"Hope, Anthony - Frivolous Cupid" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hope Anthony)

harm's way, under the eyes of those poor blind parents?

"If--if you care the least for me--for what I wish, go away,
Harry," she whispered.

He looked at her in wonder, but, with a frown on his face, did as
he was told. Five minutes later he was playing again; she heard
him shout "Thirty--love," as he served, a note of triumphant
battle in his voice. She believed that she was altogether out of
his thoughts.

Her husband was to dine in town that night, and, for sheer
protection, she made Maudie Sinclair come and share her evening
meal. The children were put to bed, and they sat down alone
together, talking over the party. Maudie was pleased to relax a
little of her severity toward Harry Sterling; she admitted that
he had been very useful in arranging the sets, and very pleasant
to everyone.

"Of course, he's conceited," she said, "but all boys are. He'll
get over it."

"You talk as if you were a hundred, Maudie," laughed Mrs.
Mortimer. "He's older than you are."

"Oh, but boys are much younger than girls, Mrs. Mortimer. Harry
Sterling's quite a boy still."

A knock sounded at the door. A minute later the boy walked in.
The sight of Maudie Sinclair produced a momentary start, but he
recovered himself and delivered a note from his mother, the
excuse for his visit. It was an invitation for a few days ahead;
there could certainly have been no hurry for it to arrive that
night. While Mrs. Mortimer read it, Harry sat down and looked at
her. She was obliged to treat his arrival as unimportant, and
invited him to have a glass of wine.

"Why are you in evening dress?" asked Maudie wonderingly.

"For dinner," answered Harry.

"Do you dress when you're alone at home?"

"Generally. Most men do."

Maudie allowed herself to laugh. Mrs. Mortimer saw the joke,
too, but its amusement was bitter to her.

"I like it," she said gently. "Most of the men I know do it."