Man of Property by John Galsworthy
page 257 of 438 (58%)
page 257 of 438 (58%)
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his room as she passed.
Bewildered and vexed, he was dressing. It was past ten, they would not get there till eleven; the girl was mad. But he dared not cross her--the expression of her face at dinner haunted him. With great ebony brushes he smoothed his hair till it shone like silver under the light; then he, too, came out on the gloomy staircase. June met him below, and, without a word, they went to the carriage. When, after that drive which seemed to last for ever, she entered Roger's drawing-room, she disguised under a mask of resolution a very torment of nervousness and emotion. The feeling of shame at what might be called 'running after him' was smothered by the dread that he might not be there, that she might not see him after all, and by that dogged resolve--somehow, she did not know how--to win him back. The sight of the ballroom, with its gleaming floor, gave her a feeling of joy, of triumph, for she loved dancing, and when dancing she floated, so light was she, like a strenuous, eager little spirit. He would surely ask her to dance, and if he danced with her it would all be as it was before. She looked about her eagerly. The sight of Bosinney coming with Irene from the conservatory, with that strange look of utter absorption on his face, struck her too suddenly. They had not seen--no one should see--her distress, not even her grandfather. She put her hand on Jolyon's arm, and said very low: |
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