“Mildred dear, don’t. It is wrong to speak of your father like that. He only wishes you good.”
For the young people there ensued a time of wild excitement; and Miss Verinder took her share in it, allowing herself to throb or shiver sympathetically with all their hopes and fears. Mr. Leahurst, like other potentates, proved difficult; one day, Alwyn said, he was shilly-shallying, another day blowing hot and cold, another day coldly doubtful. Then Alwyn gave a Sunday dinner-party at a restaurant, in order to clinch matters with Mr. Leahurst.
He implored Emmie to make herself very agreeable to Mr. Leahurst, and afterwards Mildred thanked her for her agreeableness.
Alwyn gave her many warnings and cautions. He said that Mr. Leahurst was not the kind of person that she had been accustomed to meet socially. How should he put it? “Not Eton and Christ Church and all that.” He also said that she would certainly, sooner or later, hear tales about Mr. Leahurst. He added that Mr. Leahurst was fifty years of age or more. This, he concluded, was merely “preparing” her for Mr. Leahurst.
But no preparation could really prepare one for Mr. Leahurst. He was the most melancholy man that she had ever seen; in comparison, the sadness of her late partner, Mr. Gann, was gaiety. He did not speak to her or anybody else. He ate his food in profound silence and did not even appear to observe that there was a band playing. He smoked cigarettes, and had a dreadful trick with his lips, to get rid of bits of paper or tobacco—a perfectly dry manœuvre, but it sounded as if he was spitting. His cigarette case, Emmie noticed, seemed as big as a small dressing-bag; but he had no matches.
“Waiter,” he said; and they all jumped because his speaking suddenly was such a surprise. “Waiter, ’blige me with match. Forgot my box. Thanks”; and he lit a cigarette. This was in the middle of the meal.
They talked of the play, and still he said nothing.
Then when the party broke up and he was going, Alwyn spoke to him about it.
“Oh, that’s all right,” said Mr. Leahurst. “Yes, I’ll tell ’em to get on with it to-morrer.”
“How can I thank you?” said Alwyn, humbly yet exultantly.