Beyond the Rocks

"Come and see me to-morrow at twelve, and we will talk about it," she

said.

"To-morrow!" exclaimed Lord Bracondale; "but I want to talk to her

to-night!"

"Get rid of your party, then, and join us for coffee," and the widow

smiled archly as she passed on.

Theodora bowed with grave sweetness as she also went by, and most of the

others greeted Hector, while one woman stopped and told him she was

going to have an automobile party in a day or two, and she hoped he

would come.

When they had all gone on Mrs. Ellerwood said: "I wonder why Americans are so much smarter than we poor English? I

can't bear them as a nation though, can you?"

"Yes," said Lord Bracondale. "I think the best friends I have in the

world are American. The women particularly are perfectly charming. You

feel all the time you are playing a game with really experienced

adversaries, and it makes it interesting. They are full of resource,

and you know underneath you could never break their hearts. I am not

sure if they have any in their own country, but if so they turn into the

most wonderful and exquisite bits of mechanism when they come to

Europe."

"And you admire that."

"Certainly--hearts are a great bore."

"You were always a cynic, Hector; that is perhaps what makes you so

attractive."

"Am I attractive?"

"I can't judge," said Mrs. Ellerwood, nettled for a moment. "I have

known you too long, but I hear other women saying so."

"That is comforting, at all events," said Lord Bracondale. "I always

have adored women."

"No, you never have, that is just it. You have let them adore you, and

utterly spoil you; so now sometimes, Hector, you are insupportable."

"You just said I was attractive."

"I shall not argue further with you," said Mrs. Ellerwood, pettishly.

"And I think we ought to be saying good-night, Hector," interrupted the

silent Jack. "We are making an early start for Fontainebleau to-morrow,

and Monica likes any amount of sleep."

This did not suit Mrs. Ellerwood at all; but if Jack spoke seldom he

spoke to some purpose when he did, and she knew there was no use

arguing.

So with a heart full of ungratified curiosity, she at last allowed

herself to be packed into Hector's automobile and driven away.

"Of course he'll go and join that other party now, Jack! What did you

make me come away for, you tiresome thing!" she said to her husband.