Page:The venture; an annual of art and literature.djvu/67

 Now you'll see whether I'm right!"

Mrs. Lawrence looked up with interest as the door opened, and noticed that "little Mrs. Villiers" was not only very pretty but also singlarlysingularly [sic] childish in appearance.

Her hair—soft brown fluffy hair, hung in baby tendrils on her forehead and round her little ears, and her wide opened blue eyes had the wondering half startled child-look so touching in baby faces. She was very simply dressed in white muslin, and a row of pink corals round her throat, emphasised her youth, and the charming innocence of her expression. At the door she paused a moment, with an air of hesitation, and a surprised glance to find all the seats at the long table occupied.

Guiseppe, the waiter, darted forward. "Madame is placed at the little table to-night," he explained, leading the way.

"Oh! is my place changed then?" she murmured, following.

"Very much surprised, no doubt," ejaculated the irrepressible Miss Rigg in a triumphant undertone.

"If there's anything I despise it's a spiteful mind. Boiled beef again," said Miss Hooley in something that was intended for a whisper.

Mrs. Lawrence, meanwhile, watched with some curiosity the effect produced upon the grave young man across the room, by the sudden appearance of youth and beauty at his lonely table. He reddened visibly; moved forks and spoons about with nervous hesitation, and kept his eyes fixed upon the rim of his plate.