The 'Mind the Paint' Girl - 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.
The funds are too low. [_Replacing his eyegla.s.s._] I did go so far as to price a bangle at Sellby's, but that was before a certain event yesterday.
JIMMIE.
What horses did you back, Vincent? I won a fiver, through Jerry Grimwood.
ROPER.
[_To BLAND._] You _are_ a patent a.s.s. Why don't you leave betting alone?
BLAND.
[_To ROPER, flaring up._] Why don't you leave your City muck alone?
LILY.
[_Putting her feet to the floor, imperiously._] That'll do. Be quiet, you two! I won't have any wrangling in my house. Run away and play, all of you. I want to speak to Vincent for a minute privately. [_With a gesture._] Uncle Lal-- Jimmie-- Nicko-- [_To MRS. UPJOHN._] Scoot, mother!
MRS. UPJOHN.
Oh, dear, wot a child!
[_ROPER, JIMMIE, JEYES, and MRS. UPJOHN move away and LILY beckons to BLAND._
LILY.
Vin.
BLAND.
[_Close to her, with a wry face._] Mercy!
LILY.
[_In a low voice._] You've broken your word to me, then? [_Through her teeth._] Those d.a.m.ned horses!
BLAND.
Cooling had a tip from the stable----
LILY.
Cooling! Morrie Cooling has no children; only a fat wife. You've a darling little wife and three kiddies. How much did you drop yesterday?
BLAND.
Shan't say.
LILY.
[_Rising and touching his arm._] Oh, Vincent!
[_She looks round, to a.s.sure herself that she is un.o.bserved. MRS.
UPJOHN and ROPER are seated at the tea-table with their heads together, talking; JIMMIE is at the piano, fingering out a piece of music; JEYES is half hidden in the arm-chair facing the settee at the back. LILY tiptoes to the writing-table and seats herself there as GLADYS reappears showing in the BARON VON RETTENMAYER._
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_A tall, fair young man of three-and-thirty, speaking in thick, guttural tones-- advancing to LILY._] Aha, G.o.ddess! [_Gladys withdraws._] Many habby returns of the day!
LILY.
H's.h.!.+ I'm busy for a moment, Baron.
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_To LILY-- shaking hands with BLAND._] A thousand bardons.
LILY.
Talk to mother and Jimmie.
VON RETTENMAYER.
With bleasure. [_Going to MRS. UPJOHN and ROPER and shaking hands with them._] How are you, my dear Ma? How are you, Jimmie? [_Waving a hand to ROPER and JEYES._] My dear Rober! My dear Neegolas!
JIMMIE.
[_To VON RETTENMAYER, mimicking him._] Rober! Neegolas! Why don't they provide you with throat lozenges at the Emba.s.sy, Baron?
[_VON RETTENMAYER laughs. LILY has quickly opened a drawer in the writing-table and produced a cheque-book. After another glance over her shoulder, she sweeps the presents aside and writes. Then she replaces the cheque-book, rises, and returns to BLAND. Again there is a loud guffaw from VON RETTENMAYER in response to some sally of JIMMIE'S._
LILY.
[_To BLAND, folding a cheque and slipping it into his hand._]
Promise-- promise you won't make another bet.
BLAND.
[_Unfolding the cheque._] Your cheque?
LILY.
[_Hastily._] Put it in your pocket.
BLAND.
A blank one.
LILY.