Her
thin, betraying throat was clasped by the large dog-collar she had worn
at Arkell House. She cast swift, bird-like glances, full of a sort of
haggard inquiry, towards Lady Holme as she settled down in her arm-chair
in the corner. Lord Holme looked at her and at her ear-trumpet, and Lady
Holme was glad she had decided not to have neuralgia. There are little
compensations about all women even in the tiresome moments of their
lives. Whether this moment was going to be tiresome or not she could not
yet decide.
The Wolfstein party had come in at the same time as the Leo Ulfords, and
the box opposite presented an interesting study of Jewish types. For Mrs.
Wolfstein and "Henry" were accompanied by four immensely rich
compatriots, three of whom were members of the syndicate that was
"backing" Miss Schley. The fourth was the wife of one of them, and a
cousin of Henry's, whom she resembled, but on a greatly enlarged scale.
Both she and Amalia blazed with jewels, and both were slightly
overdressed and looked too animated. Lady Holme saw Sir Donald glance at
them, and then again at her, and began to think more definitely that the
evening would not be tiresome.
Leo Ulford seemed at present forced into a certain constraint by the
family element in the box. He looked at his father sideways, then at Lady
Holme, drummed one hand on his knee, and was evidently uncertain of
himself. During the opening scene of the play he found an opportunity to
whisper to Lady Holme:
"I never can talk when pater's there!"
She whispered back:
"We mustn't talk now.
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