The Big Drum - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
_You_ can deal with these.
MISS TRACER.
Thank you, Lady Filson.
LADY FILSON.
[_Reading a letter._] Lady Skewes and Mrs. Walter Quebec ... arranging a concert in aid of ... [_sighing_] tickets, of course!... what tiring women!... [_turning the sheet_] oh!... may they include me in their list of patronesses?... Princess Cagliari-Tamponi, the Countess of Harrogate, the Viscountess Chepmell, Lady Kathleen Tring ... [_laying the letter aside_] delighted. [_Heaping together the cards and the rest of the letters._] I must answer those myself. [_To_ MISS TRACER.]
That's all. [MISS TRACER _rises._] Get on with the invitations for July the eighth as quickly as you can.
MISS TRACER.
[_Going to the glazed door._] Yes, Lady Filson.
LADY FILSON.
[_Turning._] Miss Tracer----
MISS TRACER.
[_Halting._] Yes, Lady Filson?
LADY FILSON.
I think Madame de Chaumie wants you to do some little commissions for her. Kindly see her before you go to your room.
BERTRAM.
[_To_ MISS TRACER, _looking up._] No, no; don't.
LADY FILSON.
[_To_ BERTRAM.] Not?
BERTRAM.
My sister is engaged, mother.
LADY FILSON.
Engaged?
BERTRAM.
With Sir Timothy Barradell.
LADY FILSON.
Oh--? [_To_ MISS TRACER.] By-and-by, then.
MISS TRACER.
Yes, Lady Filson.
[MISS TRACER _departs, closing the door._
LADY FILSON.
[_To_ BERTRAM, _eagerly._] Sir Timothy----!
BERTRAM.
He called half-an-hour ago, mother, Underwood tells me, with a note for Ottoline.
LADY FILSON.
From himself?
BERTRAM.
Presumably; and Dilworth came down and took him up to her boudoir.
LADY FILSON.
[_Rising._] An unusual time of day for a call! [_Approaching_ BERTRAM _and speaking under her breath._] Are matters coming to a head between them, my dear boy?
BERTRAM.
Don't ask _me_, mother. [_Rising._] You are as capable of forming an opinion as I am, I mean t'say.
LADY FILSON.
I've a feeling that _something_ is in the air. He positively shadowed her last night at the Gorhams'!
BERTRAM.
[_Knitting his brows._] I admit I should prefer, if my sister contemplates marrying again, that her choice fell on one of the others.
LADY FILSON.
Mr. Trefusis--or George Delacour----?
BERTRAM.
Even Trevor Wilson. [_Wincing._] The idea of a merchant brother-in-law doesn't appeal to me very strongly, I mean t'say.
LADY FILSON.
Still, a baronet----!
