"Shameless!" he hissed into her ear.
He saw her turn pale and then flush burning red; but he hastened on
after the footman without waiting for more. Presently he reached the
head of the hall, where Mrs. Wilson stood laughing and talking with
several men. Her dress was of alternate stripes of crimson silk and
tissue of gold, and since it had excited comment from the loungers at
the door, it is small wonder that to the unsophisticated deacon, almost
convent bred, it appeared no less than horribly indecent. He cast down
his eyes; but his glance fell upon the foot which just then she thrust
laughingly forward, evidently in answer to some remark from Stanford,
who stood at her right hand. Upon the toe of her exquisite little shoe
sparkled a great diamond like a fountain of flame.
"It gives light to my steps," she laughed.
"The service is worthy of it," Stanford returned with a half-mocking
bow.
"Thank you," Mrs. Wilson retorted, sweeping him a satirical courtesy.
"If you say such nice things to me, what must you say to Berenice!"
It seemed to Maurice that the devil was exerting all his infernal
ingenuity that night to have him tormented at every turn.
Pages:
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414