The Gay Lord Quex eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 116 pages of information about The Gay Lord Quex.

The Gay Lord Quex eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 116 pages of information about The Gay Lord Quex.

SOPHY.

It must be.  And what a place for a bicycle!

MURIEL.

[Reprovingly.] Bicycles are not allowed to enter these grounds, Sophy.

SOPHY.

[Sobered.] Oh—!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

Miss Eden tells me you are accompanied by the young man to whom you are engaged to be married.

SOPHY.

I hope I haven’t taken too great a liberty—­

LADY OWBRIDGE.

[Looking round.] I don’t see him.

SOPHY.

He has run back to the station.  I’ve just found out I left my bag in the fly that brought us here.  So stupid of me!

LADY OWBRIDGE.

Mrs. Gregory will give you, both, dinner.

SOPHY.

Thank you, my lady.

[The DUCHESS is now seated in the garden-chair.  The younger of the two servants enters, carrying SOPHY’S bag and the evening papers.

SERVANT.

[Handing the bag to SOPHY.] The cabman has brought your bag back, miss.

SOPHY.

There now!  Much obliged. [To MRS. EDEN.] Poor Mr. Valma will have his tramp for nothing, won’t he?

[SOPHY and MRS. EDEN talk together.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

The evening papers, Morgan?

SERVANT.

[Who has laid the papers upon the table.] Yes, my lady.

[The SERVANT retires.

LADY OWBRIDGE.

So late? we must go in and dress.

DUCHESS.

[Who has been occupied in observing QUEX.] I’ll follow you, dear Lady Owbridge.

[LADY OWBRIDGE moves away and is joined by MRS. EDEN.

MRS. EDEN.

[As she ascends the steps with LADY OWBRIDGE.] Sophy, I shall be ready for you in a quarter of an hour.

SOPHY.

All right, Mrs. Eden.

[LADY OWBRIDGE and MRS. EDEN disappear.

MURIEL.

[Crossing to SOPHY.] Wouldn’t you like to walk to the gates to meet Mr. Valma?

SOPHY.

Thanks, dear, I think I would.

MURIEL.

I can show you a nearer way than by going back to the house. [Pointing into the distance.] Follow this hedge and take the second alley—­not the first—­on your left.  When you reach the big fountain—­

[QUEX, still dipping into the sermons, has come down to the back of the table.  He now throws the book upon the table and picks up a newspaper.

QUEX.

I beg your pardon, Duchess—­I didn’t see you.

DUCHESS.

[In a whisper.] Harry—­

QUEX.

[Startled.] Eh?

DUCHESS.

I will hurry into my gown and return.  Be here in a quarter of an hour.

QUEX.

May I ask—­the reason?

DUCHESS.

[A newspaper in her hand—­talking to him, in undertones, over the top of it.] For a week, only the merest commonplaces have passed between us.  I must relieve my heart; it is bursting!

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Project Gutenberg
The Gay Lord Quex from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.