AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The thin brows met over his arched nose, and the eyes glinted a little,while she caught a glimpse of cruel white teeth closing on a sensualunder-lip. She watched his hand clench on his snuff-box, and exultedsilently at having roused him. It was a very brief joy, however, for thenext moment the frown had disappeared, the hand unclenched, and he wassmiling again.
"At present she is cold," he admitted, "but I hope that in time she willbecome more plastic. I think, Lavinia, I have some experience with yourcharming, if capricious sex."
"I don't doubt you have. Where did you meet this perverse beauty?"
"In the Pump Room."
"Lud! Pray, describe her."
"I shall be delighted. She is taller than yourself, and dark. Her hairis like a dusky cloud of black, and it ripples off her brow and over herlittle ears in a most damnably alluring fashion. Her eyes are brown, butthere are lights in them that are purest amber, and yet they are darkand velvety--"
My lady had recourse to the smelling-bottle.
"But I perceive I weary you. A man in love, my dear Lavinia--"
She was up again at that.
"In love? You? Nonsense! Nonsense! Nonsense! You do not know what theword means. You are like a--like a fish, with no more of love in youthan a fish, and no more heart than a fish, and--"
"Spare me the rest, I beg. I am very clammy, I make no doubt, but youwill at least accord me more brain than a fish?"
"Oh, you have brain enough!" she raged. "Brain for evil! I grant youthat!"
"It is really very kind of you--"
"The passion you feel now is not _love_. It is--it is--"
"Your pardon, my dear, but at the present moment I am singularly devoidof all strenuous emotions, so your remark is--"
"Oh, Tracy, Tracy, I am even quarrelling with you!" she criedwretchedly. "Oh, why?--why?"
"You are entirely mistaken, my dear. This is but the interchange ofcompliments. Pray, do not let me hinder you in the contribution of yourshare!"
Her lip trembled.
"Go on, Tracy, go on."
"Very well. I had described her eyes, I think?"
"Very tediously."
"I will strive to be brief. Her lips are the most kissable that I haveever seen--"
"And, as you remarked, you have experience," she murmured. He bowedironically.
"Altogether she's as spirited a filly as you could wish for. All sheneeds is bringing to heel."
"Does one bring a filly to heel? I rather thought--"
"As usual, my dear Lavinia, you are right: one does not. One breaks in afilly. I beg leave to thank you for correcting my mixed metaphor."
"Oh, pray do not mention it."
"I will cease to do so. She needs breaking in. It should be amusing totame her."
"Should it?" She looked curiously at him.
"Vastly. And I am persuaded it can be done. I will have her."
