"
Lady Lucy made no reply, but her expression was eloquent of a patience
which her old friend might abuse if he would.
"Does Ferrier know? Have you consulted him?" asked Sir James, turning
abruptly.
"He will be here, I think, this afternoon--as usual," said Lady Lucy,
evasively. "And, of course, he must know what concerns us so deeply."
As she spoke the hall-door bell was heard.
"That is probably he." She looked at her companion uncertainly. "Don't
go, Sir James--unless you are really in a hurry."
The invitation was not urgent; but Sir James stayed, all the same.
Ferrier was a man so interesting to his friends that no judgment of his
could be indifferent to them. Moreover, there was a certain angry
curiosity as to how far Lady Lucy's influence would affect him. Chide
took inward note of the fact that his speculation took this form, and
not another. Oh! the hypocritical obstinacy of decent women!--the lack
in them of heart, of generosity, of imagination!
The door opened, and Ferrier entered, with Marsham and the butler behind
him. Mr. Ferrier, in his London frock-coat, appeared rounder and heavier
than ever but for the contradictory vigor and lightness of his step, the
shrewd cheerfulness of the eyes.
Pages:
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334