"Do not play with Christopher further," she said, "or
you will lose him. He will certainly come and see you to-morrow. He wrote
to me this morning in answer to mine of last night, but he says he won't
go to the Zoo, so you will have to see him in your sitting-room, after
all. He will come about four."
I did not speak.
"Evangeline," she said, "promise me you won't be a fool."
"I--won't be a fool," I said.
Then she kissed me and was off, and a few moments after I also started for
Claridge's.
I have a very nice little suite right up at the top, and if only it were
respectable for me, and I could afford it, I could live here very
comfortably by myself for a long time.
At a quarter to two I was ringing the bell at 200 Carlton House
Terrace--Lady Merrenden's house--with a strange feeling of excitement and
interest. Of course, it must have been because once she had been engaged
to papa. In the second thoughts take to flash, I remembered Lord Robert's
words when I talked of coming to London alone at Branches--how he would
bring me here, and how she would be kind to me until I could "hunt round."
Oh, it came to me with a sudden stab. He was leaning over Lady Ver in the
northern train by now.
Such a stately, beautiful hall it is when the doors open, with a fine
staircase going each way, and full of splendid pictures, and the whole
atmosphere pervaded with an air of refinement and calm.
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