Love at Second Sight | Page 6

up to the children and left me alone with
Madame Frabelle yesterday evening, she told me herself; perfectly
frankly, in her usual way. She's always like that, so frank and open.
Besides, she hadn't the slightest idea we didn't know it.'
'I hope you didn't let her think--' Edith began.
'Edith! As if I would! Well, that being so'--he lit another cigarette--'and
under the circumstances, I want to ask some people to meet her. See?'
'She seems very happy with us alone, doesn't she? Not as if she cared
much for going out.'
'Yes, I know; that's all very well. But I don't want her to think we don't
know anyone. And it seems a bit selfish, too, keeping her all to
ourselves like this.'
'Who do you want her to meet, dear?'
'I want her to meet the Mitchells,' said Bruce. 'It's only a chance, of
course, that she hasn't met them already here, and I've told Mitchell at
the Foreign Office a good deal about her. He's very keen to know her.
Very keen indeed,' he added thoughtfully.
'And then the Mitchells will ask her to their house, of course?'
'I know they will,' said Bruce, rather jealously. 'Well, I shan't mind her
going there--once or twice--it's a very pleasant house, you know, Edith.
And she likes celebrities, and clever people, and that sort of thing.'
'Mrs Mitchell will count her as one, no doubt.'
'I daresay! What does that matter? So she is.'

'I know she is, in a way; but, Bruce, don't you wonder why she stays
here so long? I mean, there's no question of its not being for--well, for,
say, interested reasons. I happen to know for a fact that she has a far
larger income for herself alone than we have altogether. She showed
me her bank-book one day.'
'Why?'
'I don't know. She's so confidential, and perhaps she wanted me to
know how she was placed. And--she's not that sort of person--she's
generous and liberal, rather extravagant I should say.'
'Quite so. Still, it's comfortable here, and saves trouble--and she likes
us.'
Bruce again looked up toward the mirror, though he couldn't see it now.
'Well, I don't mind her being here; it's a nice change, but it seems odd
she hasn't said a word about going. Well, about the dinner. Who else
shall we have, Edith? Let it be a small, intimate, distinguished sort of
dinner. She hates stiffness and ceremony. She likes to have a chance to
talk.'
'She does, indeed. All right, you can leave it to me, Bruce. I'll make it
all right. We'll have about eight people, shall we?'
'She must sit next to me, on my left,' Bruce observed. 'And not lilies of
the valley--she doesn't like the scent.'
Madame Frabelle was usually designated between them by the personal
pronoun only.
'All right. But what was the delicate, difficult matter that someone
consulted you about, Bruce?'
'Ah, I was just coining to that.... Hush!'
The door opened. Madame Frabelle came in, dressed in a violet
tea-gown.

'Tea?' said Edith, holding out a cup.
'Yes, indeed! I'm always ready for tea, and you have such delightful tea,
Edith dear!' (They had already reached the point of Christian names,
though Edith always found Eglantine a little difficult to say.) 'It's nice
to see you back so early, Mr Ottley.'
'Wouldn't you like a slice of lemon?' said Bruce.
To offer her a slice of lemon with tea was, from Bruce, a tribute to the
lady's talents.
'Oh no! Cream and sugar, please.'
Madame Frabelle was looking very pleasant and very much at her ease
as she sat down comfortably, taking the largest chair.
'I'm afraid that Archie has been bothering you today,' Edith said, as she
poured out tea.
'What!' exclaimed Bruce, with a start of horror.
'Oh no, no, no! Not the least in the world, Mr Ottley! He's a most
delightful boy. We were only having some fun together--about my
mandolin; that was all!'
(Edith thought of the sounds she had heard on the stairs.)
'I'm afraid I got a little cross. A thing I very seldom do.' Madame
Frabelle looked apologetically at Edith. 'But we've quite made it up
now! Oh, and by the way, I want to speak to you both rather seriously
about your boy,' she went on earnestly. She had a rather powerful, clear,
penetrating voice, and spoke with authority, decision, and the sort of
voluble fluency generally known as not letting anyone else get a word
in edgeways.
'About our boy?' said Bruce, handing the toast to her invitingly, while
Edith put a cushion behind her back, for which Madame Frabelle gave
a little gracious smile.

'About your boy. Do you know, I have a very curious gift, Mr Ottley. I
can always see