按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
late； we must carry out our ambush to the minute。〃
At a few minutes to three the next afternoon the
fur…trappers walked warily towards the selected corner。
In the near distance rose the colossal pile of Messrs。
Goliath and Mastodon's famed establishment。 The
afternoon was brilliantly fine； exactly the sort of
weather to tempt a gentleman of advancing years into the
discreet exercise of a leisurely 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 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？〃
〃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。
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； shifting
his limbs now and then in an ecstasy of cushioned
comfort。 He seems the incarnation of everything soft and
silky and velvety； without a sharp edge in his
composition； a dreamer whose philosophy is sleep and let