Mary resigned herself to sleep in the room where Hannaford had thought
and dreamed of her.
* * * * * * *
When they had bidden their hostess good-night, and their doors were
locked, Lord and Lady Dauntrey stood together for a moment at one of the
long windows of the larger room. This Eve had taken, and on the bed with
the high, carved walnut back lay the night-dress borrowed from Mary.
Through torn clouds a few stars glittered like coins in a gashed purse,
and very far away to the west, at the end of all things visible, was a
faint, ghostly gleam which meant the dazzling lights of the Casino and
its terrace, at Monte Carlo.
Lady Dauntrey rested against her husband's shoulder, as if his
companionship were dear and essential to her. She had done this often
before their marriage and shortly after; but not once for many months
now. It seemed to him that he could remember every one of the caresses
which had bound him to her as with ropes from which he could not, and
did not desire to, escape. A long time ago in South Africa, when she had
first made him love her, she had been pleased when he called her his
"beautiful tigress." She had kissed him for the name, and said that of
all animals she adored tigers; that she believed she had been a tigress
once; and when they were rich--as they would be some time--he must buy
her a splendid tiger skin to lie on. This very day the tigress thought
of her had been in his heart, but not as a loving fancy.
Pages:
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524