With this Ring by Emilie Loring

Author:Emilie Loring [Loring, Emilie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2019-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

XIV

It was fortunate that Cynthia had no opportunity to give way to the whirling confusion in her mind or she might have attracted instant sympathy—and questions—from Alex. In the nick of time Neal Bruce appeared and with only token apology detached her from the cousins to rush her unresisting to the dance floor, this time a lively fox-trot.

His interpretation of the steps became so exuberant that she wondered if he meant the world to see that the loss of his partner Claire meant nothing to him. But that was strictly his affair. She had her own thoughts, and skill enough to follow even his erratic leading while she brooded on past history and present complications.

Her first hot flame of hatred for Claire Herbert gradually cooled as honesty took charge. Actually she knew nothing against the girl, nothing about her claim on Eric except that it seemed to be genuine. Cynthia could never forget his expression when she begged for an explanation, a denial in the church. Instead of bitterness she ought to feel eternal gratitude to Claire for forcing him to show his true colors before it was too late and bringing to an end what had been foolish infatuation on her part.

In this calmer mood it did not upset her when she noticed Bruce’s eyes fixed on someone behind her and color flooding his round cheeks. Following his look she saw Claire Herbert standing alone near the orchestra, and was not surprised to have Bruce begin a stammered apology.

“You will think I am—that I haven’t any manners, Mrs. Farley—but would you mind if—unpardonably rude to leave you, but there is Claire—Miss Herbert—she doesn’t look at all well and—”

“Certainly, go to her at once.” Cynthia read in the girl’s pallor and haunted eyes what torture the recent encounter with Eric must have been. “She does look ill, doesn’t she? It’s all right to leave me, truly. I’ll find Miss Shaw, who must be wondering what has become of me.”

That lady did welcome Cynthia warmly, but with a nervousness which sat strangely on her usually composed self. She commented twice on the hectic pace of the orchestra, repeated a banal remark about the beauty of the evening, and drummed her fingers on the chair arm faster than the music.

“Are you getting tired, Miss Shaw?” Cynthia asked anxiously.

“Certainly not!” The snappish answer seemed to restore some of her assurance. “Cynthia, I am in a state! I want you to do something for me, and I don’t know how to ask. I suppose I’ve given orders so long that when it can’t possibly be an order I’m lost.”

“You know I will do anything for you, Miss Shaw.”

“That is the trouble! Cynthia, you are so—so sweet to me that I ought not to impose on you. I do it all the time, I know, but I can’t help it. Why don’t you call me a bossy old woman?”

“Because you are not. What do you want me to do that is so out of the usual?”

“Well—my Mary has to leave.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.