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Chapter I. I Go to Styles
Johnnoticedmysurpriseatthenewsofhismother’sremarriageandsmiledratherruefully.
“Rottenlittleboundertoo!”hesaidsavagely.“Icantellyou,Hastings,it’smakinglifejollydifficultforus.AsforEvie—yourememberEvie?”
“No.”
“Oh,Isupposeshewasafteryourtime.She’sthemater’sfactotum,companion,Jackofalltrades!Agreatsport—oldEvie!Notpreciselyyoungandbeautiful,butasgameastheymakethem.”
“Youweregoingtosay——?”
“Oh,thisfellow!Heturnedupfromnowhere,onthepretextofbeingasecondcousinorsomethingofEvie’s,thoughshedidn’tseemparticularlykeentoacknowledgetherelationship.Thefellowisanabsoluteoutsider,anyonecanseethat.He’sgotagreatblackbeard,andwearspatentleatherbootsinallweathers!Butthematercottonedtohimatonce,tookhimonassecretary—youknowhowshe’salwaysrunningahundredsocieties?”
Inodded.
“Well,ofcoursethewarhasturnedthehundredsintothousands.Nodoubtthefellowwasveryusefultoher.Butyoucouldhaveknockedusalldownwithafeatherwhen,threemonthsago,shesuddenlyannouncedthatsheandAlfredwereengaged!Thefellowmustbeatleasttwentyyearsyoungerthansheis!It’ssimplybare-facedfortunehunting;butthereyouare—sheisherownmistress,andshe’smarriedhim.”
“Itmustbeadifficultsituationforyouall.”
“Difficult!It’sdamnable!”
Thusitcameaboutthat,threedayslater,IdescendedfromthetrainatStylesSt.
