He was entirely aware of the ridiculousness of his
position, but he stooped and kissed her.
Her work seemed all done; but her satisfaction lasted only a second.
Her face broke into happy smiles.
"You do love me, do you not?" she asked.
"I certainly do not," he answered; and at that instant the door opened
and Mrs. Belding saw this pretty group of apparent lovers on a rich
background of Jacqueminot roses.
Startled more at the words of Farnham than at the entry of Mrs.
Belding, Maud had started up, like Vivien, "stiff as a viper frozen."
Her first thought was whether she had crushed her hat on his shoulder,
and her hands flew instinctively to her head-gear. She then walked
tempestuously past the astonished lady out into the garden and brushed
roughly by Sleeny, who tried to detain her.
"Hold your tongue, Sam! I hate you and all men"; and with this general
denunciation, she passed out of the place, flaming with rage and shame.
Mrs. Belding stood for a moment speechless, and then resorted to the
use of that hard-worked and useful monosyllable,
"Well!" with a sharp, falling inflection.
Pages:
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175