When he had gone Lady Holme sat down and wrote two notes. One was to Lady
Brayley and was charmingly apologetic, saying that the confusion was
entirely owing to Fritz's muddle-headedness, and that she was in despair
at her misfortune--which was almost literally true. The other was to Sir
Donald Ulford, begging him to join them in their box on the first, and
asking whether it was possible to persuade Mr. and Mrs. Leo Ulford to
come with him. If he thought so she would go at once and leave cards on
Mrs. Ulford, whom she was longing to know.
Both notes went off by hand before lunch.
CHAPTER X
THE Ulfords accepted for the first. Lady Holme left cards on Mrs. Leo and
told her husband that the box was filled up. He received the information
with indifference. So long as his wife was there to please Miss Schley,
and Mr. Laycock to "give her a hand and show 'em all whether she was
popular," he was satisfied. Having gained his point, he was once again in
excellent humour. Possibly Lady Holme would have appreciated his large
gaieties more if she had not divined their cause. But she expressed no
dissatisfaction with them, and indeed increased them by her own brilliant
serenity during the days that intervened between the Martha Brayley
incident and the first night.
Lord Holme had no suspicion that during these days she was inwardly
debating whether she would go to the theatre or not.
It would be very easy to be unwell.
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