The pause this time was not for rhetorical effect. It was a period, which was emphasised by the fact that Nicholas leaned back in his chair to restore his hands to their natural resting place.
“We are honoured,” observed Mrs. Davies, with excellent courtesy suppressing a gasp. The Van Ploons! The Van Ploons amid the stars! Why, they were so high in the social firmament that they dared live and talk and act like common people—and did it. To be above the need of pretence is greatness indeed! “I shall take up the matter with my niece.”
“I thank you,” responded the head of the Van Ploons. “You have rendered it possible for me to inform my son that he is at liberty to speak to Miss Sargent. He is anxious to call this evening, if he may,” whereupon he smiled indulgently, and his daughter also smiled indulgently, and Mrs. Davies smiled indulgently.
“If you will pardon me, I will ascertain if my niece will be at liberty this evening,” offered Mrs. Davies, rising.
“We shall be highly gratified,” accepted Mr. Van Ploon, rising and bowing.
“We are so fond of Gail,” added Miss Van Ploon, beaming with sincerity, and the beam was reflected in the face of her father, who nodded his spherical head emphatically.
Mrs. Helen Davies paused at the head of the stairs to calm herself. The Mrs. Waverly-Gaites’ annual faded into dim obscurity. Mrs. Waverly-Gaites would beg Gail on her bended knees to attend the annual, and Mrs. Helen Davies could attend if she liked. She went into her own room, and took a drink of water, and sat down for thirty or forty seconds; then she went into Gail’s suite, where she found that young lady, all unconscious of the honour which was about to befall her, reading a six hundred page critique of Chopin’s music, and calmly munching chocolates out of a basket decorated with eight shades of silk roses.
“Sit down and have a chocolate, Aunt Helen,” hospitably offered Gail, slipping a marker in her book.
Mrs. Davies consumed a great deal of time in selecting a chocolate, but she did not sit down.
“Shall you be at liberty this evening, Gail?” she inquired, with much carelessness.