Mr Farrell turned to re-enter the house.
“Ah,” he said coldly,” so it was cowardice, after all! I understand. It is an interesting discovery!”
Chapter Twenty.
Receiving and Paying Calls.
Two days later Mr Farrell returned Trix’s letters with a brief “Thank you!” which Mollie had enough tact to receive without remark. She was not conscious of having gained in the old man’s graces, though Ruth was sadly conscious of having fallen from favour. Victor was evidently for the time being the persona grata, his remarks being received with attention, and his wishes carefully carried out.
Mollie confessed to herself that Victor’s manners were perfect where his host was concerned, and wondered why it was that she found herself constantly suspecting his motives. What if he were playing a part to win the old man’s favour? Was it not the unhappy feature of the situation that they were all, more or less, doing the same thing?
Meantime, callers arrived daily. Stout, middle-aged matrons, with pompous manners; thin matrons, precise and formal of speech; tall elegants, with flowing robes and Parisian millinery; sporting-looking women, with short skirts and motor-caps. One after another they drove up to the door and sat for a few moments in the drawing-room, going through the same stereotyped conversation: “How pleasant to have the Court opened once more! How do you like Raby? How delightful to have such delightful summer-like weather!” Then they drank a cup of tea, nibbled a piece of cake, and said: “Good-afternoon! So pleased to have met you! We shall hope to see you again very soon!”
Occasionally the matron brought a daughter in her train, and still more occasionally a shy, depressed-looking husband; but at the best of times the calls were not cheerful occasions, and Ruth and Mollie looked forward with little pleasure to paying their return visits.