."
"Oh, I don't mean that. Lady Adela says you have quite forsaken her."
"Is Lady Adela to be here this afternoon?" he asked, in an off-hand way.
"Oh, certainly," replied Miss Georgie. "She is going everywhere just
now, in order to put everything into her new novel. It is to be a
perfectly complete picture of London life as we see it around us."
"That is, the London between Bond Street and Campden Hill?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account