It was entirely at Mr. Briggs's
disposal, and she hoped he would do nothing so absurd as go to an
hotel--he, the owner of the whole place.
Rose listened to this speech wide-eyed with amazement. Mrs.
Fisher laughed very much as she made it. Lotty laughed very much too,
and at the end of it bent down and kissed her again--kissed her several
times.
"So you see, my dear boy," said Mrs. Fisher, "you must stay here
and give us all a great deal of pleasure."
"A great deal indeed," corroborated Mr. Wilkins heartily.
"A very great deal," repeated Mrs. Fisher, looking exactly like a
please mother.
"Do," said Rose, on Briggs's turning inquiringly to her.
"How kind of you all," he said, his face broad with smiles. "I'd
love to be a guest here. What a new sensation. And with three such--"
He broke off and looked round. "I say," he asked, "oughtn't I to
have a fourth hostess? Francesca said she had four mistresses."
"Yes. There's Lady Caroline," said Lotty.
"Then hadn't we better find out first if she invites me too?"
"Oh, but she's sure--" began Lotty.
"The daughter of the Droitwiches, Briggs," said Mr. Wilkins, "is
not likely to be wanting in the proper hospitable impulses."
"The daughter of the--" repeated Briggs; but he stopped dead, for
there in the doorway was the daughter of the Droitwiches herself; or
rather, coming towards him out of the dark doorway into the brightness
of the sunset, was that which he had not in his life yet seen but only
dreamed of, his ideal of absolute loveliness.
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