The Gay Lord Quex - 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.
How are you to-day, Mrs. Eden?
MRS. EDEN.
Lady Owbridge, this is Miss Fullgarney, whom you've heard about.
[SOPHY _rises, makes a bob, and sits again._
LADY OWBRIDGE.
[_Seated._] I hope you're quite well, my dear.
SOPHY.
[_Busy over_ MURIEL'S _nails._] Thanks, my lady; I hope you're the same.
MRS. EDEN.
[_Sitting._] What is your opinion of the picture, Lady Owbridge?
LADY OWBRIDGE.
[_Not hearing._] Eh?
QUEX.
Moses in the Bulrushes--what d'ye think of it?
LADY OWBRIDGE.
[_Tearfully._] They treat such subjects nowadays with too little reverence.
FRAYNE.
[_Thoughtlessly._] Too much Pharaoh's daughter and too little Moses.
QUEX.
[_Frowning him down._] Phsst!
MRS. EDEN.
Certainly the handmaidens remind one of the young ladies in the ballet at the Empire.
LADY OWBRIDGE.
The Empire?
MRS. EDEN.
[_Checking herself._] Oh--!
QUEX.
Popular place of entertainment.
LADY OWBRIDGE.
Ah? The only place of that kind I have visited for some years is the Imperial Inst.i.tute.
[MRS. EDEN _rises, laughing to herself, and joins_ SOPHY _and_ MURIEL.
FRAYNE _is now establis.h.i.+ng cordial relations between himself and_ MISS MOON.
MRS. EDEN.
[_To_ SOPHY.] Well, Sophy, and how's your business getting along?
LADY OWBRIDGE.
[_To_ QUEX, _after ascertaining that_ FRAYNE _is not near her._] Oh, Henry, I have asked Sir Chichester to drive down to us to-night, to dine.
QUEX.
[_Watching_ FRAYNE _with apprehension._] Ah, yes, delightful. [_Trying to gain_ FRAYNE'S _attention--warningly._] Phsst! phsst!
LADY OWBRIDGE.
[_Plucking at_ QUEX'S _coat._] I feel that Sir Chichester is a very wholesome friend for you, Henry.
QUEX.
Very. Phsst!
LADY OWBRIDGE.
What is the name of the West African place?--Uumbos--Uumbos seems to have improved him vastly.
QUEX.
[_In a low voice._] Chichester!
LADY OWBRIDGE.
And it is our wish that you should a.s.sociate for the future only with grey-haired men.
[MISS MOON _now withdraws, with_ FRAYNE _at her heels._
MURIEL.
[_Rising and coming to_ LADY OWBRIDGE.] I'm ready, dear Lady Owbridge.
