Diary fiction; English fiction -- 20th century; Love stories; Young women -- Fiction
I can’t write the whole details of the rest of the visit. I was
miserable, and that is the truth. Fate seemed to be against Lord Robert
speaking to me--even when he tried--and I felt I must be extra cool and
nasty because I--Oh! well, I may as well say it--he attracts me very
much. I never once looked at him from under my eyelashes, and after the
next day, he did not even try to have an explanation.
He glanced with wrath sometimes--especially when Malcolm hung over
me--and Lady Ver said his temper was dreadful.
She was so sweet to me, it almost seemed as if she wanted to make up to
me for not letting me play with Lord Robert.
(Of course I would not allow her to see I minded that.)
And finally Friday came, and the last night.
I sat in my room from tea until dinner. I could not stand Malcolm any
longer. I had fenced with him rather well up to that, but that promise
of mine hung over me. I nipped him every time he attempted to explain
what it was, and to this moment l don’t know, but it did not prevent
him from saying tiresome, loving things, mixed with priggish advice. I
don’t know what would have happened only when he got really horribly
affectionate just after tea I was so exasperated, I launched this bomb.
“I don’t believe a word you are saying--your real interest is Angela
Grey.”
He nearly had a fit, and shut up at once. So, of course, it is not a
horse. I felt sure of it. Probably one of those people Mrs. Carruthers
said all young men knew; their adolescent measles and chicken-pox she
called them.
All the old men talked a great deal to me; and even the other two
young ones, but these last days I did not seem to have any of my usual
spirits. Just as we were going to bed on Friday night Lord Robert came
up to Lady Ver--she had her hand through my arm.
“I can come to the play with you to-morrow night, after all,” he said.
“I have wired to Campion to make a fourth, and you will get some other
woman, won’t you?”
“I will try,” said Lady Ver, and she looked right into his eyes, then
she turned to me. “I shall feel so cruel leaving you alone, Evangeline”
(at once almost she called me Evangeline, I should never do that with
strangers), “but I suppose you ought not to be seen at a play just yet.”
“I like being alone,” I said. “I shall go to sleep early.”
Then they settled to dine all together at her house, and go on; so,
knowing I should see him again, I did not even say good-bye to Lord
Robert, and he left by the early train.
A number of the guests came up to London with us.
My leavetaking with Lady Katherine had been coldly cordial. I thanked
her deeply for her kindness in asking me there. She did not renew the
invitation; I expect she felt a person like I am, who would have to
look after herself, was not a suitable companion to her altar-cloth and
poker workers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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