No such effort
was necessary! Nature had anticipated any endeavours of her own. With
her face and figure it must be positively difficult not to please any
man with eyes in his head. Her curiously childlike ingenuousness was
too perfect to be counterfeited. Bridget charmed because she must.
When she referred to the report of a recent lawsuit in which Lawrence
had admittedly increased his already growing reputation, Carrissima
smiled to see him unbend, although she might feel inclined to frown
when she noticed that Colonel Faversham's eyes scarcely left Bridget's
face until she rose from her chair to follow her hostess up-stairs.
In the drawing-room, while the men were smoking, she inquired after
Phoebe's boy. She declared she was "so fond of children" in a tone
which compelled credence. She wished to know the colour of Victor's
eyes and hair; she listened to Phoebe's marvellous stories of his
precocity without the slightest sign of scepticism or boredom.
"He is going to have a party of his own next week," said his mother.
"Beginning early," returned Bridget, as the door opened and Lawrence
and the colonel came in.
Pages:
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63