Пробный камень

VIII

           “Whohasbeenreadingwhat?”

           “ThatlovelygirlfromtheSouth—Georgie—Georgiewhat’shername—Mrs.Dresham’sprotegee—unlessshe’syours,Mr.Dresham!Why,thebigball-roomwaspacked,andallthewomenwerecryinglikeidiots—itwasthemostharrowingthingIeverheard—”

           “Whatdidyouhear?”Glennardasked;andhiswifeinterposed:“Won’tyouhaveanotherbitofcake,Julia?Or,Stephen,ringforsomehottoast,please.”Hertonebetrayedapolitesatietyofthetopicunderdiscussion.Glennardturnedtothebell,butMrs.Armigerpursuedhimwithherlovelyamazement.

           “Why,the‘AubynLetters’—didn’tyouknowaboutit?Thegirlreadthemsobeautifullythatitwasquitehorrible—Ishouldhavefaintedifthere’dbeenamannearenoughtocarrymeout.”

           Hartly’sgleeredoubled,andDreshamsaid,jovially,“Howlikeyouwomentoraiseashriekoverthebookandthendoallyoucantoencouragetheblatantpublicityofthereadings!”

           Mrs.Armigermethimmorethanhalf-wayonatorrentofself-accusal.“Itwashorrid;itwasdisgraceful.Itoldyourwifeweoughtalltobeashamedofourselvesforgoing,andIthinkAlexawasquiterighttorefusetotakeanytickets—evenifitwasforacharity.”

           “Oh,”herhostessmurmured,indifferently,“withmecharitybeginsathome.Ican’taffordemotionalluxuries.”

           “Acharity?Acharity?”Hartlyexulted.“Ihadn’tseizedthefullbeautyofit.ReadingpoorMargaretAubyn’slove-lettersattheWaldorfbeforefivehundredpeopleforacharity!Whatcharity,dearMrs.

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