She expected to see Gatliffe on the succeeding one, but he did not make his appearance.
Three days elapsed. On the fourth he paid her another visit.
He was reserved and thoughtful, as on the previous occasion.
She told him that she had two tickets for the opera stalls, and asked him if he would like to make use of one—they were numbered seats, of course, and he might please himself about coming—any time would do, she herself would make use of the other.
He took the ticket, and promised to be there as early as circumstances would permit; then he left the same as before.
“He wants a mighty deal of humouring, and is evidently shy. No matter for that, I shall find means to banish his shyness. Good—doubtless he will be there; anyway I shall.”
She made a most elaborate toilette, with bare arms, a low-necked dress, together with all the devices which the ladies of the upper ten have recourse to when paying a visit to the opera in the full height of the season.
It is needless to say that Miss Stanbridge looked extremely lovely. Art had done something towards improving her personal appearance.
When her toilette was complete she desired her maid to go for a four-wheeler, in which she was conveyed to the opera-house. Upon taking her seat she found the adjacent one unoccupied. Tom Gatliffe had therefore not yet arrived.
Possibly he might think better of it, and not put in an appearance—there was no telling. However, she made up her mind to assume an air of cheerfulness and wait patiently.