Miss Montressor and her friend sat on
either side of their host - an arrangement which Mrs. Da Souza
lamented, but found herself powerless to prevent, and her husband
took the vacant place. Dinner was served, and with the opening of
the champagne, which was not long delayed, tongues were loosened.
"It was very hot in the City to-day," Mrs. Da Souza remarked to her
host. "Dear Ju1ie was saying what a shame it seemed that you
should be there and we should be enjoying your beautiful gardens.
She is so thoughtful, so sympathetic! Dear girl!"
"Very kind of your daughter," Trent answered, looking directly at
her and rather inclined to pity her obvious shyness. "Come, drink
up, Da Souza, drink up, girls! I've had a hard day and I want to
forget for a bit that there's any such thing as work."
Miss Montressor raised her glass and winked at her host.
"It don't take much drinking, this, General," she remarked, cheerily
draining her glass! "Different to the 'pop' they give us down at
the 'Star,' eh, Flossie? Good old gooseberry I call that!"
"Da Souza, look after Miss Flossie," Trent said. "Why don't you
fill her glass? That's right!"
"Hiram!"
Da Souza removed his hand from the back of his neighbour's chair
and endeavoured to look unconscious.
Pages:
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100