On a dark day it must be very difficult to
see here. By the way, your good wife told me that there would probably
be a very remarkable Indian at her party, a Brahmin from Benares, she
said. I should like to have a talk with him while I am having my tea.
Kindly prepare a peach for me, Miss Lyall."
Peppino had heard about the retirement of the Guru, in consequence of a
message from the Guides being expected, and proceeded to explain this
to Lady Ambermere, who did not take the slightest notice, as she was
looking at the peaches through her lorgnette.
"That one nearest me looks eatable," she said. "And then I do not see
Miss Olga Bracely, though I distinctly told her I should be here this
afternoon, and she said Mrs Lucas had asked her. She sang to us
yesterday evening at The Hall, and very creditably indeed. Her husband,
Mr Shuttleworth, is a cousin of the late lord's."
Lucia had come into the smoking-parlour during this speech, and heard
these fatal words. At the moment she would gladly have recalled her
invitation to Olga Bracely altogether, sooner than have alluded therein
to Mr Bracely. But that was one of the irremediable things of life, and
since it was no use wasting regret on that, she was only the more eager
for Olga to come, whatever her husband's name was. She braced herself
up to the situation.
"Peppino, are you looking after Lady Ambermere?" she said.
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