Yet if he could but have had both hearts,
he would have seen that pretty, simple Nellie Masham, who talked
innocent little commonplaces to him, was worth a thousand of such women
as Lady Amelie Lisle. But it is not given to men to see clearly;
anything but that. When Basil Carruthers had finished that dance he
longed to escape, lest he should be compelled to go through another.
Then came another moment of rapture for him, when, from the midst of a
crowd of courtiers, Lady Amelie summoned him to take her to her
carriage. Already they seemed like old friends. Basil drew the lace
shawl around the white shoulders and held her flowers.
"You have told me I may call," he said; "will you tell me when?"
"I am visible any time after two," said Lady Amelie. Not for any amount
of love or homage would she forego her comforts. Then it seemed to him
that the world stopped until two the next day. He went back to the
ballroom, but its beauty had all departed--there was no soul in the
music, no fragrance in the flowers.
"Colonel," he said, "I have had quite enough of the ball. Are you ready
for home?"
The colonel, who was quite satisfied with the result of the night's
work, declared that he also was ready, and they went.
"A very pleasant ball," remarked the diplomatist, as they drove home.
"Was it?" said Basil dreamily. "I did not notice much--the only part of
it I enjoyed was the conversation I had with Lady Lisle.
Pages:
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68