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第72章

we two-第72章

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〃May I be introduced to your guest?〃 he said。

〃Certainly;〃 said Donovan。  〃She is the daughter of Mr。 Raeburn。〃

Leslie started。

〃Indeed!  I have heard about her from old Bircham; the editor。  He can't say enough of her。〃

Apparently Leslie Cunningham could not look enough at her。

Donovan; thinking of Brian; was perhaps a little vexed at the meeting。  However; putting himself into his guest's position; he felt that the admiration was but natural; and as to Brian if he chose to lose his heart to such a lovely girl; he must expect to have many rivals。

Erica's first thought; as she glanced at Leslie Cunningham; was one of disappointment。  He was not the least like his father。  However; by degrees she began to like himfor his own sake。  He could not have been more than five…and…twenty; and looked even younger; for he was fair…complexioned and clean…shaven。  His thick; flaxen hair; and rather pallid face were decidedly wanting in color; but were relieved by very dark gray eyes。  His features were well cut and regular; and the face was altogether a clever as well as an attractive one。

Erica felt as if she had got into a very delicious new word。  The novelty of a meal AL FRESCO; the lovely view; the beautifully laid out grounds were charming externals; and then there were the deeper enjoyments the lovability of her host and hostess; the delightful atmosphere of broad…hearted sympathy in which they seemed to live and move; and; above all; the restfulness; the freedom of not living in momentary expectation of being rubbed the wrong way by a vexing conversation on religious; or political; or personal topics。  It was like a beautiful dream quite unlike any part of real; waking existence that she had ever before known。  The conversation was bright and lively。  They talked because they had something to say; and wished to say it; and the artificial element so prevalent in society talk was entirely absent。

Presently Ralph came out of the house; leading a fairy…like little girl of four years old。

〃Here come the children;〃 said Gladys。  〃The hour before dinner is their special time。  You have not seen Dolly; have you?〃

〃Dolly!〃 The name awoke some recollection of the past in Erica; and; as she kissed the little girl; she looked at her closely。  Yes; it was the same fascinating little baby face; with its soft; pink cheeks and little pointed chin; its innocent; blue…gray eyes; its tiny; sweet…tempered mouth。  The sunny brown hair was longer and Dolly was an inch or two taller; but she was undoubtedly the same。

〃Now I know why I always felt that I knew your face!〃 exclaimed Erica; turning to Donovan。  〃Was not Dolly lost at Codrington last year?〃

〃On the beach;〃 replied Donovan。  〃Yes!  Why; could it have been you who brought her back?  Of course it was!  Now it all comes back to me。  I had exactly the same feeling about knowing your face the other evening at Lady Caroline's; but put it down to your likeness to Mr。 Raeburn。  There is another bond between us。〃

They both laughed。  Donovan took Dolly upon his knee。  

〃Do you remember; Dolly; when you were lost on the beach once?〃

〃Yes;〃 said Dolly; promptly; 〃I clied。〃

〃Who found you?〃

〃Farver;〃 said Dolly。

〃Who brought you to father?〃

Dolly searched her memory。

〃An old gentleman gave Dolly sweets!〃

〃My father;〃 said Erica; smiling。

〃And who helped you up the beach?〃 asked Gladys。

〃A plitty lady did;〃 said Dolly。

〃Was it this lady; do you think?〃 said Donovan; indicating Erica。

Dolly trotted round with her dear little laughing face to make the scrutiny。

〃I fink vis one is plittier;〃 she announced。  Whereupon every one began to laugh。

〃The most charming compliment I ever heard!〃 said Leslie Cunningham。  〃Dolly ought to be patted on the back。〃

Erica smiled and colored; but as she looked again at Donovan and little Dolly; her thoughts wandered away to that June day in the museum when they had been the parable which shadowed forth to her such a wonderful reality。  Truly; there were links innumerable between her and Donovan。

Leslie Cunningham seemed as if he intended to stay forever; however; every one was quite content to sit out on the lawn talking and watching the children at their play。  It was one of those still; soft September evenings when one is glad of any excuse to keep out of doors。

At last the dressing bell rang; and Leslie took out his watch with an air of surprise。

〃The afternoon has flown!〃 he exclaimed。  〃I had no idea it was so late。  I wanted to ask you; by the bye; whether I could see the coffee tavern at Greyshot。  We are going to start one down at our place; and I want to see one or two well…managed ones first。  Whereabouts is it?  I think I'll ride on now; and have a look at it。〃

〃Dine with us first;〃 said Donovan; 〃and I'll ride over with you between eight and nine; that is the best time for seeing it in full swing。〃

So Leslie Cunningham stayed to dinner; and talked a great deal about temperance work; but did not succeed in blinding his host; who knew well enough that Erica had been the real cause of his desire to go over to Greyshot。

Temperance; however; proved a fortunate subject; for it was; of course; one in which she was deeply interested; all the more so now that it formed one of the strongest bonds remaining between herself and her father's followers。  A large number of the Raeburnites were either teetotalers or very strong temperance advocates; and Erica; who was constantly out and about in the poorer parts of London; had realized forcibly the terrible national evil; and was an enthusiastic temperance worker。

Donovan; perhaps out of malice prepense; administered a good many dry details about the management of coffee taverns; personal supervision; Etzenberger's machines; the necessity of a good site and attractive building; etc。; etc。  Erica only wished that Tom could have been there; he would have been so thoroughly in his element。  By and by the conversation drifted away to other matters。  And as Leslie Cunningham was a good and very amusing talker; and Gladys the perfection of a hostess; the dinner proved very lively; an extraordinary contrast to the dreary; vapid table talk to which Erica had lately been accustomed。  After the ladies had left the room; Donovan; rather to his amusement; found the talk veering round to Luke Raeburn。  Presently; Leslie Cunningham hazarded a direct question about Erica in a would…be indifferent tone。  In reply; Donovan told him briefly and without comment what he knew of her history; keeping on the surface of things and speaking always with a sort of careful restraint。  He was never very fond of discussing people; and perhaps in this case the realization of the thousand objections to any serious outcome of Leslie's sudden admiration strengthened his reserve。  However; fate was apparently kinder though perhaps really more cruel than the host; for Donovan was summoned into the library to interview an aggrieved constituent; and Leslie finding his way to the drawing room; was only too delighted to meet Gladys going upstairs to see her children。

The lamps were lighted in the drawing room; but the curtains were not drawn; and beside the open window he saw a slim; white…robed figure。  Erica was looking out into the gathering darkness。  He crossed the room; and stood beside her; his heart beating quickly; all the more because she did not move or take any notice of his presence。  It was unconventional; but perhaps because he was so weary of the ordinary young ladies who invariably smiled and fluttered the moment he approached them; and were so perfectly ready to make much of him; this unconventionality attracted him。  He watched her for a minute in silence。  She was very happy; and was looking her loveliest。  Presently she turned。

〃I think it is the stillness which is so wonderful!〃 she exclaimed。

It was spoken with the frankness of a child; with the spontaneous confidence of the pure child…nature; which instinctively recognizes all the lovable and trustable。  The clear; golden eyes looked right into his for a moment。  A strange reverence awoke within him。  He had seen more beautiful eyes before; but none so entirely wanting in that unreality of 

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