"In a week or two—when there's room for me."
He laughed.
"Oh! come then—there's time for a few more talks. Listen—you think I'm such an idle dog. I'm nothing of the sort. I've nearly finished a whole new play. Only—well, I couldn't talk to you about it—it's not a play for jeunes filles. But after all I might read you a few scenes. That wouldn't do any harm. You're so deuced clever!—your opinion would be worth having. I can tell you the managers are all after it! I'm getting letters by every post asking for parts. What do you say? Can you meet me somewhere? I'll choose some of the best bits. Just name your time!"
Her face had kindled, answering to the vivacity—the peremptoriness—in his. Her vanity was flattered at last; and he saw it.
"Send me a word!" he said under his breath. "That little schoolroom
maid—is she safe?"
"Quite!" said Hester, also under her breath, and smiling.
"You beautiful creature!" he spoke with low intensity. "You lovely, wild thing!"
"Take care!" Hester sprang away from him as he put out an incautious hand. "Come, Roddy! Goodnight!"
In a flash the gloom of the wood closed upon her, and she was gone.
Meryon walked on laughing to himself, and twisting his black moustache. After some years of bad company and easy conquests, Hester's proud grace, her reckless beauty, her independent, satiric ways had sent a new stimulus through jaded nerves. Had he met her in London on equal terms with other men he knew instinctively that he would have had but small chance with her. It was the circumstances of this quiet country place, where young men of Hester's class were the rarest of apparitions, and where Philip, flying from his creditors and playing the part of a needy Don Juan amid the picturesque dilapidations of the Abbey, was gravelled day after day for lack of occupation—it was these surroundings that had made the flirtation possible. Well, she was a handsome daredevil little minx. It amused him to make love to her, and in spite of his parsonical cousin, he should continue to do so. And that the proceeding annoyed Richard Meynell made it not less, but more, enticing. Parsons, cousins or no, must be kept in their place.