Peyton's a snob, really,
like the rest of his friends, and Mina's crowd won't have that for a
moment: he can't go through her world judging men by their slang and by
whom they knew at college. I envy him, it will be a tremendously
interesting experience." If her eyes were particularly brilliant it was
because they were surrounded by an extreme darkness. Her voice,
commonly no more than a little rough in its deliberate forthrightness,
was high and metallic. She gave Lee the heroic impression that no most
mighty tempest would ever see her robbed of her erect defiance. It was
at once her weakness and strength that she could be broken but not
bent.
* * * * *
After dinner Claire, who was staying with the Randons until tomorrow,
played picquet with Lee; and his wife, her shapely feet elevated above
the possible airs of the floor, continued to draw threads from the
handkerchiefs she was making for Christmas. Claire played very well
and, at five cents a point, he had to watch the game. On a specially
big hand she piqued and repiqued. "That," she declared, "will pay you
for caputting me." The jargon of their preoccupation, "A point of six;
yes, to the ace; paid; and a quatorze, kings," was the only sound until
Fanny rose, decidedly. "I am going to bed." She hesitated at the door.
"I hope you'll be comfortable, Claire: I had some club soda and rye put
in your room, since you like it so well.
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