"
"I'm not frightened; I'm appalled. I don't mean Mr. Burke, though he's a
detrimental--and, by the way, he was as much distressed to-night as I was.
I mean the men who have families--wives and daughters! Why didn't they
bring 'em--or stay away?"
"I'd thank John Burke to mind his own business," I cried hotly. "He
doesn't have to come here unless he wants to."
"There is only one way," she went on, as if speaking to herself, pacing
the floor and fanning herself violently--for her face, and especially her
nose, was as red as a beet; she really laces disgracefully--"there's only
one way; I must fall ill at once. I must have nervous prostration, or--
it's nearly June. I shall leave town. Heavens! What a night!"
"You're assuming a great deal. Our arrangements were made by two, and are
hardly to be broken by one. You can't agree to matronize me--let me buy
furniture for you, and then abandon me, cut off my social opportunities--
leave me--"
"Social opportunity! Social collapse! Disgrace! Why, your prospects were
really extraordinary. But now! Where was Meg to-night? Where was Mrs.
Marmaduke? Why did my own sister-in-law stay away?"
"I don't know; do you?"
Her harangue begun, she couldn't stop.
Pages:
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314