She had not much heart for what she was going to do; but as she
glanced at the long mirror she had the satisfaction of knowing that she had
never looked so well in her life. She was a large blonde and, when she chose,
carried herself superbly.
After the dinner at the Longmores, she went on to the dance--a little late--
and encountered Bremmil with Mrs. Hauksbee on his arm.
That made her flush, and as the men crowded round her for dances she looked
magnificent. She filled up all her dances except three, and those she left
blank. Mrs. Hauksbee caught her eye once; and she knew it was war--real war--
between them. She started handicapped in the struggle, for she had ordered
Bremmil about just the least little bit in the world too much; and he was
beginning to resent it. Moreover, he had never seen his wife look so lovely.
He stared at her from doorways, and glared at her from passages as she went
about with her partners; and the more he stared, the more taken was he. He
could scarcely believe that this was the woman with the red eyes and the black
stuff gown who used to weep over the eggs at breakfast.
Mrs. Hauksbee did her best to hold him in play, but, after two dances, he
crossed over to his wife and asked for a dance.
Pages:
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554