Page:The Awkward Age (New York, Harper and Brothers, 1899).djvu/206

THE AWKWARD AGE "because I want you just to sit down by her there and keep the place, as one may say—"

"Well, for whom?" he demanded as she stopped.

It was her step that had checked itself, as well as her tongue, and again, suddenly, they stood quite consciously and vividly opposed. "Can I trust you?" the Duchess brought out. Again then she took herself up. "But as if I weren't already doing it! It's because I do trust you so utterly that I haven't been able, any longer, to keep my hands off you. The person I want the place for is none other than Mitchy himself, and half my occupation now is to get it properly kept for him. Lord Petherton's immensely kind, but Lord Petherton can't do everything. I know you really like our host—"

Mr. Longdon, at this, interrupted her with a certain coldness. "How, may I ask, do you know it?"

But with a brazen goddess to deal with—! This personage had to fix him but an instant. "Because, you dear honest man, you're here. You wouldn't be if you hated him, for you don't practically condone—"

This time he broke in with his eyes on the child. "I feel, on the contrary, I assure you, that I condone a great deal."

"Well, don't boast of your cynicism," she laughed, "till you're sure of all it covers. Let the right thing for you be," she went on, "that Nanda herself wants it."

"Nanda herself?" He continued to watch little Aggie, who had never yet turned her head. "I'm afraid I don't understand you."

She swept him on again. "I'll come to you presently and explain. I must get my letter for Petherton; after which I'll give up Mitchy, whom I was going to find, and, since I've broken the ice—if it isn't too much to say to such a polar bear!—I'll show you le fond de ma pensée. Baby darling," she said to her niece, "keep Mr. Longdon. Show him," she benevolently suggested, "what you've 196