“She is beautiful, very quick mentally, has a good voice, a bright, cheery little soul,” said Paul.
“She is blind,” said Peg softly to Laughton.
“Good Lord! I mean—how awful!” said Laughton, in a horrified voice.
“She is not unhappy,” said Paul quietly.
Again the conversation lagged, though the Colonel endeavoured to lure Laughton into speaking of his plans. Laughton informed him he had no plans, and left the matter there. Paul began to be conscious of an attitude almost of hostility on the part of Mrs. Pelham, and even the Colonel refused to be interested in his affairs.
As the ladies rose from the table Peg came to Paul’s side and said hurriedly, “I want to hear about Vancouver. Adelina was very tantalizing, beginning so many interesting things and never finishing anything.”
“I must go soon,” said Paul.
“You are not to go without seeing me,” she said imperiously, as she passed to her mother, who was waiting impatiently for her.
“You are behaving ridiculously, Peggy,” said her mother when they were alone. “The whole dinner was spoiled with—that—that disgusting conversation and—and all.”
“Well, Mamma, I had little enough to do with the conversation.”