The little scene was not lost upon
Richard.
Lady Wensleydale knew no Italian, but Richard
quickly unravelled themystery. There was nothing at Aquafonti but bare walls and
trees and romance. Mrs Raffertys sunken eyes slowly followedRichards
hand.
There was astain of dirty water on the front of the
skirt.
One morning they were awakened by a terrific
thunderstorm. He bowed over the ladies hands and,nodding to the two men, dropped
into a chair beside Richard.
Shes one of Richards peculiar fancies, Reggie. The
little scene was not lost upon Richard.
She had to be treatedlike a young horse you want to
get near to in a field.
Richard suspected he was drawing on his
imagination, but he listened. Really exhausted, Richard had insisted on the rest, to
whichElinor reluctantly assented. For her husband, whether for good or for evil,
thatmoment would never come.
A lovely creation, he remarked to Elinor, with a
low how, indeed adream.
I like horses and dogs and rowing and sailing and
swimming and workingwith my hands. They had almostgiven up doing
stucco-work.
She laid down the trowel and stood in front of him
with her knuckles onher hips. Very kind of you, Mrs Rafferty, but theres so much to
do. These two prisoners of Fate hugged the chains bywhich they were linked to each
other.
They had almostgiven up doing stucco-work. The girl
turned sharply,leaving him standing.
How unpleasant those rasping rs were to the
ear!
Jumping on the bicycle, she was half-way to the
hotel before Richardcould say another word.
As I did soit uttered a strange cry, like this,
Hulloa! Her teeth were dazzlingly white, but large, like those of an
animal.
How unpleasant those rasping rs were to the ear!
How unpleasant those rasping rs were to the ear!
And that stucco-work oflaurel scrolls above
them!
They had almostgiven up doing stucco-work. Jumping
on the bicycle, she was half-way to the hotel before Richardcould say another word.
What could there be in thisgirl to hold him?