Her guests,
it would seem, were not in process of dispersal, for it was a long way
off seven o'clock yet, and also none would be so ill-mannered as to
leave without shaking hands and saying what a delicious afternoon they
had spent. But certainly the lawns grew emptier, and she was utterly
unable to explain this extraordinary phenomenon, until she happened to
go close to the windows of her music-room. Then, looking in, she saw
that not only was every chair there occupied, but people were standing
about in expectant groups. For a moment, her heart beat high.... Could
Olga have arrived and by some mistake have gone straight in there? It
was a dreamlike possibility, but it burst like a ray of sunshine on the
party that was rapidly becoming a nightmare to her,--for everyone, not
Lady Ambermere alone, was audibly wondering when the Guru was coming,
and when Miss Bracely was going to sing.
At the moment as she paused, a window in the music-room was opened, and
Piggy's odious head looked out.
"Oh, Mrs Lucas," she said. "Goosie and I have got beautiful seats, and
Mamma is quite close to the piano where she will hear excellently. Has
she promised to sing Siegfried? Is Mr Georgie going to play for her?
It's the most delicious surprise; how could you be so sly and clever as
not to tell anybody?"
Lucia cloaked her rage under the most playful manner, as she ran into
the music-room through the hall.
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