beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第57章
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walk。
〃I say； dear； I wish you'd do something for me this evening；〃 said
Eleanor to her companion； 〃just drop in after dinner on some pretext or
other； and stay on to make a fourth at bridge with Adela and the aunts。
Otherwise I shall have to play； and Harry Scarisbrooke is going to come
in unexpectedly about nine…fifteen； and I particularly want to be free to
talk to him while the others are playing。〃
〃Sorry； my dear； no can do；〃 said Suzanne； 〃ordinary bridge at
threepence a hundred； with such dreadfully slow players as your aunts；
bores me to tears。 I nearly go to sleep over it。〃 〃But I most
particularly want an opportunity to talk with Harry；〃 urged Eleanor； an
angry glint coming into her eyes。
〃Sorry； anything to oblige； but not that；〃 said Suzanne cheerfully； the
sacrifices of friendship were beautiful in her eyes as long as she was not
asked to make them。
Eleanor said nothing further on the subject； but the corners of her
mouth rearranged themselves。
〃There's our man！〃 exclaimed Suzanne suddenly； 〃hurry！〃
Mr。 Bertram Kneyght greeted his cousin and her friend with genuine
heartiness； and readily accepted their invitation to explore the crowded
mart that stood temptingly at their elbow。 The plate…glass doors swung
open and the trio plunged bravely into the jostling throng of buyers and
loiterers。
〃Is it always as full as this？〃 asked Bertram of Eleanor。
〃More or less； and autumn sales are on just now；〃 she replied。
Suzanne； in her anxiety to pilot her cousin to the desired haven of the
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fur department； was usually a few paces ahead of the others； coming
back to them now and then if they lingered for a moment at some
attractive counter； with the nervous solicitude of a parent rook
encouraging its young ones on their first flying expedition。
〃It's Suzanne's birthday on Wednesday next；〃 confided Eleanor to
Bertram Kneyght at a moment when Suzanne had left them unusually far
behind； 〃my birthday comes the day before； so we are both on the look…
out for something to give each other。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Bertram。 〃Now； perhaps you can advise me on that very
point。 I want to give Suzanne something； and I haven't the least idea
what she wants。〃
〃She's rather a problem；〃 said Eleanor。 〃She seems to have
everything one can think of； lucky girl。 A fan is always useful； she'll be
going to a lot of dances at Davos this winter。 Yes； I should think a fan
would please her more than anything。 After our birthdays are over
we inspect each other's muster of presents； and I always feel dreadfully
humble。 She gets such nice things； and I never have anything worth
showing。 You see； none of my relations or any of the people who give
me presents are at all well off； so I can't expect them to do anything
more than just remember the day with some little trifle。 Two years ago
an uncle on my mother's side of the family； who had come into a small
legacy； promised me a silver…fox stole for my birthday。 I can't tell
you how excited I was about it； how I pictured myself showing it off to
all my friends and enemies。 Then just at that moment his wife died； and；
of course； poor man； he could not be expected to think of birthday
presents at such a time。 He has lived abroad ever since； and I never got
my fur。 Do you know； to this day I can scarcely look at a silver…fox pelt
in a shop window or round anyone's neck without feeling ready to burst
into tears。 I suppose if I hadn't had the prospect of getting one I
shouldn't feel that way。 Look； there is the fan counter； on your left； you
can easily slip away in the crowd。 Get her as nice a one as you can see
… she is such a dear； dear girl。〃
〃Hullo； I thought I had lost you；〃 said Suzanne； making her way
through an obstructive knot of shoppers。 〃Where is Bertram？〃
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〃I got separated from him long ago。 I thought he was on ahead
with you；〃 said Eleanor。 〃We shall never find him in this crush。〃
Which turned out to be a true prediction。
〃All our trouble and forethought thrown away；〃 said Suzanne sulkily；
when they had pushed their way fruitlessly through half a dozen
departments。
〃I can't think why you didn't grab him by the arm；〃 said Eleanor； 〃I
would have if I'd known him longer； but I'd only just been introduced。
It's nearly four now； we'd better have tea。〃
Some days later Suzanne rang Eleanor up on the telephone。
〃Thank you very much for the photograph frame。 It was just what I
wanted。 Very good of you。 I say； do you know what that Kneyght
person has given me？ Just what you said he would … a wretched fan。
What？ Oh yes； quite a good enough fan in its way； but still 。 。 。〃
〃You must come and see what he's given me；〃 came in Eleanor's
voice over the 'phone。
〃You！ Why should he give you anything？〃
〃Your cousin appears to be one of those rare people of wealth who
take a pleasure in giving good presents；〃 came the reply。
〃I wondered why he was so anxious to know where she lived；〃
snapped Suzanne to herself as she rang off。
A cloud has arisen between the friendships of the two young women；
as far as Eleanor is concerned the cloud has a silver…fox lining。
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THE PHILANTHROPIST AND
THE HAPPY CAT
JOCANTHA BESSBURY was in the mood to be serenely and
graciously happy。 Her world was a pleasant place； and it was wearing
one of its pleasantest aspects。 Gregory had managed to get home for a
hurried lunch and a smoke afterwards in the little snuggery； the lunch
had been a good one； and there was just time to do justice to the coffee
and cigarettes。 Both were excellent in their way； and Gregory was； in
his way； an excellent husband。 Jocantha rather suspected herself of
making him a very charming wife； and more than suspected herself of
having a first…rate dressmaker。
〃I don't suppose a more thoroughly contented personality is to be
found in all Chelsea；〃 observed Jocantha in allusion to herself； 〃except
perhaps Attab；〃 she continued； glancing towards the large tabby…marked
cat that lay in considerable ease in a corner of the divan。 〃He lies there；
purring and dreaming；
