We will motor down to Frampton
Court--it's not far, little more than an hour by train--starting about half
after four, if you can be ready."
"Oh, yes."
"Sybil Waring will tell you what to take, and Chou Nu will see to your
packing. Both, by the way, will accompany us. Sybil's maid will follow by
train. For myself, I am taking Nogam--having found that English servants do
not take kindly to my Chinese valet."
"Yes ..." Sofia uttered, listlessly, wondering why this information should
be considered of interest to her.
"And one thing more: I am forgiven? You are not cross with me?"
"Why should I be?"
"Because of what happened this afternoon--when I scolded Karslake for
making love to you."
"Oh," said Sofia with a good show of indifference--she was so
tired--"that!"
"Believe me, little Sofia"--Victor put out a hand to hers, and held her
eyes with a compelling gaze--"boy-and-girl romance is all very well, but
there is a greater destiny reserved for you than marriage to a hired
secretary, however amiable, personable, and well-meaning. You must prepare
yourself to move in a world beyond and above the common hearthstone of
bourgeois domesticity."
The girl shook a bewildered head.
"It is a riddle?" she asked, wearily.
"A riddle?" Victor echoed. "Why, one may safely term it that. Is not the
Future always a riddle? Nature knows the Future as the Past, but Nature
holds it secret, lest man go mad with too much knowledge. Only to the few,
the favoured, does she grant rare glimpses through media which she has
provided for the use of the initiate--such as this crystal here, in which I
was studying your future, when you came in, the high future I plan for
you.
Pages:
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201