She was bearing a cane, or rather a staff, of ebony; but it
suggested, not decrepitude, but power--perhaps even a weapon that
might be used to enforce authority should occasion demand. In her
face, in her eyes, however, there was that which forbade the
supposition of any revolt being never so remotely possible.
As she advanced across the ballroom, dancing ceased before her and
around her, and but for the noise of the orchestra there would
have been an awed and painful silence. Mrs. Burke's haughty
daughter-in-law, with an expression of eager desire to conciliate
and to please, hastened forward and conducted the old lady to a
gilt armchair in the center of the dais, across the end of the
ballroom. It was several minutes before the gayety was resumed,
and then it seemed to have lost the abandon which the freely-
flowing champagne had put into it.
"WHO is that frightful person?" repeated Craig. He was scowling
like a king angered and insulted by the advent of an eclipsing
rival.
"Grandma,"' replied Arkwright, his flippancy carefully keyed low.
"I've never seen a more dreadful person!" exclaimed Craig angrily.
"And a woman, too! She's the exact reverse of everything a woman
should be--no sweetness, no gentleness.
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