Beyond the Rocks

Both her neighbors, the young politician and the Crow, were completely

fascinated by her. She had not the slightest accent in speaking

English, but now and then her phrasing had a quaint turn which was

original and attractive.

Anne was not enjoying her luncheon-party. The impression of sorrow and

calamity which the conversation with her brother had left upon her

deepened rather than wore off.

Josiah's commonplace and sometimes impossible remarks perhaps helped it.

She seemed to realize how it must all jar on Hector. To know his loved

one belonged to this worthy grocer--to understand the hopelessness of

the position!

Anne was proud of her family and her old name. It was grief, too, to

think that after Hector the title would go to Evermond Le Mesurier, the

unmarried and dissolute uncle, if he survived his nephew, and then would

die out altogether. There would be no more Baron Bracondales of

Bracondale, unless Hector chose to marry and have sons. Oh, life was a

topsy-turvy affair at the best of times, she sighed to herself.

Just before the ladies left the table, Josiah had announced their

intended visit to Beechleigh, and his wife's relationship to Sir Patrick

Fitzgerald and the old Earl Borringdon.

It came as a thunderclap to Lady Anningford. This accounted for

Hector's eagerness to obtain the invitation--accounted for Theodora's

exceeding look of breeding--accounted for many things.

She only trusted her mother had not heard the news also. So much better

to leave her in her fool's paradise about Morella.

If Lady Harrowfield knew, she said nothing about it. She absolutely

ignored Theodora, as though she had never shaken hands with her in her

own house the night before. Theodora wondered at her manners--she did

not yet know Mayfair.

The conversation turned upon some of the wonderful charities they were

all interested in, and Theodora thought how good and kind of them to

help the poor and crippled. And she said some gentle, sympathetic things

to a lady who was near her. And Anne thought to herself how sweet and

beautiful her nature must be, and it made her sadder and sadder.

Presently they all began to discuss the ball at Harrowfield House. It

had been too lovely, they said, and Lady Harrowfield joined in with one

of her sharp thrusts.

"Of course it could not be just as one would have wished. I was obliged

to ask all sorts of people I had never even heard of," she said. "The

usual grabbing for invitations, you know, to see the Royalties. Really,

the quaint creatures who came up the stairs! I almost laughed in their

faces once or twice."