The Gay Lord Quex - BestLightNovel.com
You’re reading novel The Gay Lord Quex Part 38 online at BestLightNovel.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit BestLightNovel.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy
[_Rising._] May I look at your literature?
[MRS. EDEN _goes to the writing-table and turns over the books she finds there. The_ d.u.c.h.eSS _glances at the clock, and eyes_ MRS. EDEN _with impatience._
MRS. EDEN.
"_Le Calvaire d'une vierge_." "_Lune de Miel_." "_Les Aventures de Madame Plon_." Oh, I've heard of this! this is a little--h'm!--isn't it?
d.u.c.h.eSS.
I read those things for the sake of their exquisitely polished style; the subjects escape me.
MRS. EDEN.
[_Seating herself by the writing-table and dipping into_ "_Madame Plon_."] Ah yes, the style--the style. [_Absorbed._] We haven't much real literary style in England, have we?
[SOPHY _returns, carrying a pink tea-gown trimmed with green ribbons, and a richly embroidered Mandarin's robe._
SOPHY.
Will your Grace put on one of these? [_With a curl of the lip._] They're both very becoming, I should think.
d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_Smiling sadly._] Becoming! as if that mattered, child!
SOPHY.
Which will your Grace--?
d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_To herself, closing her eyes._] _Couleur de rose_--[_to_ SOPHY]
er--that pink rag. Take off my collarette.
[SOPHY _lays the tea-gown and the robe over the back of the settee and proceeds to unfasten the_ d.u.c.h.eSS'S _pearl collarette._
MRS. EDEN.
[_Startled, by some pa.s.sage in the book she is reading._] Oh, I _say_!
d.u.c.h.eSS.
What, dear Mrs. Eden?
MRS. EDEN.
[_Bethinking herself--soberly._] Ah, yes, the style is excellent, isn't it?
d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_To_ SOPHY, _while the collarette is in process of removal._] Have you everything you require for the night, child?
SOPHY.
Yes, thank you, your Grace. Miss Gilchrist, Mrs. Eden's maid, has lent me a night-gown and a pair of slippers.
d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_Handing her bracelets to_ SOPHY.] Drop them into the case.
[SOPHY _puts the collarette and bracelets in the jewel-case. The_ d.u.c.h.eSS, _rising, again looks at the clock and at_ MRS. EDEN. SOPHY _returns to the_ d.u.c.h.eSS, _who is now behind the settee._
d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_To_ SOPHY.] It is very good of you, Sophy, to attend upon me.
SOPHY.
[_Averting her head._] Not at all, your Grace.
d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_Taking up the Mandarin's robe._] Here is a pretty thing for you.
[_Giving the robe to_ SOPHY.] Wear it to dress your hair in, in the morning.
SOPHY.
[_Breathing shortly._] Oh, no, your Grace--please--!
d.u.c.h.eSS.
Nonsense, child; take it.
[SOPHY, _somewhat out of countenance, lays the robe over the back of the chair._
MRS. EDEN.
[_Looking up_.] Well, you are a lucky girl, Sophy!
SOPHY.
Yes, I know it's very beautiful; [_returning to the_ d.u.c.h.eSS] but I--I think I'd rather not--
d.u.c.h.eSS.
Tsch, tsch! help me. [_The_ d.u.c.h.eSS _is standing before the cheval-gla.s.s, which conceals her from the audience. With_ SOPHY'S _aid, she slips out of her dress and puts herself into the tea-gown, while she talks to_ MRS. EDEN.] Miss Eden is not well to-night, I am afraid. She didn't come into the drawing-room.
[MRS. EDEN _rises and goes to the settee, upon which she partly kneels while she chatters to the_ d.u.c.h.eSS.
