CHAPTER I

hehadneverbeentoRichmondParkorWindsorshehadneverbeenanywherebutshewassuretherewouldbebatsandstarsoutthere,andwater,andthesoftduskinessoftreesandthesmellofwetearth,andshecoulddriveaboutthemalittle,slowly,soastofeelitall,andthencomebackandhavesuppersomewhere—havesupperattheRitz,shethought,ofwhichshehadreadhastilyoutofthecornerofaneyebetweentwoappearancesoftheBishop,inthemoreinterestingportionsoftheTimes—justsaunterin,youknow.Orshecouldhavedinnerfirstyes,dinnerfirst—dinneratClaridge's.No,notatClaridge'sshehadanauntwhostayedthere,anotherone,hermother'ssister,richandpowerful,anditwasalwaysbestnottostiruprichandpowerfulaunts.DinnerattheThackerayH?tel,perhaps.Thatwaswhereherfather'srelationsstayed,fine-lookingseriousmenwhooncewerecuratesand,yetearlier,goodandhandsomebabies.ItwasneartheBritishMuseum,shehadheard.ItsnameandsurroundingssuggestedmagnificenceofanoblersortthantheRitz.Yes,shewoulddineattheThackerayH?telandbesplendid. Here,comingtoawindowfulloffood,shebecameawarethat,wonderfully,andforthefirsttimeforweeks,shewashungrysohungrythatshedidn'twantdinnerorsupperoranythingfuture,butsomethingnow.ShewentinandallhergildedvisionsoftheRitzandtheThackerayH?telwereswampedinonehugecup(shefelthowlegitimateandappropriateadrinkitwasforabishop'sdaughterwithoutachaperon,andorderedthebiggestsizecostingfour-pence)ofAeratedBreadShopcocoa. Itwassixo'clockwhensheemerged,amazinglynourished,fromthatstrangeplacewherelong-backedelderlymenwithtiredeyeswerehurriedlyeatingpoachedeggsonchillylittleclothlessmarbletables,andcontinueddownRegentStreet. Shenowfeltstrangelysettledinhermind.ShenolongerwantedtogototheRitz.Indeedthenotionofdininganywherewiththecocoaclothingherinternallyaswithagarment—athickwintergarment,almostshethoughtlikethecloserkindsoffur—wasrevolting.Shestillfeltenterprising,butalittleclogged.Shethoughtnowmoreofthingslikefreshairandexercise.Notnowforhertheheatandglitterofamusic-hall.Therewasatasteinthatpuredrinkthatwasirreconcilablewithmusic-halls,asatisfyingpropertyinitsunadulteratedness,itscarefulcleanliness,thatremindedhershewasthedaughterofabishop.WalkingawayfromtheAeratedBreadShoprathergravely,sherememberedthatshehadamotheronasofaanonlysisterwhowassobeautifulthatitwastouchingandaclassofboys,onceunrulyandnowlookinguptoher—infact,thatshehadapositiontokeepup.Shewasstillhappy