Big Game - A Story for Girls

With an impetuous movement she turned her face over her shoulder--that

vivid pink and white face which made such a startling contrast to

Elspeth's stolidity--and stared with widely-opened hazel eyes into that

other pair of eyes so near her own.

It was the younger Mr Elgood sure enough,--but seen close at hand, with

that mischievous smile curling his lips, he had an extraordinary

youthful and boyish appearance. Margot received an instantaneous

impression of kindliness and strength, of a glinting sense of humour,

before the change came. Such a change! If she had been a wild animal

prepared to spring, horror and dismay could not have been more

eloquently depicted upon his face. The eyes widened, the features

stiffened into a mask, the outstretched hand fell limply to his side.

He opened his lips to say something, several things, but the words were

unintelligible; a mere broken stammer of apology, as he wheeled round

and walked hastily from the room.

The door slammed behind him; she heard his footsteps over the flagged

hall. Poor Margot! Never before in her life had she so keenly desired

to make a good impression; never had she so signally failed. It was

indeed an unpromising beginning to the campaign!