"De Malfort, you know I must not listen to foolish raptures."
"I know you have been refusing to hear for the last two years."
They were on the terrace now, she leaning on the broad marble balustrade,
he standing beside her, and all the traffic of London moving with the tide
below them.
"To return to our party," she said, in a lighter tone, for that spurt of
jealousy had betrayed her into seriousness. "It will be very awkward not to
invite my sister to go with me."
"If you did she would refuse, belike, for she is under Fareham's thumb; and
he disapproves of everything human."
"Under Fareham's thumb! What nonsense! Indeed I must invite her. She would
think it so strange to be omitted."
"Not if you manage things cleverly. The party is to be a surprise. You can
tell her next morning you knew nothing about it beforehand."
"But she will hear me order the barge--or will see me start."
"There will be no barge. I shall carry you to Millbank in my coach, after
your evening's entertainment, wherever that may be."
"I had better take my own carriage at least, or my chair."
"You can have a chair, if you are too prudish to use my coach, but it shall
be got for you at the moment.
Pages:
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349