Page:Marsh--The seen and the unseen.djvu/340

316 Mrs. Paynter "went along" with him. Miss Paynter heard the door shut after them. As she heard it she knew that she stood within measurable distance of being one of the greatest women in England—a woman who, if she chose, might rule society. She knew, too, that, physically and intellectually, she was just the woman to play the part of social queen—that she would be a ruler who would have no rivals. She knew that she had but to stretch out her hand for all the gifts of all the gods to fall into her open palm; yet she only pressed that letter closer to her breast.

Several sitting-rooms opened out on to that verandah. The French windows of the room adjoining were thrown right back. As she stood there, thinking of all that grand future to which she possessed the "open sesame," she was conscious that into that adjoining room had come two persons, a man and a woman.

The man spoke. "Is everything ready?"

The woman answered, "Everything."

"The train leaves at ten minutes to two. We can catch the five minutes to nine in Paris, and we shall be in Nice by a few minutes past six on Saturday afternoon."

"Dicky, you will be true to me?"

"Isn't it rather late in the day to ask me such a question? Don't you know I will?"

"But swear you will!"

"I swear it for the hundredth time!"

"You will marry me afterwards?"

"I will, upon my honour."

The woman's voice was low and earnest, even