Koenig's pride was measureless, and Glory did not get off lightly. He
cleared the floor for her, and announced that with the indulgence, etc.,
the young artiste would give an imitation of common girls singing in the
street.
The company laughed until they screamed, and when the song was finished
Glory was being overwhelmed with congratulations and inquiries,
“Charming! All your pieces are charming! But really, my dear young lady,
you must be more careful about our feelings. Those sheep now--it was
really quite too sad.” The old lady with the ear-trumpet asked Glory
whether she could go on for the whole of an afternoon, and if she felt
much fatigued sometimes, and didn't often catch cold.
But the lady in satin came to her relief at last. “You will need some
refreshment,” she said. “Let me see now if I can not----” and she lifted
her glass and looked round the room. At the next moment a voice that
made a shudder pass over her said:
“Perhaps _I_ may have the pleasure of taking Miss Quayle down.”
It was Drake. His eyes were as blue and boyish as before, but Glory
observed at once that he had grown a mustache, and that his face and
figure were firmer and more manlike. A few minutes afterward they had
passed through one of the windows on to the terrace and were walking to
and fro.
It was cool and quiet out there after the heat and hubbub of the
drawing-room. The night was soft and still. Hardly a breath of wind
stirred the leaves of the trees in the park below. The rain had left a
dewy moistness in the air, and a fragrant mist was lying over the grass.
The stars were out, and the moon had just risen behind the towers of
Westminster.
Glory was flushed with her success. Her eyes sparkled and her step was
light and free. Drake touched her hand as it lay on his arm and said:
“And now that I've got you to myself I must begin by scolding you.”
They looked at one another and smiled. “Have I displeased you so much
to-night?” she said.
“It's not that. Where have you been all this time?”
“Ah, if you only knew!” She had stopped and was looking into the
darkness.
“I _want_ to know. Why didn't you answer my letter?”
“Your letter?” She was clutching at the lilies of the valley in her
bosom.
He tapped her hand lightly and said, “Well, we'll not quarrel this time,
only don't do it again, you know, or else----”
She recovered herself and laughed. Her voice had a silvery ring, and
he thought it was an enchanting smile that played upon her face. They
resumed their walk.
“And now about to-night. You have had a success, of course.”
“Why of course?”
“Because I always knew you must have.”
She was proud and happy. He began to be grave and severe.
“But the drawing-room after dinner is no proper scene for your talents.
The audience is not in the right place or the right mood. Guests and
auditors--their duties clash. Besides, to tell you the truth, art is a
dark continent to people like these.”
“They were kind to me, at all events,” said Glory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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