Miss Bart put down her pen and sat absently gazing at the note she had begun.
“I thought that was all over,” she said.
“So it is, on his side. And of course Bertha has been idle since. But I fancy she’s out of a job just at present–and some one gave me a hint that I had better ask Lawrence. Well, I did ask him–but I couldn’t make him come; and now I suppose she’ll take it out of me by being perfectly nasty to every one else.”
“Oh, she may take it out of HIM by being perfectly charming–to some one else.
“Mrs. Trenor shook her head dolefully. “She knows he wouldn’t mind. And who else is there? Alice Wetherall won’t let Lucius out of her sight. Ned Silverton can’t take his eyes off Carry Fisher–poor boy! Gus is bored by Bertha, Jack Stepney knows her too well–and–well, to be sure, there’s Percy Gryce!”
She sat up smiling at the thought.
Miss Bart’s countenance did not reflect the smile.
“Oh, she and Mr. Gryce would not be likely to hit it off.”
“You mean that she’d shock him and he’d bore her? Well, that’s not such a bad beginning, you know. But I hope she won’t take it into her head to be nice to him, for I asked him here on purpose for you.”
Lily laughed. “Merci du compliment! I should certainly have no show against Bertha.”
“Do you think I am uncomplimentary? I’m not really, you know. Every one knows you’re a thousand times handsomer and cleverer than Bertha; but then you’re not nasty. And for always getting what she wants in the long run, commend me to a nasty woman.”
Miss Bart stared in affected reproval. “I thought you were so fond of Bertha.”
“Oh, I am–it’s much safer to be fond of dangerous people. But she IS dangerous–and if I ever saw her up to mischief it’s now. I can tell by poor George’s manner. That man is a perfect barometer–he always knows when Bertha is going to–-”
“To fall?” Miss Bart suggested.
“Don’t be shocking! You know he believes in her still. And of course I don’t say there’s any real harm in Bertha. Only she delights in making people miserable, and especially poor George.”
“Well, he seems cut out for the part–I don’t wonder she likes more cheerful companionship.”
“Oh, George is not as dismal as you think. If Bertha did worry him he would be quite different. Or if she’d leave him alone, and let him arrange his life as he pleases. But she doesn’t dare lose her hold of him on account of the money, and so when HE isn’t jealous she pretends to be.”
Miss Bart went on writing in silence, and her hostess sat following her train of thought with frowning intensity.
“Do you know,” she exclaimed after a long pause, “I believe I’ll call up Lawrence on the telephone and tell him he simply must come?”
“Oh, don’t,” said Lily, with a quick suffusion of colour. The blush surprised her almost as much as it did her hostess, who, though not commonly observant of facial changes, sat staring at her with puzzled eyes.
“Good gracious, Lily, how handsome you are! Why? Do you dislike him so much?”
“Not at all; I like him. But if you are actuated by the benevolent intention of protecting me from Bertha–I don’t think I need your protection.
“Mrs. Trenor sat up with an exclamation. “Lily!–-Percy? Do you mean to say you’ve actually done it?”
Miss Bart smiled. “I only mean to say that Mr. Gryce and I are getting to be very good friends.”
“H’m–I see.” Mrs. Trenor fixed a rapt eye upon her. “You know they say he has eight hundred thousand a year–and spends nothing, except on some rubbishy old books. And his mother has heart-disease and will leave him a lot more. oh, Lily, do go slowly,” her friend adjured her.
Miss Bart continued to smile without annoyance. “I shouldn’t, for instance,” she remarked, “be in any haste to tell him that he had a lot of rubbishy old books.”
“No, of course not; I know you’re wonderful about getting up people’s subjects. But he’s horribly shy, and easily shocked, and–and–-“