The Awakening of Helena Richie
Page 38After he had driven on, screwing up his courage, it appeared that Mr.
Pryor also had a cannon to face. Helena Richie came out into the
garden, and found. him sitting on a bench built round a great silver
poplar. Her face was worried. "I ought not to have made poor Maggie
get up yesterday," she said, "but I was so distressed not to have a
good dinner for you."
"Well, at least you need have no anxieties about supper; we've had an
invitation," "An invitation! From Dr, King? Well, that's very nice in him. But, of
course--"
"I told him we would come"
"I couldn't help it, Nelly. People who invite you face to face are
perfect nuisances. But, really, it's no great matter--for once, And I
knew it would be a convenience for you. Besides, I wanted a good
supper."
"Well, we must make some excuse."
"There isn't any excuse to make," he explained, good-naturedly: "I
tried to find one and couldn't. We've got to go."
"I sha'n't go."
He looked at her from under his heavy eyelids; then blew two smoke
She turned on him hotly. "Queer? Because I won't go out to supper with
you? I'd be queer if I did! I'm entirely satisfied with myself, Lloyd;
I consider that I have a perfect right to be happy in my own way. You
know I don't care a copper for what you call 'morality'! it's nothing
but cowardly conventionality. But I won't go out to supper with you."
"Please don't let us have a tirade," he said "I thought it would be
more convenient for you. That's always the way with your sex, Helena,
you do a thing to help them out, and they burst into tears."
"I haven't burst into tears," she said sullenly, "but I won't go."
their invitations; but for once, what does it matter?"
"Can't you understand?" she said passionately; "they are kind to
me!"
She turned quickly and ran into the garden, leaving him to call after
her: "Well, you've got to go to-night, because I've accepted."
"I won't go to-night!" she flung back, her voice breaking.
Lloyd Pryor shook his head. "And she wonders I don't come oftener," he
said to himself.