the chaperon-第12章

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daughter　and　the　mother　（it　was　slightly　confusing）　〃drew。〃　　It　was
Lady　Maresfield's　version　of　the　case　that　the　brazen　girl　（she　was
shockingly　coarse）　had　treated　poor　Guy　abominably。　　At　any　rate　it
was　made　known；　just　after　Easter；　that　Miss　Tramore　was　to　be
married　to　Captain　Jay。　　The　marriage　was　not　to　take　place　till　the
summer；　but　Rose　felt　that　before　this　the　field　would　practically　be
won。　　There　had　been　some　bad　moments；　there　had　been　several　warm
corners　and　a　certain　number　of　cold　shoulders　and　closed　doors　and
stony　stares；　but　the　breach　was　effectually　madethe　rest　was　only
a　question　of　time。　　Mrs。　Tramore　could　be　trusted　to　keep　what　she
had　gained；　and　it　was　the　dowagers；　the　old　dragons　with　prominent
fangs　and　glittering　scales；　whom　the　trick　had　already　mainly
caught。　　By　this　time　there　were　several　houses　into　which　the
liberated　lady　had　crept　alone。　　Her　daughter　had　been　expected　with
her；　but　they　couldn't　turn　her　out　because　the　girl　had　stayed
behind；　and　she　was　fast　acquiring　a　new　identity；　that　of　a　parental
connection　with　the　heroine　of　such　a　romantic　story。　　She　was　at
least　the　next　best　thing　to　her　daughter；　and　Rose　foresaw　the　day
when　she　would　be　valued　principally　as　a　memento　of　one　of　the
prettiest　episodes　in　the　annals　of　London。　　At　a　big　official　party；
in　June；　Rose　had　the　joy　of　introducing　Eric　to　his　mother。　　She　was
a　little　sorry　it　was　an　official　partythere　were　some　other　such
queer　people　there；　but　Eric　called；　observing　the　shade；　the　next
day　but　one。

No　observer；　probably；　would　have　been　acute　enough　to　fix　exactly
the　moment　at　which　the　girl　ceased　to　take　out　her　mother　and　began
to　be　taken　out　by　her。　　A　later　phase　was　more　distinguishablethat
at　which　Rose　forbore　to　inflict　on　her　companion　a　duality　that
might　become　oppressive。　　She　began　to　economise　her　force；　she　went
only　when　the　particular　effect　was　required。　　Her　marriage　was
delayed　by　the　period　of　mourning　consequent　upon　the　death　of　her
grandmother；　who；　the　younger　Mrs。　Tramore　averred；　was　killed　by　the
rumour　of　her　own　new　birth。　　She　was　the　only　one　of　the　dragons　who
had　not　been　tamed。　　Julia　Tramore　knew　the　truth　about　thisshe　was
determined　such　things　should　not　kill　HER。　　She　would　live　to　do
somethingshe　hardly　knew　what。　　The　provisions　of　her　mother's　will
were　published　in　the　〃Illustrated　News〃；　from　which　it　appeared　that
everything　that　was　not　to　go　to　Eric　and　to　Julia　was　to　go　to　the
fortunate　Edith。　　Miss　Tramore　makes　no　secret　of　her　own　intentions
as　regards　this　favourite。

Edith　is　not　pretty；　but　Lady　Maresfield　is　waiting　for　her；　she　is
determined　Gwendolen　Vesey　shall　not　get　hold　of　her。　　Mrs。　Vesey
however　takes　no　interest　in　her　at　all。　　She　is　whimsical；　as　befits
a　woman　of　her　fashion；　but　there　are　two　persons　she　is　still　very
fond　of；　the　delightful　Bertram　Jays。　　The　fondness　of　this　pair；　it
must　be　added；　is　not　wholly　expended　in　return。　　They　are　extremely
united；　but　their　life　is　more　domestic　than　might　have　been　expected
from　the　preliminary　signs。　　It　owes　a　portion　of　its　concentration
to　the　fact　that　Mrs。　Tramore　has　now　so　many　places　to　go　to　that
she　has　almost　no　time　to　come　to　her　daughter's。　　She　is；　under　her
son…in…law's　roof；　a　brilliant　but　a　rare　apparition；　and　the　other
day　he　remarked　upon　the　circumstance　to　his　wife。

〃If　it　hadn't　been　for　you；〃　she　replied；　smiling；　〃she　might　have
had　her　regular　place　at　our　fireside。〃

〃Good　heavens；　how　did　I　prevent　it？〃　cried　Captain　Jay；　with　all　the
consciousness　of　virtue。

〃You　ordered　it　otherwise；　you　goose！〃　　And　she　says；　in　the　same
spirit；　whenever　her　husband　commends　her　（which　he　does；　sometimes；
extravagantly）　for　the　way　she　launched　her　mother：　　〃Nonsense；　my
dearpractically　it　was　YOU！〃







End