The Gay Lord Quex - LightNovelsOnl.com
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MURIEL.
I do--I mean, I'm getting to. [_Defiantly._] At any rate, I am proud of him.
SOPHY.
Proud!
MURIEL.
Certainly--proud that he has mended his ways for my sake.
SOPHY.
[_Between tears and anger._] Mended his ways! with those eyes of his!
MURIEL.
[_Looking down upon_ SOPHY, _wonderingly._] His eyes? why, they are considered his best feature.
SOPHY.
_I_ never saw wickeder eyes. All my girls say the same.
MURIEL.
[_With rising indignation._] I am sure you have never detected Lord Quex looking at anybody in a way he should not.
SOPHY.
Oh, I admit he has always behaved in a gentlemanly manner towards me and my girls.
MURIEL.
[_Haughtily._ Towards you and your--! Sophy, pray remember Lord Quex's rank.
SOPHY.
[_In hot scorn._] His rank! ha! do you think his lords.h.i.+p has ever let _that_ interfere--?
[_She checks herself, finding_ MURIEL _staring at her._
MURIEL.
[_In horror._] Sophy!
SOPHY.
[_Discomposed--rising._] Er--if I'm to do anything to your nails--
[_As_ SOPHY _is moving towards the manicure-table,_ MURIEL _intercepts her._
MURIEL.
You are surely not suggesting that Lord Quex has ever descended--?
SOPHY.
[_Hastily._] No, no, no. [_Brus.h.i.+ng past_ MURIEL _and seating herself before the screen-chair_.] Come; they'll all be here directly.
MURIEL.
[_Sitting in the screen-chair._] Sophy, you have heard some story--
SOPHY.
[_Examining_ MURIEL'S _hands._] A little varnis.h.i.+ng is all you need to-day.
MURIEL.
You shall tell me!
SOPHY.
[_Proceeding with her work methodically._] It's nothing much; I'm sorry I--
MURIEL.
[_Imperatively._] Sophy!
SOPHY.
[_Reluctantly._] Oh, well--well, when I was at Mrs. Beaupoint's in Grosvenor Street--
MURIEL.
Yes?
SOPHY.
A Lady Pumphrey came to stay there with a goodish-looking maid--Edith Smith her name was--
MURIEL.
Never mind her name!
SOPHY.
And they'd lately met Lord Quex in a country house in Worcesters.h.i.+re.
Well, he had kissed _her_--Smith admitted it.