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Read Ebook: A Master of Deception by Marsh Richard Tennant C Dudley Charles Dudley Illustrator
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Ebook has 765 lines and 27726 words, and 16 pages
ey, when he had tasted Miss Claughton's claret, wished he was; so there was no temptation to linger over the wine. In the drawing-room they had "music." Stella played and sang. Rodney, whose taste in music was as fastidious as in other things, would have been content had she done neither. She had not got a bad little voice; from the point of view of those who liked little voices of the kind; but he had always been of opinion that it was worth more to the professors of singing than to anybody else. Still, she sang straight at him, and for him only; so it was not so bad. Presently Mr. Austin vanished, and the Misses Claughton followed. So he put his arm about Stella's waist, and that was better. She was even more disposed to be made love to after dinner than before, and somehow she seemed prettier and sweeter and more desirable to him. Under such conditions he was the kind of young man who was bound to shine.
After a while--quite an agreeable while--he led the conversation on to the subject which Mr. Austin had broached in the morning. The lady lent a complacent ear.
"Stella, I have a very serious question which I wish to put to you."
"What is it? If you can be serious."
"You will find I can when you have heard my question; I pray you incline your little pink ears unto my question. Will you marry me?"
"Perhaps, some day--silly!"
"When is 'some day'?"
"When would you like it to be?"
"This day; to-night."
"Rodney, you--you really mustn't talk like that."
"Why mustn't I?"
"You only proposed last Saturday."
"Well. Allow a week for that fact to get fixed firmly in your mind, another for preparation, why shouldn't 'some day' be Saturday week?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"It's you who are ridiculous. If you keep me waiting long I shall kiss you all away."
"Am I the only girl you've ever kissed?"
"Yes."
"That's a fib; I saw you kiss Mary."
"Gracious! When?"
"Have you been so much in the habit of kissing Mary that you need ask when?"
"If by Mary you mean Miss Carmichael, I don't remember to have ever kissed her once."
"Well, I remember. And let me tell you something, sir: there have been times when--I've been jealous of Mary."
"Good gracious me! what an extraordinary child! Miss Carmichael's sole recommendation to me has been that she's your friend; besides, hasn't Tom an eye on her?"
"Oh, Tom! Tom never would see anything--like that; but I see. Honestly, don't you think Mary's very pretty?"
"She's not bad, in a way; but she's not to be compared with you."
"That she certainly isn't; you don't imagine that you can make me believe that I'm--a tenth part as pretty as Mary? Do you take me for a perfect goose?"
"Stella, do you remember what you said before dinner about the ring. You said--I don't know if you meant it."
"I meant every word I said, Rodney."
"Well, sweetheart, you said it was the most beautiful ring you had ever seen. Just as you said that, and meant it, I say and mean that you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen; and, to me, you will be the most beautiful girl, as long as I live."
"Do you really mean that? Really?"
"Who told you to say that?"
"Your own father, this morning as ever was."
"Was--was the idea yours or his?"
"I'm not so small as all that! You're not to call me small!"
"Well, all-that-my-heart-desireth, which you are, I will tell you with such precision as is in me. I said to him: 'I want her! I do want her! Oh, I want her badly! But, if I have to earn her, I'll have to wait for her, I dare not think how long.' Then he said to me--exactly what I've told you; and my heart sang. Do you doubt? Ask him! To me the point is: shall we say the first?"
"Rodney, do try to be sensible! You're a man, and you can't understand."
"Is that so? So long as you do."
"To a girl her wedding day is the day of her life."
"Some girls manage to have several wedding days, so I suppose they have two or three days in their lives."
"There will be only one wedding day in my life. Whatever happens I want that to be, in every sense, a wonderful day; I want mine to be a pretty wedding."
"With you as bride that's assured."
"A really pretty wedding can't be arranged at a moment's notice; it takes time."
"Half an hour--or three-quarters?"
"Don't be so silly! Mamma's coming up to town to-morrow. I'll consult her; then I shall have some idea how long a time it will take."
"You mean how short a time! Do mean how short a time!"
"Well, how short a time. Rodney, how many bridesmaids would you like me to have?"
"Bridesmaids? My dear! What are bridesmaids to me, so long as I've the bride? All--all--all I'm going to be married to is the bride!"
"Yes? A perfect--what?"
"Oh, I don't know! Rodney?"
She hid her face upon his shoulder.
"I always wondered what there was in a kiss to make a fuss about. Now--I know."
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