The White Peacock Part 33

"Oh, Lettie, he is in such a state of excitement, you never knew. He took me with him to buy it-let me see it on. I think it's awfully lovely. Here, let me help you to do your hair-all in those little rolls-it will look charming. You've really got beautiful hair-there's so much life in it-it's a pity to twist it into a coil as you do. I wish my hair were a bit longer-though really, it's all the better for this fas.h.i.+on-don't you like it?-it's 'so chic'-I think these little puffs are just fascinating-it is rather long for them-but it will look ravis.h.i.+ng. Really, my eyes, and eyebrows, and eyelashes are my best features, don't you think?"

Marie, the delightful, charming little creature, twittered on. I went downstairs.

Leslie started when I entered the room, but seeing only me, he leaned forward again, resting his arms on his knees, looking in the fire.

"What the d.i.c.kens is she doing?" he asked.

"Dressing."

"Then we may keep on waiting. Isn't it a deuced nuisance, these people coming?"

"Well, we generally have a good time."

"Oh-it's all very well-we're not in the same boat, you and me."

"Fact," said I laughing.

"By Jove, Cyril, you don't know what it is to be in love. I never thought-I couldn't ha' believed I should be like it. All the time when it isn't at the top of your blood, it's at the bottom:-'the Girl, the Girl.'"

He stared into the fire.

"It seems pressing you, pressing you on. Never leaves you alone a moment."

Again he lapsed into reflection.

"Then, all at once, you remember how she kissed you, and all your blood jumps afire."

He mused again for awhile-or rather, he seemed fiercely to con over his sensations.

"You know," he said, "I don't think she feels for me as I do for her."

"Would you want her to?" said I.

"I don't know. Perhaps not-but-still I don't think she feels--"

At this he lighted a cigarette to soothe his excited feelings, and there was silence for some time. Then the girls came down. We could hear their light chatter. Lettie entered the room. He jumped up and surveyed her.

She was dressed in soft, creamy, silken stuff; her neck was quite bare; her hair was, as Marie promised, fascinating; she was laughing nervously. She grew warm, like a blossom in the suns.h.i.+ne, in the glow of his admiration. He went forward and kissed her.

"You are splendid!" he said.

She only laughed for answer. He drew her away to the great arm-chair, and made her sit in it beside him. She was indulgent and he radiant. He took her hand and looked at it, and at his ring which she wore.

"It looks all right!" he murmured.

"Anything would," she replied.

"What do they mean-sapphires and diamonds-for I don't know?"

"Nor do I. Blue for hope, because Speranza in 'Fairy Queen' had a blue gown-and diamonds for-the crystalline clearness of my nature."

"Its glitter and hardness, you mean-You are a hard little mistress. But why Hope?"

"Why?-No reason whatever, like most things. No, that's not right. Hope!

Oh-Blindfolded-hugging a silly harp with no strings. I wonder why she didn't drop her harp framework over the edge of the globe, and take the handkerchief off her eyes, and have a look round! But of course she was a woman-and a man's woman. Do you know I believe most women can sneak a look down their noses from underneath the handkerchief of hope they've tied over their eyes. They could take the whole m.u.f.fler off-but they don't do it, the dears."

"I don't believe you know what you're talking about, and I'm sure I don't. Sapphires reminded me of your eyes-and-isn't it 'Blue that kept the faith?' I remember something about it."

"Here," said she, pulling off the ring, "you ought to wear it yourself, Faithful One, to keep me in constant mind."

"Keep it on, keep it on. It holds you faster than that fair damsel tied to a tree in Millais' picture-I believe it's Millais."

She sat shaking with laughter.

"What a comparison! Who'll be the brave knight to rescue me-discreetly-from behind?"

"Ah," he answered, "it doesn't matter. You don't want rescuing, do you?"

"Not yet," she replied, teasing him.

They continued to talk half nonsense, making themselves eloquent by quick looks and gestures, and communion of warm closeness. The ironical tones went out of Lettie's voice, and they made love.

Marie drew me away into the dining room, to leave them alone.

Marie is a charming little maid, whose appearance is neatness, whose face is confident little goodness. Her hair is dark, and lies low upon her neck in wavy coils. She does not affect the fas.h.i.+on in coiffure, and generally is a little behind the fas.h.i.+on in dress. Indeed she is a half-opened bud of a matron, conservative, full of proprieties, and of gentle indulgence. She now smiled at me with a warm delight in the romance upon which she had just shed her grace, but her demureness allowed nothing to be said. She glanced round the room, and out of the window, and observed:

"I always love Woodside, it is restful-there is something about it-oh-a.s.suring-really-it comforts one-I've been reading Maxim Gorky."

"You shouldn't," said I.

"Dadda reads them-but I don't like them-I shall read no more. I like Woodside-it makes you feel-really at home-it soothes one like the old wood does. It seems right-life is proper here-not ulcery--"

"Just healthy living flesh," said I.

"No, I don't mean that, because one feels-oh, as if the world were old and good, not old and bad."

"Young, and undisciplined, and mad," said I.

"No-but here, you, and Lettie, and Leslie, and me-it is so nice for us, and it seems so natural and good. Woodside is so old, and so sweet and serene-it does rea.s.sure one."

"Yes," said I, "we just live, nothing abnormal, nothing cruel and extravagant-just natural-like doves in a dovecote."

"Oh!-doves!-they are so-so mushy."

"They are dear little birds, doves. You look like one yourself, with the black band round your neck. You a turtle-dove, and Lettie a wood-pigeon."

"Lettie is splendid, isn't she? What a swing she has-what a mastery! I wish I had her strength-she just marches straight through in the right way-I think she's fine."