Love's Shadow. Ada Leverson

it?'

      'I thought the dinner was ridiculous. A young girl like you asking two or three friends needn't have a banquet fit for a Colonial Conference. Besides, the cook lost her head. She sent up the same dish twice.'

      'Did she? How funny! How was that?'

      'Of course, you wouldn't know. She and the kitchenmaid were playing Diabolo till the last minute in the housekeeper's room. However, you needn't worry; nobody noticed it.'

      'That's all right. Didn't Edith look pretty?'

      Anne poked the fire spitefully.

      'Like the outside of a cheap chocolate-box.'

      'Oh, Anne, what nonsense! Bruce seemed irritable, and fatuous. I didn't envy Edith going back with him.'

      'Bruce was jealous of Cecil Reeve, of course. You hardly looked at anybody else.'

      'Anne, really tonight there were one or two little things that made me think he is beginning to like me. I don't say he's perfect; I daresay he has his faults. But there's something I like about his face. I wonder what it is.'

      'I know what it is, he's very good-looking,' said Anne.

      'Do you think he cares for me?'

      'No, I don't.'

      'Oh, Anne!'

      'I think, perhaps, he will, in time—in a way.'

      'Do you think if I were very careful not to show I liked him it would be better?'

      'No, there's only one chance for you.'

      'What is it?'

      'Keep on hammering.'

      'Indeed I shan't! I never heard of such a thing. I suppose you think there's somebody else?' said Hyacinth, sitting up angrily.

      'Oh, I daresay he's just finishing off with someone or other, and you may catch him on the rebound.'

      'What horrid things you say!'

      'I only say what I think,' said Anne. 'Anyhow, you had a success tonight, I could see, because poor Charles seemed so depressed. Why do you have all these electric lights burning when one lamp would be enough?'

      'Oh, go away, Anne, and don't bother,' said Hyacinth, laughing.

      On his return home, Cecil suddenly felt a violent reaction in favour of Mrs. Raymond. Certainly he had enjoyed his evening with Hyacinth, but it was very bitter to him to think what pleasure that enjoyment would have given to Eugenia. … He began to think he couldn't live without her. Something must be done. Further efforts must be made. The idea struck him that he would go and see his uncle, Lord Selsey, about it. He knew Uncle Ted was really fond of him, and wouldn't like to see his life ruined (so he put it to himself), and his heart broken, though he also probably would disapprove from the worldly point of view. Decidedly unhappy, yet to a certain extent enjoying his misery, Cecil went to sleep.