"Next September," he went on, draining his champagne glass and wiping
his moustache upward, in a martial way, "is their golden wedding, _mes
vieux_! It will be very fine. Very fine indeed, for all the children and
grandchildren," he glanced slily at Brigit, who clasped her hands
lightly on her lap, "will be there, and we shall eat until we can eat no
more, and tell each other old tales, and boast about our successes in
life--ah, it will be very pleasant!"
"You will come too, my Brigit," whispered Theo under his breath. "I can
show them my wonderful--wife?"
She could not answer, and he took her distress for girlish confusion,
and, manlike, rejoiced in it.
After dinner Joyselle came straight to her. "May I talk to you about
Tommy?" he began, "I love Tommy very much."
"He--adores you."
"Yes. Let us go into the library, Most Beautiful, where we can talk
quietly." Before she could protest he had turned to her mother and
announced his intention. "I leave to-morrow, before she will be up," he
declared, "and there are things I must say. You allow me, Lady
Kingsmead?"
Then he put his arm round the girl's waist and marched her down the hall
and up the stairs leading to the library.
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