"Just to think we've known each other so long, and you've never been in
my house before!" she said. "That's a portrait of my younger sister
you're looking at--isn't she pretty? It's a pastel--Miss Corkran's. Of
course she is not allowed to sit up for me; only Jim does that; he keeps
me company at supper-time, for I couldn't sit down all by myself, could
I, in the middle of the night? Oh, yes, you must have some more. I know
gentlemen are afraid of champagne in a house looked after by a woman;
but that's all right; that was sent me as a Christmas present by Mr.
Lehmann."
"It is excellent," Lionel assured her, "but I must keep my head clear if
I am to find my way into Park Lane; after that, it will be easy enough
getting home."
"But there's Jim's room," she exclaimed.
"Oh, no, thank you," he said; "I shall get down there without any
trouble."
And then she went to a cabinet that formed part of a book-case, and
returned with a cigar-box in her hand.
"I am not so sure of these," she said. "They are some I got when papa
was last in town, and he seemed to think them tolerable."
"Oh, but I sha'n't smoke, thanks; no, no, I couldn't think of it!" he
protested.
Pages:
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578