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drive home this evening. Did you ever know anything so disappointing? Of course, she added gaily, I shouldnt have minded half as much if Id known you were coming. Symptoms of a lumbering coquetry became visible in her, and Archer found the strength to break in: But Madame Olenskahas she gone to Newport too? Miss Blenker looked at him with surprise. Madame Olenskadidnt you know shed been called away? Called away? Oh, my best parasol! I lent it to that goose of a Katie, because it matched her ribbons, and the careless thing must have dropped it here. We Blenkers are all like that . . . real Bohemians! Recovering the sunshade with a powerful hand she unfurled it and suspended its rosy dome above her head. Yes, Ellen was called away yesterday: she lets us call her Ellen, you know. A telegram came from Boston: she said she might be gone for two days. I do love the way she does her hair, dont you? Miss Blenker rambled on. Archer continued to stare through her as though she had been transparent. All he saw was the trumpery parasol that arched its pinkness above her giggling head. After a moment he ventured: You dont happen to know why Madame Olenska went to Boston? I hope it was not on account of bad news? Miss Blenker took this with a cheerful incredulity. Oh, I dont believe so. She didnt tell us what was in the telegram. I think she didnt want the Marchioness to know. Shes so romantic-looking, isnt she? Doesnt she remind you of Mrs. Scott-Siddons when she reads Lady Geraldines Courtship? Did you never hear her? Archer was dealing hurriedly with crowding thoughts. His whole future seemed suddenly to be unrolled before him; and passing down its endless emptiness he saw the dwindling figure of a man to whom nothing was ever to happen. He glanced about him at the unpruned garden, the tumble-down house, and the oak-grove under which the dusk was gathering. It had seemed so exactly the place in which he ought to have found Madame Olenska; and she was far away, and even the pink sunshade was not hers . . . He frowned and hesitated. You dont know, I suppose I shall be in Boston tomorrow. If I could manage to see her He felt that Miss Blenker was losing interest in him, though her smile persisted. Oh, of course; how lovely of you! Shes staying at the Parker House; it must be horrible there in this weather. After that Archer was but intermittently aware of the remarks they exchanged. He could only remember stoutly resisting her entreaty that he should await the returning family and have high tea with them before he drove home. At length, with his hostess still at his side, he passed out of range of the wooden Cupid, unfastened his horses and drove off. At the turn of the lane he saw Miss Blenker standing at the gate and waving the pink parasol. |
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