Page:Alice Stuyvesant - The Vanity Box.djvu/14

 Mrs. Forestier, bright black eyes shining, dimples twinkling, almost ran to greet Lady Hereward, both plump hands outstretched. The two women presented a strong contrast to one another as they kissed: Lady Hereward tall, slim, dignified and gracious; Mrs. Forestier short, round, energetic, with a rich, peachy bloom of complexion.

"I am lucky to get you at such short notice," she went on.

"We're always delighted to come here, you know," said Lady Hereward, "and we haven't been back from Paris long enough to have made any engagements."

Mrs. Forestier released her friend, and moved a few steps toward Sir Ian.

"Only to think of my keeping you waiting!" she reproached herself.

"It wasn't more than five minutes, and Ian loves mooning about among the portraits," said Lady Hereward.

"Don't you think, Milly, that the Sir Joshua by the staircase reminds one a tiny bit of Terry Ricardo, as she used to be? Heaven knows what she's like now." And Mrs. Forestier glanced at the picture which had been occupying Sir Ian's attention.

Millicent Hereward studied the portrait from a distance for a moment before answering, as if she had never noticed any resemblance, and needed to think the question over.