Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/250

Rh Bessy rose obediently. “Does he remind you of your promises too? You said you’d come down to dinner tonight.”

“Did I?” Justine hesitated. “Well, I’m coming,” she said, smiling and kissing her friend.

XV

HEN the door closed on Mrs. Amherst a resolve which had taken shape in Justine’s mind during their talk together made her seat herself at her writing-table, where, after a moment’s musing over her suspended pen, she wrote and addressed a hurried note. This business despatched, she put on her hat and jacket, and letter in hand passed down the corridor from her room, and descended to the entrance-hall below. She might have consigned her missive to the post-box which conspicuously tendered its services from a table near the door; but to do so would delay the letter’s despatch till morning, and she felt a sudden impatience to see it start.

The tumult on the terrace had transferred itself within doors, and as Justine went down the stairs she heard the click of cues from the billiard-room, the talk and laughter of belated bridge-players, the movement of servants gathering up tea-cups and mending ﬁres. She had hoped to ﬁnd the hall empty, but the sight [ 234 ]