Page:O Genteel Lady! (1926).pdf/108

 Persian. It's what our mutual friend, Mr. Ripley, would call decadent, but even...from my lecture platform, I could see his nostrils quiver like the wings of a butterfly about to light.'

Lanice visibly offended drew back. Anthony relaxed sullenly. She forgot that she had been afraid she might love him. He had almost forgotten that at a few odd moments she could be cruelly beautiful. Nothing but a rascal, as Mr. Ripley had said. Only another of these ridiculous high-minded 'civilized' women, and an editoress at that!

Mr. Jones had his own latchkey and let himself into the Bigley house. inside, his unacclimated shivering Hindoo, an affectation he had procured for himself in London, was packing up the discarded costumes of the ushers and setting out coffee for his master. So the dismal waiting in the cold hack had really been almost as long as it had seemed. The others had come and gone, and Miss Bigley, so the servant said, and her venerable father had gone to bed. Later Lanice heard that Miss Bigley 'understood' that Miss Bardeen had felt ill and had gone home immediately after the lecture.

Jones showed his teeth and spoke in a foreign language. He pointed to the hearth. The Hindoo busied himself until the orange flames leaped up and colored the room. He and his master drew the big sofa close to the fire. The horsehair upholstery displeased Jones, who ordered an India shawl to be spread upon it.

Lanice wished to leave, but did not know how to go