She had
changed her drenched dress during Ormiston's absence, and now sat
arrayed in a swelling amplitude of rose-colored satin, her dark
hair clasped and bound by a circle of milk-white pearls, and her
pale, beautiful face looking ten degrees more beautiful than
ever, in contrast with the bright rose-silk, shining dark hair,
and rich white jewels. She rose up as they entered, and came
forward with the same glow on her face and the same light in her
eyes that one of them had seen before, and stood with drooping
eyelashes, lovely as a vision in the centre of the room.
"You see I have lost no time in obeying your ladyship's
commands," began Ormiston, bowing low. "Mistress Leoline, allow
me to present Sir Norman Kingsley."
Sir Norman Kingsley bent almost as profoundly before the lady as
the lord high chancellor had done before Queen Miranda; and the
lady courtesied, in return, until her pink-satin skirt ballooned
out all over the floor. It was quite an affecting tableau. And
so Ormiston felt, as he stood eyeing it with preternatural
gravity.
"I owe my life to Sir Norman Kingsley," murmured the faint, sweet
voice of the lady, "and could not rest until I had thanked him.
Pages:
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160