'I have got everyone comfortably settled with everyone else,' she said
in a whisper to him, 'and you seem to be the only one who is, as it
were, out in the cold, so, you see, I have done you the honour to come
and talk to you.'
'It is indeed an honour,' said John earnestly.
'Oh, really,' said the young woman, laughing very softly, 'you must not
take things so seriously. I didn't mean quite what I said, you
know--that was only, as the children say, "pretended"; but you take one's
light remarks as if they were most weighty sentences. Now, you must look
as if you were entertaining me charmingly, whereas I have sat down beside
you to have a very few minutes' talk on business; I know it's very bad
form to talk business at an evening party, but, you see, I have no other
chance to speak with you. I understand you have had a meeting of
shareholders, and yet you never sent me an invitation. I told you that I
wished to help you in forming a company; but that is the way you business
men always treat a woman.'
'Really, Miss Longworth,' began Kenyon; but she speedily interrupted him.
'I am not going to let you make any explanation. I have come over here to
enjoy scolding you, and I am not to be cheated out of my pleasure.'
'I think,' said John, 'if you knew how much I have suffered during this
last day or two, you would be very lenient with me. Did you read that
article upon me in the _Financial Field_?'
'No, I did not, but I read your reply to it this morning, and I think it
was excellent.
Pages:
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274