Man and Maid

Alathea looked perfectly lovely when she came into the salon dressed for

dinner. It is the first time I have seen her in anything pertaining to

the evening. She had a gauzy tea-gown on, of a shade of blue like her

eyes. Her nut brown hair was beautifully done, with the last "look" like

Coralie's, showing her tiny head. Whether she likes it or no, I must

give her some pearl earrings, and my mother's pearls. That will be a

moment! But I had better wait a little while. Her eyes were shining with

excitement or resentment, or a mixture of both. She was purely feminine.

She intended to attract me I am certain, her subconscious mind did at

all events, even though she would not have admitted it to herself. She

was smarting still about Suzette. The situation fills her with distrust

and uneasiness, but I know now, after analysing every point, when I

could not sleep last night, that she is not really indifferent to me.

And it is because she is not, that she is angry.

I registered a vow that I would make her love me without explaining

about Suzette, fate can let her find out for herself.

I had not come to the comforting conclusion that she is not indifferent

at the beginning of the evening though, so the sense of self-confidence

and triumph did not uplift me then. I was still worried at the events

of the afternoon.

I had troubled to put on a tail coat and white waistcoat, not a dinner

jacket as usual, and had even a buttonhole of a gardenia, found by

Burton for this great occasion!

I looked into her eyes with my one blue one, which is I suppose, as blue

as her own. She instantly averted her glance.

"I cannot offer you my arm, milady," I said rather sarcastically, "So we

will have to go in after each other."

She bowed and led the way.

The table was too beautifully decorated, and the dinner a masterpiece!

while the champagne was iced to perfection, and the Burgundy a poem! The

pupils of Alathea's eyes before the partridge came, were black as night.

Burton discreetly marshalled Antoine out of the room each time after the

dishes were handed.

"When will you get your new eye?" my wife--I like to write that!--asked

in the first interval when we were alone, "and your new leg?"

"I suppose they will both be restored to me in a day or two. It will be

so wonderful to walk again."