"Then you'll see," continued George. "But it's not only her looks, you know, she's the most--"He stopped. Looking round to see why, I observed that his face was red; he clutched his walking stick tightly in his left hand;his right hand was trembling, as if it wanted to jump up to his hat. "Here she comes! Look, look!" he whispered.
Directing my eyes towards the lines of carriages which rolled past us, I observed a girl in a victoria; by her side sat a portly lady of middle age. The girl was decidedly like the lady;a description of the lady would not, I imagine, be interesting.
The girl blushed slightly and bowed. George and I lifted our hats. The victoria and its occupants were gone. George leant back with a sigh. After a moment, he said:
"Well, that was her."
There was expectancy in his tone.
"She has an extremely prepossessing appearance," I observed.
"There isn't," said George, "a girl in London to touch her. Sam, old boy, I believe--I believe she likes me a bit.""I'm sure she must, George," said I; and indeed, I thought so.
"The Governor's infernally unreasonable," said George, fretfully.
"Oh, you've mentioned it to him?"
"I sounded him. Oh, you may be sure he didn't see what I was up to. I put it quite generally. He talked rot about getting on in the world. Who wants to get on?""Who, indeed?" said I. "It is only changing what you are for something no better.""And about waiting till I know my own mind. Isn't it enough to look at her?""Ample, in my opinion," said I.
George rose to his feet.
"They've gone to a party, they won't come round again," said he.
"We may as well go, mayn't we?"
I was very comfortable, so I said timidly:
"We might see somebody else we know."
"Oh, somebody else be hanged! Who wants to see em?""I'm sure I don't." said I hastily, as I rose from my armchair, which was at once snapped up.
We were about to return to the club, when I observed Lady Mickleham's barouche standing under the trees. I invited George to come and be introduced.
He displayed great indifference.
"She gives a good many parties," said I; "and perhaps--""By Jove! Yes, I may as well," said George. "Glad you had the sense to think of that, old man."So I took him up to Dolly and presented him. Dolly was very gracious; George is an evidently presentable boy. We fell into conversation.
"My cousin, Lady Mickleham," said I, "has been telling me--""Oh, shut up, Sam!" said George, not, however, appearing very angry.
"About a subject on which you can assist him more than I can, inasmuch as you are married. He is in love."Dolly glanced at George.
"Oh, what fun!" said she.
"Fun!" cried George.
"I mean, how awfully interesting," said Dolly, suddenly transforming her expression.
"And he wanted to be introduced to you because you might ask her and him to--"George became red, and began to stammer an apology.
"Oh, I don't believe him," said Dolly kindly; "he always makes people uncomfortable if he can. What were you telling him, Mr. George?"
"It's no use telling him anything. He can't understand," said George.
"Is she very--?" asked Dolly, fixing doubtfully grave eyes on my young cousin.
"Sam's seen her," said he, in an excess of shyness.
Dolly turned to me for an opinion, and I gave one:
"She is just," said I, "as charming as he thinks her."Dolly leant over to my cousin, and whispered, "Tell me her name."And he whispered something back to Dolly.
"It's awfully kind of you, Lady Mickleham," he said.
"I am a kind old thing," said Dolly, all over dimples. "I can easily get to know them.""Oh, you really are awfully kind, Lady Mickleham."Dolly smiled upon him, waved her hand to me, and drove off, crying--"Do try to make Mr. Carter understand!"
We were left along. George wore a meditative smile. Presently he roused himself to say:
"She's really a very kind woman. She's so sympathetic. She's not like you. I expect she felt it once herself, you know.""One can never tell," said I carelessly. "Perhaps she did--once."George fell to brooding again. I thought I would try an experiment.
"Not altogether bad-looking, either, is she?" I asked, lighting a cigarette.
George started.
"What? Oh, well, I don't know. I suppose some people might think so."He paused, and added, with a bashful, knowing smile--"You can hardly expect me to go into raptures about her, can you, old man?"I turned my head away, but he caught me.
"Oh, you needn't smile in that infernally patronizing way," he cried angrily.
"Upon my word, George," said I, "I don't know that I need."
