Tenterhooks

Surp

on the other had suffered neglect. But they seemed t

lmer remarked irrelevan

t t

the air of a married man. Also, she was quite ridiculously disappointed. One can't say why, but one doesn't talk to a married

er nice things to hav

ch was Mrs Aylmer Ross. No, she wasn't there. Edith f

now give me a detailed des

ever could ta

them.... I saw you speak to Vinc

eat friend

called an exquisite. And he is exquisite; he has an exquis

the

pectator. Vincy thinks that all the world's a stage, but he's always in the front row of the stalls. I never c

dience?'

ed and

genial; not chilly and reserved. He's frank, I mean-and confidin

s quit

really only expression

about a thing, it h

has happened because you do talk about it

loate

ther ecstatic state

*

. He had married very young, it seemed, and had lost his wife two years after. This was ten years ago, and accor

still quite young, under forty, and he'

first wife had remained alive. She d

*

owed it by telling her all about a wonderful little tailor who made coats and skirts better than Lucile for next to nothing, and by introducing to her Lord Rye and

on rather well at

Captain Wi

bright and clever. I w

it

d, a shade more jovially than he ha

ive and let live and let it go at that; what? But t

ready murmuring in a low voice (almost a hiss, as they say in melodrama): 'Vous ?tes chez vous, quand? Dites un mot, un mot seulement, et je me précipiterai ? vos pieds_,' while at the same time, in her other ear, Lord Rye was explaining (to her pretended intense interest) how he could play the whole of Elektra, The Chocolate Soldier and Nightbirds by ear without a

bout? At length, growing tired of her position, she got up, and walked across t

, but still Aylmer Ross did not go and s

laughter and shrieks from the romping players. In the drawing-room some of the people were playing bridge. How dull the re

ng to have a talk inst

he answered ceremoniously.

this a jealous

, 'and if so, whose. Well, I

s Mitchell to Bruce, as they took leave. 'Everyone is quite

e like Nijinsky, suddenly relented when everyone had forgotten all about it, and was leaping alone in the studio, while

'I've made a friend tonight. There was one really

o was

to you at dinner! I suppose you didn't appreciate him. Very clever, very interesting. He was anxious to know several things which I was

did

ks the Carlton's nicer for a talk, so I'm going to ask him there instea

to give a dinner

Of course I shall. Our flat's too small to give a dece

e to write tomorrow

ve asked hi

ally-wh

be better; he's engaged for every other day. Now don't go and s

I'm not

and did not know why, and for the first time hoped she had made an impression. It had bee

t be anxious, dear! I say, that Miss Mooney is a very charming woman. She took rather a

atch all the Mitchells' fri

urteous. It's all right. One