Offer him strange and bewitching forms of food. Comfort him with--with
angel cake--and savoury sandwiches and bread and butter."
"I see--a sort of compromise?"
"Exactly. Society, my child, is based on compromise."
"Very well, then, I'll write him a note."
She wrote it, and sent Robert with it to the library.
"I suppose," said she, "it's about time to dress for dinner?"
"Don't make yourself too pretty, dear."
Lucia looked back through the doorway.
"I shall make myself as pretty as ever I can. He has had nothing but
ugly things to look at all his life."
Miss Palliser apostrophized the departing figure of her friend.
"Oh Lucy, Lucy, what an angelic little fool you _are_!"
CHAPTER XXIV
Half-past six, and Miss Harden had not yet appeared in the library. It
was the first time that Rickman had passed a whole day without seeing
her. He began to be uneasy, to wonder whether she were really ill. At
seven he was leaving the house as usual for his hotel when Robert
brought him a little three-cornered note.
"Dear Mr. Rickman," it said (Dear Mr. Rickman!) "you see I have
taken your advice, and given myself a holiday. I have spent it
very pleasantly--reading _Helen in Leuce_. It would give me much
pleasure if you would come in for coffee this evening, about
eight o'clock. We can then talk it over.
"Very truly yours,
"LUCIA HARDEN.
"You need only send a verbal answer.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212