Paul's Cathedral. But for
some reason it didn't come off. He spent three solid hours waiting for
her, but she didn't come. She had found him out, perhaps? And was
angry?"
"Perhaps," said Priscilla, her voice very low.
Again he raised his glass to his lips.
"We will have the end of the story presently," he said; and deliberately
turned to his left-hand neighbour.
XI
THE END OF THE STORY
A musical _soiree_ was to follow that interminable dinner, and for a
time Priscilla was occupied in helping Lady Raffold to receive the
after-dinner guests. She longed to escape before the contingent from the
dining-room arrived upstairs, but she soon realised the impossibility of
this. Her stepmother seemed to want her at every turn, and when at
length she found herself free, young Lord Harfield appeared at her
elbow.
It was intolerable. She turned upon him without pity.
"Oh, please," she said, "I've dropped my fan in the dining-room or on
the stairs. Would you be so kind----"
He departed, not suspecting her of treachery; and she slipped forthwith
into a tiny conservatory behind the piano. It was her only refuge. She
could but hope that no one had seen her retire thither. Her need for
solitude just then was intense. She felt herself physically incapable of
facing the crowd in the music-room any longer. The first crashing chords
of the piano covered her retreat.
Pages:
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200