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.

QUEX.

You don’t feel you ought to go and meet your—­Mr. Valma?

SOPHY.

[Edging towards him.] I might miss him—­mightn’t I?

QUEX.

Certainly—­you might.

SOPHY.

Besides, it wouldn’t do for me to attend upon Mrs. Jack—­Mrs. Eden—­all puffing and towzelled; [archly] now, would it?

QUEX.

[Resuming his reading.] You’re the best judge.

SOPHY.

So I’ve a quarter of an hour to fill in somehow. [A pause.] I’ve a quarter of an hour to fill in somehow.

QUEX.

[Behind his paper, beginning to be extremely bored.] Indeed?

SOPHY.

[Quaking.] I—­I wish there were some quiet little shady places to ramble about in, here at Fauncey Court.

QUEX.

There are several.

SOPHY.

Are there?... are there?

QUEX.

[Turning his paper.] Oh, yes, a great many.

SOPHY.

You see, I’m a stranger—­

QUEX.

[Kindly.] Well, you run along; you’ll find ’em. [She walks away slowly, baffled.  He glances at her over his paper, slightly puzzled.] Have you seen the grotto?

SOPHY.

[Turning sharply.] No.

QUEX.

[Pointing towards the right.] It’s in that direction.

SOPHY.

Grotto?  Dark, I suppose, and lonelyish?

QUEX.

You said you desired shade and quiet.

SOPHY.

Yes, but not darkness.  Fancy me in a grotto all by myself ... by myself...!

QUEX.

[Behind his paper again.] I’m afraid I have no further suggestion to offer.

[There is another pause; then her face lights up, and she comes down to him swiftly.

SOPHY.

[Close to him.] Show me your nails, my lord.

QUEX.

[Lowering his paper.] My nails?

SOPHY.

[Taking his hand and examining it.] Excuse me.  Oh, my lord, for shame!

QUEX.

You take exception to them?

SOPHY.

This is hacking, not cutting.  You ought never to be allowed within a mile of a pair of scissors.

QUEX.

[Looking at his other hand.] Oh, come! they’re hardly as bad as all that.

SOPHY

[Examining that hand also.] Ha, ha, ha!

QUEX.

[Rising, somewhat abashed.] Ha!  I confess I am a little unskilful at such operations.

SOPHY.

No gentleman should trust to himself where his nails are concerned.  Why, a man’s hand has lost him a young lady’s affections before this!  I’ve heard of heaps of cases where matches have been broken off—­

QUEX.

[Putting his hands behind him, smiling.] Really? the results of manicure are more far-reaching than I had imagined.

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