Moths by Ouida — page 105: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MOTHS. 101 There was a sense of excitement and disappointment in the whole house party; and Princesse Nelaguine ran from one to another, with her little bright Tartar eyes all aglow, murmuring, “Charmee, Charmee, Charmee!” to impatient ears. ‘Such a beast as he is!” said the men who smoked his cigars and rode his horses. ‘** And she who looked all ice and innocence!” said the women, already in arms against her. i Vere did not come down to taste the first fruits of her triumph. At the great midday breakfast, where most people assembled, she was absent. Zouroff himself laid another bouquet of orchids by her plate, but she was not there to receive the deli- cate homage. ‘* Mademoiselle Vere has not risen?” he asked now, with an angry contraction of his low brows, as no one came near where the orchids were lying. ‘“Vera had a. headache,” said Lady Dolly serenely, aloud. ‘*Or said so,” she murmured to his ear alone. ‘‘ Don’t be an- noyed. She wasshy. She is a little farouche, you know, my poor darling.” } Zouroff nodded, and took his caviare. : | ! ‘* What did I predict, love?” murmured Lady Stoat, of Stitch- ley, taking her friend aside after breakfast. ‘‘But how quickly you succeeded! Last evening only you were in despair! Was aetna aes only a feint? Or what persuasions did you bring oO bear?” ‘*{ threatened to send her to Bulmer Chase!” said Lady Dolly, with a little gay laugh. Lady Stoat laughed also. ‘*l wonder what you did do,” she reflected, however, as she Jaughed. ‘‘Oh, naughty little pussy—foolish, foolish little pussy!—to have any secrets from me!” The day wore away, and Vere Herbert remained unseen in Felicite. The guests grew surprised, and the host angered. Princesse Nelaguine herself had ascended to the girl’s room and had been denied. People began to murmur that it was odd. ‘‘Go and fetch her,” said Zouroff, in a fierce whisper. ‘‘ It is nine that I at least should see her—unless you have told me a le.” ‘¢Unless she be really ill, I suppose you mean, you cruel crea- ture!” said her mother, reproachingly, but she obeyed him and went, ‘Girls are so fond of tragedy!” reflected Lady Stoat, recalling episdoes in the betrothal of her own daughter, and passages that had preceded it. It was now five o’elock. The day had been chilly, as it is at times along the Channel shores, eveninsummer. Several persons were in the blue-room, so called because of its turquoise silk walls and its quantities of Delft, Nankin, Savona, and other blue china ranged there. It was the room for afternoon tea. Several ofthe ladies were there in tea-gowns of the quaintest and prettiest, that allowed them to lie about in the most gracefully tired attitudes, cS ~~ comicboo > Col