Mr Forster's Fortune Read Online Free PDF

be quite chagrined when I tell you, so prepare yourself for the worst, Mr Forster – for it is no less than the sorry fact that I spent a full evening in your company only five short days ago and you never even cast one glance in my direction for the whole of the time you were there.’
    Mr Forster appeared suitably dumbfounded.
    ‘A whole evening?’ he exclaimed. ‘A whole evening? But where was this – and how should I not have seen you?’
    His total confusion was so evident that Cecily had to allow herself a little giggle before explaining the situation to him – of how she had benefited from the secrecy of her veil, and of how she had found him already gone when she had risen for breakfast the very next day.
    Mr Forster slapped his forehead.
    ‘No – really? So not only an evening, but a whole night and morning as well? What a numbskull I am. But if you will insist on secreting yourself behind a veil like that I really cannot be thought of as in any way to blame.’
    Cecily shook her head laughingly.
    ‘ On the contrary, Mr Forster, you are totally to blame. The gentleman always is, I fear. But see – there is no harm done after all, for fate has obviously determined that we should become acquainted come what may. She may not be resisted, you understand. She has quite a habit of getting her own way. She has brought us here under false pretences. You thought you were come to Bath for entertainment, and I for some clothes, whereas, in fact, she actually brought us here purely to effect our acquaintance.’
    ‘But how could you possibly think yourself in need of any clothes, my lady? After all, how could you at all improve on what I already see?’
    ‘Oh, for shame, sir , you are far too easily impressed. I am most horridly out of date. Why I fear your cousin will quite have written me off already, if the state of his current attire is anything to go by. (By the way – what is that arrangement he wears around his neck?) Can you not tell that I am come to Bath in the direst need of replenishing my sadly dated wardrobe? After all, I have been over eighteen months in mourning now. It is high time that I acquired something new.’
    ‘You are not impressed by my cousin ’s style? But it is absolutely de rigueur, I assure you – or so he informs me, at any rate.’
    ‘Is it, indeed ? I cannot say that I’ve seen anything quite as – well, imaginative as that cravat before. On what authority does he assure you of its cachet?’
    ‘Well – I cannot say exactly, I’m afraid, my lady. You would have to ask him for its provenance direct.’
    ‘So you have not seen a picture of it, or known of it before?’
    Mr Forster smiled.
    ‘Not exactly, no,’ he rejoindered. ‘I think you will find it comes purely from the oral tradition.’
    Cecily had been enjoying her little tête a tête with the handsome and entertaining Mr Forster but, happening to look up just at that moment, she suddenly realised that the eyes of Lady Barnham, Lord Barnham, Mrs Springfield and her aunt and uncle were all upon her, and blushingly realised that it would look most particular should she remain engrossed in his company for many minutes more. So she rose from the settee in the pretence of watching the conclusion to the chess (the conclusion was never in any doubt. Mr Springfield was well and truly vanquished from his very first move), and then determined on joining Miss Forster at the opening pianoforte instead. It turned out that both young ladies had admirable singing voices, which they demonstrated to extremely good effect, and both were skilful players, though Cecily turned out to be by far the more entertaining of the two for she was able to transmit something of her own self into her execution which Miss Forster was singularly unable – or unwilling - to do. Then Mr Springfield proposed arranging a glee. Cecily, just on the verge of enthusiastically supporting his suggestion, luckily spotted the look on her ladyship’s face