‘A charming prescription, Miss Fraser; I wish it were a possible one.’
Mrs Fraser and Mr Lockwood here entered the room. ‘Take care, Mr Redgrave,’ said the widow; ‘you will find Blanche a sad flirt. I have only just been warning Mr Lockwood against her.’
This was a double shot, intended equally for Blanche and Mr Lockwood, who had, in the widow’s opinion, been somewhat too attentive to Blanche recently.
Penelope here intervened. ‘My brother is hankering after the fleshpots of Egypt, Mrs Fraser; in other words, is longing for “the sweet shady side of Pall Mall.” Can you not persuade him to remain?’
‘Let me try my influence,’ interposed Blanche coquettishly. ‘You will remain, will you not, dear Mr Redgrave?’
Septimus felt a thrill pass through his frame as Miss Fraser took hold of one of his hands and looked up in his face with a beseeching look, while Mr Lockwood threw himself with an air of vexation into an armchair and made an attempt to read yesterday’s Times.
‘You must promise, Mr Redgrave,’ said Blanche.
‘I promise to obey you in all things,’ said Septimus, as, with an air of old-world gallantry, he raised her fingers to his lips.
From that hour, one thought and one only occupied the mind of Mr Redgrave: Should he adopt the advice of Penelope, and make Miss Fraser an offer of his hand and heart? It was a tremendous step for one who had passed the greater part of his life in studying how best he could minister to his own selfish comfort and happiness. But on the morning of the second day after the scene we have just described, Septimus determined to put his fortune to the test. He chanced to find the fair Blanche alone sitting under the jessamine-covered veranda, engaged in reading a novel. Attired in white, with a blue sash round her slender waist, her light brown hair falling in careless profusion on her well-turned shoulders, Miss Fraser presented a bewitching spectacle. As Septimus approached, Blanche shot a captivating glance from beneath her long dark lashes, and with a graceful movement, invited Septimus to seat himself beside her on the bench.
‘I hope you are not in the crisis of your tale, Miss Fraser?’