'My cousin,' said the young man, 'seems resolved to make the going of the
prodigal nephew an occasion for killing the fatted calf. I'm sure I don't
know why, unless it is that she is glad to be rid of me for a month.'
Edith laughed at this, and left the men together. Wentworth speedily
contrived to make himself agreeable to the young ladies who were present;
but John, it must be admitted, felt awkward and out of place. He was not
enjoying himself. He caught himself now and then following Edith
Longworth with his eyes, and when he realized he was doing this, would
abruptly look at the floor. In her handsome evening dress she appeared
supremely lovely, and this John Kenyon admitted to himself with a sigh,
for her very loveliness seemed to place her further and further away from
him. Somebody played something on the piano, and this was, in a way, a
respite for John. He felt that nobody was looking at him. Then a young
man gave a recitation, which was very well received, and Kenyon began to
forget his uneasiness. A German gentleman with long hair sat down at the
piano with a good deal of importance in his demeanour. There was much
arranging of music, and finally, when the leaves were settled to his
satisfaction, there was a tremendous crash of chords, the beginning of
what was evidently going to be a troublesome time for the piano. In the
midst of this hurricane of sound John Kenyon became aware that Edith
Longworth had sat down beside him.
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