Stephen! Stephen! she said under her breath, its because Ive a few things to scold you about that Ive asked you to Shotover.
I suppose I know, he said.
I should hope you do. Ive a letter to-night from your mother.
From my mother?
I want you to go over itwith meif we can find a minute after dinner. She released his hand, turning partly around: Kemp, dinners been announced, so cut that dog story in two! Will you give me your arm Major Belwether? Howard!to her cousin, Mr. Quarrier, who turned from Miss Landis to listenwill you please try to recollect whom you are to take inand do it? And, as she passed Siward, in a low voice, mischievous and slangy: Sylvia Landis for yoursas she says she didnt have enough of you on the cliffs.
The others appeared to know how to pair according to some previous notice. Siward turned to Sylvia Landis with the pleasure of his good fortune so plainly visible in his face, that her own brightened in response.
You see, she said gaily, you cannot escape me. There is no use in looking wildly at Agatha Caithnesshe wasntor pretending youre pleased, slipping her rounded, bare arm through the arm he offered. You cant guess what Ive done to-nightnobody can guess except Grace Ferrall and one other person. And if you try to look happy beside me, I may tell yousomewhere between sherry and cognacOh, yes; Ive done two things: I have your dog for you!
Not Sagamore? he said incredulously as he was seating her.
Certainly Sagamore. I said to Mr. Quarrier, I want Sagamore, and when he tried to give him to me, I made him take my cheque. Now you may draw another for me at your leisure, Mr. Siward. Tell me, are you pleased?for she was looking for the troubled hesitation in his face and she saw it dawning.
Mr. Quarrier doesnt like me, you know
But I do, she said coolly. I told him how much pleasure it would give me. That is sufficientis it not?for everybody concerned.
He knew that you meant to
No, that concerns only you and me. Are you trying to spoil my pleasure in what I have done?
I cant take the dog, Miss Landis
Oh, she said, vexed; I had no idea you were vindictive
There was a silence; he bent forward a trifle, gravely scrutinising a hand-painted name card, though it might not have astonished him to learn that somebodys foot had held the brush. Somewhere in the vicinity Grace Ferrall had discovered a woman who supported dozens of relatives by painting that sort of thing for the summer residents at Vermillion Point down the coast. So being charitable she left an order, and being thrifty, insisted on using the cards, spite of her husbands gibes.
People were now inspecting them with more or less curiosity; Siward found his hand-painting so unattractive that he had just tipped it over to avoid seeing it, when a burst of laughter from Lord Alderdene made everybody turn. Mrs. Vendenning was laughing; so was Rena Bonnesdel looking over Quarriers shoulder at a card he was holdingnot one of the hand-decorated, but a sheet of note-paper containing a drawing of a man rushing after a gun-shy dog.
The extraordinary cackling laughter of his lordship obliterated other sounds for a while; Rena Bonnesdel possessed herself of the drawing and held it up amid a shout of laughter. And, to his excessive annoyance, Siward saw that, unconsciously, he had caricatured QuarrierFerralls malicious request for a Vandyke beard making the caricature dreadfully apparent.
Quarrier had at first flushed up; then he forced a smile; but his symmetrical features were never cordial when he smiled.
Who on earth did that? whispered Sylvia Landis apprehensively. Mr. Quarrier dislikes that sort of thingbut of course hell take it well.
Did he ever chase his own dog? asked Siward, biting his lip.
Yesso Blinky saysin the Carolinas last season. Its Blinky!thats his notion of humour. Did you ever hear such a laugh? No wonder Mr. Quarrier is annoyed.
The gay uproar had partly subsided, renewed here and there as the sketch was passed along, and finally, making the circle, returned like a bad penny to Quarrier. He smiled again, symmetrically, as he received it, nodding his compliments to Alderdene.
Oh, no, cackled his lordship; I didnt draw it, old chap!
Nor I! I only wish I could, added Captain Voucher.
Nor Inor Iwho did it? ran the chorus along the table.
I didnt do it! said Sylvia gravely, looking across at Quarrier. And suddenly Quarriers large, handsome eyes met Siwards for the briefest fraction of a second, then were averted. But into his face there crept an expressionless pallor that did not escape Siwardno, nor Sylvia Landis.
Presently under cover of a rapid fire of chatter she said: Did you draw that?
Yes; I had no idea it was meant for him. You may imagine how likely Id be to take any liberty with a man who already dislikes me.
But it resembles himin a very dreadful way.
I know it. You must take my word for what I have told you.
She looked up at him: I do. Then: Its a pity; Mr. Quarrier does not consider such things humourous. Hehe is very sensitive.... Oh, I wish that fool Englishman had been in Ballyhoo!
But he didnt do it!
No, but he put you up to itor Grace Ferrall did. I wish Grace would let Mr. Quarrier alone; she has always been perfectly possessed to plague him; she seems unable to take him seriously and he simply hates it. I dont think hed tolerate her if she were not his cousin.
Im awfully sorry, was all Siward said; and for a while he gloomily busied himself with whatever was brought to him.
Dont look that way, came a low voice beside him.
Do I show everything as plainly as that? he asked, curiously.
I seem to read yousometimes.
Its very nice of you, he said.
Nice?
To look at menow and then.
Oh, she cried resentfully, dont be grateful.
Ireally am not you know, he said laughing.
That, she rejoined slowly, is the truth. You say conventional things in a mannerin an agreeably personal manner that interests women. But you are not grateful to anybody for anything; you are indifferent, and you cant help being nice to people, sosome daysome girl will think you are grateful, and will have a miserable time of it.
Miserable time?
Waiting for you to say what never will enter your head to say.
You mean II
Flirt? No, I mean that you dont flirt; that you are always dreamily occupied with your own affairs, from which listlessly congenial occupation, when drawn, you are so unexpectedly nice that a girl immediately desires to see how nice you can be.
What a charming indictment you draw! he said, amused.
Its a grave one I assure you. Ive been talking about you to Grace Ferrall; I asked to be placed beside you at dinner; I told her I hadnt had half enough of you on the cliff. Now what do you think of yourself for being too nice to a susceptible girl? I think its immoral.
They both were laughing now; several people glanced at them, smiling in sympathy. Alderdene took that opportunity to revert to the sketch, furnishing a specimen of his own inimitable laughter as a running accompaniment to the story of Quarrier and his dog in North Carolina, until he had everybody, as usual, laughing, not at the story but at him. All of which demonstration was bitterly offensive to Quarrier. He turned his eyes once on Miss Landis and on Siward, then dropped them.