"Pat Murphy - Menagerie" - читать интересную книгу автора (Murphy Pat)

on the young man. Before she could inquire further or ask discreetly about
Selina's prospects, Selina's song came to an end and Lady Dustan and Sir Radford
joined in the polite applause. As the party moved off to the dining room, Lady
Dustan continued to watch the young men that she had discussed with Sir Radford.

"Your skill in playing is matched only by your beautiful voice," William was
saying. "I've never heard better -- not even in the finest salons in London."

Lady Dustan smiled. He flattered Selina unduly -- her playing was adequate and
her voice was quite pretty, but no more than that. She noticed that William took
care to seat himself between Selina and Lydia.

At dinner, Sir Radford told them about his latest acquisition -- a female
elephant, purchased from a circus menagerie that had fallen on hard times.
William had a few things to say about the unpredictable nature of elephants,
information gleaned on his last expedition to Africa. "I saw a stampede of the
great beasts," he said. "They trampled a village with no more trouble than you
would take in trampling an anthill."

George tried to break in with some discussion of the plans of the Zoological
Society with regard .to African animals. They had already obtained an African
elephant and they hoped to bring one of the beasts from Asia as well. And
perhaps a giraffe, one of those ungainly creatures with the tremendously long
necks.

Lady Dustan listened to the young men talk. She thought it unfortunate that
George's considered and soft-spoken plans could not match William's tales of
hunting for ferocious lions and visiting savage African villages. Lydia's eyes
were on William. Young women were not inclined to understand the virtues of a
quiet and thoughtful husband.

After dinner, Sir Radford prevailed upon the others to join him in a game of
whist. Mary sweetly begged to be excused so that she might play the pianoforte,
Sir Radford's instrument being so decidedly superior to the one she played at
home. And $elina asked if she might listen to the music rather than playing
whist, being an indifferent card player at best. William spoke up quickly,
offering to keep Selina company.

While Sir Radford, Lady Dustan, George, and Lydia played cards, Selina and
William chatted quietly in the corner. The music made it impossible for Lady
Dustan to hear their conversation, but she noticed that they seemed content with
one another's company. She also observed that George Paxton was oblivious to
Lydia's smiles. The girl was animated in her enthusiasm for the game, her eyes
bright with excitement, but George remained stubbornly distracted by the couple
in the corner. Later, when Selina and William strolled onto the terrace to take'
the air, Lady Dustan kept her eye on George, who seemed rather downcast. He
suggested a break in the game at that point, but Sir Radford insisted on another
hand.

Mary had completed a song and the others had just finished their game when