"
Followed by the old man's insolent eyes, Tatham shook hands with
Faversham and the Penfolds; then without reentering the house, he took a
short cut across the garden and disappeared.
"Hm!" said Melrose, looking after him, "I can't say he resembles his
mother. His father was a plain fellow."
No one answered him. Mrs. Penfold nervously pressed for her carriage,
throwing herself on the help of Dixon, who was removing the tea things.
Melrose meanwhile seated himself, and with a magnificent gesture invited
the ladies to do the same. Mrs. Penfold obeyed; Lydia remained standing
behind her mother's chair. The situation reminded her of a covey of
partridges when a hawk is hovering.
Mrs. Penfold at once began to make conversation, saying the most
dishevelled things for sheer fright. Melrose threw her a monosyllable now
and then, reserving all his attention for the young girl, whose beauty he
instantly perceived. His piercing eyes travelled from Faversham to Lydia
repeatedly, and the invalid rather angrily divined the conjectures which
might be passing in their owner's brain.
* * * * *
"How are you?" asked Melrose abruptly, when he returned from accompanying
the Penfolds to the front door.
Faversham replied with some coldness. He was disgusted that Melrose
should have spoilt the final success of his little _festa_ by the breach
of a promise he had himself volunteered.
But Melrose appeared to be in an unusually good temper, and he took no
notice.
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193