The Yellow Book Volume I Part 26

_Mrs. de Trappe._ Don't you know? She is the last great success. She has two notes: B flat and the lower G--the orchestra plays the rest. You must go to the Parna.s.sus and hear her. To-night is the dress rehearsal of the new piece.

_Lady Dol._ And do you receive Miss Sparrow?

_Mrs. de Trappe._ No, women take up too much time. They say, too, that she is frantically jealous because Mandeville used to come and practise in my boudoir. He says no one can accompany him as I do!

_Lady Dol._ I hope Cyril does not meet Mr. Mandeville when he goes to your house.

_Mrs. de Trappe._ Let me see. I believe I introduced them. At any rate, I know I saw them at luncheon together last week.

_Lady Dol._ At luncheon together! Cyril and this person who sings? What could my boy and Mr. Mandeville have in common?

_Mrs. de Trappe._ They both appear to admire Sarah Sparrow very much.

And I cannot find what men see in her. She is not tall and her figure is most innocent; you would say she was still in pinafores. As for her prettiness, I admit she has fine eyes, but of course she blackens them.

I think the great attraction is her atrocious temper. One never knows whom she will stab next.

_Lady Dol._ [_Half to herself._] Last week Cyril came in after midnight.

He refused to answer my questions.

_Mrs. de Trappe._ You seem absent-minded, my dear Edith. [_Pause._] I must be going now. Where are Arthur and James? We have not a moment to lose. We are going to choose wedding presents. James is going to choose Arthur's and Arthur is going to choose James's, so there can be no jealousy. It was I who thought of that way out of the difficulty. One does one's best to be nice to them, and then something happens and upsets all one's plans. Where is Cyril?

_Lady Dol._ I am afraid Cyril is not at home.

_Mrs. de Trappe._ Then I shall not see him. Tell him I am angry, and give my love to Julia. I hope she does not disturb you when you are in the drawing-room and have visitors. So difficult to keep a grown-up girl out of the drawing-room. Where can those men be? [_Enter_ Lord Doldrummond, Mr. Featherleigh, _and_ Mr. Banish.] Ah! here they are.

Now, come along; we haven't a moment to lose. Good-bye, Edith.

[_Exeunt_ (_after wis.h.i.+ng their adieux_) Mrs. de Trappe, Mr.

Featherleigh, _and_ Mr. Banish, Lord Doldrummond _following them_.]

_Lady Dol._ [_Stands alone in the middle of the room, repeating._] Cyril and--Sarah Sparrow! My son and Sarah Sparrow! And he has met her through the one woman for whom I have been wrong enough to forget my prejudices.

What a punishment!

[Julia _enters cautiously. She is so unusually beautiful that she barely escapes the terrible charge of sublimity. But there is a certain peevishness in her expression which adds a comfortable smack of human nature to her cla.s.sic features._]

_Julia._ I thought mamma would never go. I have been hiding in your boudoir ever since I heard she was here.

_Lady Dol._ Was Cyril with you?

_Julia._ Oh, no; he has gone out for a walk.

_Lady Dol._ Tell me, dearest, have you and Cyril had any disagreement lately? Is there any misunderstanding?

_Julia._ Oh, no. [_Sighs._]

_Lady Dol._ I remember quite well that before I married Herbert he often suffered from the oddest moods of depression. Several times he entreated me to break off the engagement. His affection was so reverential that he feared he was not worthy of me. I a.s.sure you I had the greatest difficulty in overcoming his scruples, and persuading him that whatever his faults were I could help him to subdue them.

_Julia._ But Cyril and I are not engaged. It is all so uncertain, so humiliating.

_Lady Dol._ Men take these things for granted. If the truth were known, I daresay he already regards you as his wife.

_Julia._ [_With an inspired air._] Perhaps that is why he treats me so unkindly. I have often thought that if he were my husband he could not be more disagreeable! He has not a word for me when I speak to him. He does not hear. Oh, Lady Doldrummond, I know what is the matter. He is in love, but I am not the one. You are all wrong.

_Lady Dol._ No, no, no. He loves you; I am sure of it. Only be patient with him and it will come all right. Hus.h.!.+ is that his step? Stay here, darling, and I will go into my room and write letters. [_Exit, brus.h.i.+ng the tears from her eyes._]

[Butler _ushers in_ Mr. Mandeville. _Neither of them perceive Julia, who has gone to the window._]

_Butler._ His Lords.h.i.+p will be down in half an hour, sir. He is now having his hair brushed.

_Julia._ [_In surprise as she looks round._] Mr. Mandeville! [_Pause._]

I hardly expected to meet you here.

_Mandeville._ And why, may I ask?

Julia. You know what Lady Doldrummond is. How did you overcome her scruples?

_Mandeville._ Is my reputation then so very bad?

_Julia._ You--you are supposed to be rather dangerous. You sing on the stage, and have a tenor voice.

_Mandeville._ Is that enough to make a man dangerous?

_Julia._ How can _I_ tell? But mamma said you were invincible. You admire mamma, of course. [_Sighs._]

_Mandeville._ A charming woman, Mrs. de Trappe. A very interesting woman; so sympathetic.

_Julia._ But she said she would not listen to you.

_Mandeville._ Did she say that? [_A slight pause._] I hope you will not be angry when I own that I do not especially _admire_ your mother. A quarter of a century ago she may have had considerable attractions, but--are you offended?

_Julia._ Offended? Oh, no. Only it seems strange. I thought that all men admired mamma. [_Pause._] You have not told me yet how you made Lady Doldrummond's acquaintance.

_Mandeville._ I am here at Lord Aprile's invitation. He has decided that he feels no further need of Lady Doldrummond's ap.r.o.n-strings.

_Julia._ Oh, Mr. Mandeville, are you teaching him to be wicked?

_Mandeville._ But you will agree with me that a young man cannot make his mother a kind of scribbling diary?

_Julia._ Still, if he spends his time well, there does not seem to be any reason why he should refuse to say where he dines when he is not at home.

_Mandeville._ Lady Doldrummond holds such peculiar ideas; she would find immorality in a sofa-cus.h.i.+on. If she were to know that Cyril is coming with me to the dress rehearsal of our new piece!

_Julia._ It would break her heart. And Lord Doldrummond would be indignant. Mamma says his own morals are so excellent!

_Mandeville._ Is he an invalid?

_Julia._ Certainly not. Why do you ask?

_Mandeville._ Whenever I hear of a charming husband I always think that he _must_ be an invalid. But as for morals, there can be no harm in taking Cyril to a dress rehearsal. If you do not wish him to go, however, I can easily say that the manager does not care to have strangers present. [_Pause._] Afterwards there is to be a ball at Miss Sparrow's.