At about three Selia came tripping back a bit red in the face and rather secret, and burst into Mr. Withersq room where he was eating a orange, with a noisy kiss.
“Huzzah” cried she “I think I shall yet beat the band. But what are those smutty objects near your ears?”
“Those are my new side-whiskers” replied her Harold unctuously “for all poets have them.”
“You dog” she said “you are cutting a figure these days arent you?” And with these words she rushed away to Scrogg to be attired.
At four she was ready in a slippery creation of black with no arms to it but it was not an evening dress, and a nose veil bedangling from a ravished shapoo woven of the hares of horses.
“Let us sally” said she, gazing at him and he gazed at her with pride for she looked very much better.
[117] “You are a treat” he said gallantly so they went down thro’ the hall which was worse than ever with a dense crowd more staring than ever to behold them, and out into their blue car en route for the Countess tea.
When they got there it was a little house but smart done up in black and white paint with orange stuff for curtains, and lobellia in boxes round the windows and two marbel statues of little boys before the door, and they both had curly hair.
The chauffeur rang the bell. How different it was to when both had been poor. They felt it. They strode within into a hall with bead curtains and thro’ to a room at whose door stood the Countess herself with welcoming hand.
Mr. Withersq had a bit of trouble to get his hat off in time.