A Woman-Hater [179]
that has surprised and puzzled me very much." She then related the whole conversation, with her usual precision.
Ina Klosking observed quietly to Fanny that this did not look like successful wooing.
"I don't know that," said Fanny, stoutly. "Oh, Miss Gale, did you not ask him about her?"
"Certainly I did; and he said she was better than when she first came."
"There!" said Fanny, triumphantly.
Miss Gale gave her a little pinch, and she dropped the subject.
Vizard returned, and found Mademoiselle Klosking walking on his gravel. He offered her his arm, and was a happy man, parading her very slowly, and supporting her steps, and purring his congratulations into her ear. "Suppose I were to invite you to dinner, what would you say?"
"I think I should say, 'To-morrow.'"
"And a very good answer, too. To-morrow shall be a _fete."_
"You spoil me?"
"That is impossible."
It was strange to see them together; he so happy, she so apathetic, yet gracious.
Next morning came a bit of human nature--a letter from Zoe to Fanny, almost entirely occupied with praises of Lord Uxmoor. She told the bull story better than I have--if possible--and, in short, made Uxmoor a hero of romance.
Fanny carried this in triumph to the other ladies, and read it out. "There!" said she. "Didn't I tell you?"
Rhoda read the letter, and owned herself puzzled. "I am not, then," said Fanny: "they are engaged--over the bull; like Europa and I forgot who--and so he is not afraid to go abroad now. That is just like the men. They cool directly the chase is over."
Now the truth was that Zoe was trying to soothe her conscience with elegant praises of the man she had dismissed, and felt guilty.
Ina Klosking said little. She was puzzled too at first. She asked to see Zoe's handwriting. The letter was handed to her. She studied the characters. "It is a good hand," she said; "nothing mean there." And she gave it back.
But, with a glance, she had read the address, and learned that the post town was Bagley.
All that day, at intervals, she brought her powerful understanding to bear on the paradox; and though she had not the facts and the clew I have given the reader, she came near the truth in an essential matter. She satisfied herself that Lord Uxmoor was not engaged to Zoe Vizard. Clearly, if so, he would not leave England for months. She resolved to know more; and just before dinner she wrote a line to Ashmead, and requested him to call on her immediately.
That day she dined with Vizard and the ladies. She sat at Vizard's right hand, and he told her how proud, and happy he was to see her there.
She blushed faintly, but made no reply.
She retired soon after dinner.
All next day she expected Ashmead.
He did not come.
She dined with Vizard next day, and retired to the drawing-room. The piano was opened, and she played one or two exquisite things, and afterward tried her voice, but only in scales, and somewhat timidly, for Miss Gale warned her she might lose it or spoil it if she strained the vocal chord while her whole system was weak.
Next day Ashmead came with apologies.
He had spent a day in the cathedral town on business. He did not tell her how he had spent that day, going about puffing her as the greatest singer of sacred music in the world, and paving the way to her engagement at the next festival. Yet the single-hearted Joseph had really raised that commercial superstructure upon the sentiments she had uttered on his first visit to Vizard Court.
Ina now held a private conference with him. "I think," said she, "I have heard you say you were once an actor."
"I was, madam, and a very good one, too."
_"Cela va sans dire._ I never knew one that was not. At all events, you can disguise yourself."
"Anything, madam, from Grandfather Whitehead to a boy in a pinafore. Famous for my make-ups."
"I wish you to watch a certain house, and not be recognized by a person who knows you."
"Well, madam, nothing is _infra dig,_ if done for you; nothing is distasteful if done for you."
"Thank you,
Ina Klosking observed quietly to Fanny that this did not look like successful wooing.
"I don't know that," said Fanny, stoutly. "Oh, Miss Gale, did you not ask him about her?"
"Certainly I did; and he said she was better than when she first came."
"There!" said Fanny, triumphantly.
Miss Gale gave her a little pinch, and she dropped the subject.
Vizard returned, and found Mademoiselle Klosking walking on his gravel. He offered her his arm, and was a happy man, parading her very slowly, and supporting her steps, and purring his congratulations into her ear. "Suppose I were to invite you to dinner, what would you say?"
"I think I should say, 'To-morrow.'"
"And a very good answer, too. To-morrow shall be a _fete."_
"You spoil me?"
"That is impossible."
It was strange to see them together; he so happy, she so apathetic, yet gracious.
Next morning came a bit of human nature--a letter from Zoe to Fanny, almost entirely occupied with praises of Lord Uxmoor. She told the bull story better than I have--if possible--and, in short, made Uxmoor a hero of romance.
Fanny carried this in triumph to the other ladies, and read it out. "There!" said she. "Didn't I tell you?"
Rhoda read the letter, and owned herself puzzled. "I am not, then," said Fanny: "they are engaged--over the bull; like Europa and I forgot who--and so he is not afraid to go abroad now. That is just like the men. They cool directly the chase is over."
Now the truth was that Zoe was trying to soothe her conscience with elegant praises of the man she had dismissed, and felt guilty.
Ina Klosking said little. She was puzzled too at first. She asked to see Zoe's handwriting. The letter was handed to her. She studied the characters. "It is a good hand," she said; "nothing mean there." And she gave it back.
But, with a glance, she had read the address, and learned that the post town was Bagley.
All that day, at intervals, she brought her powerful understanding to bear on the paradox; and though she had not the facts and the clew I have given the reader, she came near the truth in an essential matter. She satisfied herself that Lord Uxmoor was not engaged to Zoe Vizard. Clearly, if so, he would not leave England for months. She resolved to know more; and just before dinner she wrote a line to Ashmead, and requested him to call on her immediately.
That day she dined with Vizard and the ladies. She sat at Vizard's right hand, and he told her how proud, and happy he was to see her there.
She blushed faintly, but made no reply.
She retired soon after dinner.
All next day she expected Ashmead.
He did not come.
She dined with Vizard next day, and retired to the drawing-room. The piano was opened, and she played one or two exquisite things, and afterward tried her voice, but only in scales, and somewhat timidly, for Miss Gale warned her she might lose it or spoil it if she strained the vocal chord while her whole system was weak.
Next day Ashmead came with apologies.
He had spent a day in the cathedral town on business. He did not tell her how he had spent that day, going about puffing her as the greatest singer of sacred music in the world, and paving the way to her engagement at the next festival. Yet the single-hearted Joseph had really raised that commercial superstructure upon the sentiments she had uttered on his first visit to Vizard Court.
Ina now held a private conference with him. "I think," said she, "I have heard you say you were once an actor."
"I was, madam, and a very good one, too."
_"Cela va sans dire._ I never knew one that was not. At all events, you can disguise yourself."
"Anything, madam, from Grandfather Whitehead to a boy in a pinafore. Famous for my make-ups."
"I wish you to watch a certain house, and not be recognized by a person who knows you."
"Well, madam, nothing is _infra dig,_ if done for you; nothing is distasteful if done for you."
"Thank you,