She loved Anne, of course, but oh, that she could have been more like
herself or Morella Winmarleigh!
Both women saw Hector in the omnibus box, and saw him leave it, and were
quite ready with their greetings when he joined them.
Miss Winmarleigh had a slight air of proprietorship about her, which
every one knew when Hector was there. And most people thought as she
did, that he would certainly marry her in the near future.
He was glad it was not between the acts--there was no excuse for
conversation after their greeting, so he searched the house in peace
with his glasses.
And although he was hoping to see Theodora, his heart gave a great bound
of surprised joy when, on the pit tier, almost next the box he had just
left, he discovered her. He supposed it was a box often let to strangers
that season, as he could not remember whose the name was as he had
passed. He got back into the shadow, that his gaze should not be too
remarkable. She had not caught sight of him yet, or so it seemed.
There she sat with her husband and another woman, whom he recognized as
one of those kind creatures who go everywhere in society and help
strangers when suitably compensated for their trouble.
Where on earth could she have come across Mrs. Devlyn? he wondered. A
poisonous woman, who would fill her ears with tales of all the world.
Then he guessed, and rightly, the introduction had been effected by
Captain Fitzgerald, who would probably have known her in his own day.
Theodora appeared wrapped in the music, and was an enthralling picture
of loveliness; her fineness seemed to make all the women's faces who
were near look coarse, and her whiteness turned them into gypsies. She
wore a gown of black velvet with no relief whatever, only her dazzling
skin and her great pearls. He feasted his eyes upon her--eyes hungry
with a week's abstinence; for he had felt it more prudent to remain in
Paris for some days after she had left.
He looked round the rest of the house, and understood all the other men
could, and probably would, gaze too. And then he began to feel hot and
jealous! This was different from Paris, where she was more or less a
tourist; but here, how long would she be left in peace without siege
being laid to her? He knew his world and the men it contained. Yes, at
that moment the door at the back of the box opened and Delaval Stirling
came in, Josiah Brown making way for him to sit in front. Delaval
Stirling--this was too much!