“There’s a great deal of pretense and what we call cant about us English,” admitted Gerard. “We have bound ourselves by very rigid rules; but we like to escape from them sometimes, and we do it by going abroad, or by visiting people of wider notions than our own.”
“Oh, that’s it, is it? Well, I daresay, you’re about right. But it’s puzzling too, to see how your great ladies and your smart men come to see us, when on our own side we’re not thought much of.”
It was impossible not to like this simple homely creature, with her lasting wonder at the ease with which she and her family had established themselves in London society, and the freedom with which they had been “taken up.”
Gerard found it less surprising than she did. The very mixture of simplicity and homeliness, as represented by the gentle middle-aged woman who disdained the aid of much extravagance in dress, and frankly spoke her mind about herself and her family, with the grace and accomplishments of the daughters, and the devotion to cards of the sons, formed a combination new and attractive to people who were tired of more commonplace households.
And the cleverness with which the Van Santens had chosen to locate themselves in one of the prettiest places near London, and the taste with which they had respected the beauties in which they found themselves, all combined to make the Priory the most popular resort of the moment with a considerable portion of the great world.
A few belated stayers in London, who found a delightful Sunday resort in the Priory, and a great many people staying in the country houses and river villas came over each week-end in their motor-cars to spend a few hours in the merry atmosphere, unburdened with Sabbatarian restrictions, of the lively Americans.
While he was still sipping tea and chatting with Mrs. Van Santen, the sight of Rachel Davison, coming slowly from the house, accompanied on one side by the younger and better-looking of the two male Van Santens, made Gerard frown with displeasure.
Miss Davison was exquisitely dressed, as usual, and looked exceedingly handsome in a gown of black lace with a long train and lines of jet upon it, finished with enormous jet tassels. A large number of tassels, similar in design, but of smaller size, dangled from her bodice; and from underneath the short, full black sleeves and up to the throat from the slightly open black bodice, an underbodice and sleeves, very full and of creamy white transparent material, peeped out, finishing the costume with a relieving touch.
Her dark hair, coiled high and fastened by amber and jet combs and pins, set off the delicate pallor of her face.
Gerard, who had never conquered the jealousy with which he looked upon any other man who seemed to attract any of her attention, frowned when he noted the evident admiration of the younger Van Santen, who was tall, broad-shouldered, and good-looking.