The Diamond Waterfall Read Online Free PDF Page B

after Evie’s disgusting revelations.)
    â€œA new admirer,” said Robert in a deep voice, “and already your devoted slave.” Older, stockier than Lionel, but equally dark-haired.
    Lionel explained, “My brother has left the family seat for two weeks of the fleshpots.”
    Of course. The brother, the older Firth—so often thrown casually into Lionel’s conversation. (“… As my dear brother said only last week, evenings spent with actresses …”)
    Sir Robert Firth.
Sir
Robert. I think, she remembered, as he walked a little behind them, it was a title received for some public work or other…. A widower too. Always a pitiful sight. Rich, too. Money enough for Lionel to idle away his days, to be all the Season in London, to be up in Yorkshire when it pleased him….
    A firm, almost too firm, handshake. A deliberate, slightly monotonous voice. But in many ways—another Lionel. Although not, she suspected, an amusing one.
    Gilt, plush, chandeliers, cigar smoke. It was cigar smoke she noticed first always—every time a slight, pleasurable stinging of the eyes. As she came into the restaurant, the Hungarian band was playing Leslie Stuart’s “Soldiers of the Queen,” revived for the Jubilee. At once they broke off, and in her honor played “What a Skin, What a Bloom …” Heads turned.
    They were a party of six. She and Lionel, a Mrs. Kingswood (a widow— hoping perhaps for Sir Robert?), Robert, Captain McArthur—a friend of Lionel’s whom she knew a little—and a Miss Bateman, young and pretty.
    Captain McArthur was a musical comedy aficionado, and not pleased when Mrs. Kingswood spoke critically of the form. For him, Lily’s show was quite simply the best…. Lionel said, “Anything to do with rags to riches is sure of a welcome if it’s brightly done—as happens of course at the Carlton…. Although,” he added, “I’m surprised we have not had yet
The Duke and the Typewriter”
    â€œAh yes,” Sir Robert said, “typewriters. Those ladies who use the new machines …”
    Captain McArthur said, “Typewriters haven’t the romance of shopgirls. There’s something too worthy about them—an odor of the New Woman. But it would do for a comic sketch—”
    â€œIt has been done, I rather think,” Lily said, spooning her crayfish bisque. Lionel agreed. Mrs. Kingswood shuddered at the mention of New Woman.
    The band played “Dear Little Jappy Jap Jappy” and “The Amorous Goldfish” from last year’s hit,
The Geisha.
Conversation turned to Yankee heiresses. Always a fruitful subject, Captain McArthur said. He would not refuse one, if offered. Lionel, who had been catching up on news from Yorkshire, said, “My brother tells me Hawksworth at the Hall has netted an enormous catch. A Philadelphia—or is it Chicago?—heiress. And very oofy, very oofy indeed. That family won’t want—”
    â€œHow was it done?”
    â€œA visit here. Earlier this year. He did not even need to cross the pond. They marry at Christmas, I believe.”
    Mrs. Kingswood turned to Sir Robert. “How is young Miss Alice? Any improvement?”
    â€œA little. Her governess finds her difficult still.”
    â€œYour daughter?” Lily said to him. “Lionel told me you have one—”
    â€œYes. Alice. She is twelve. She took her mother’s death very hard.”
    Farther down the table, the subject was the Jubilee again. Captain McArthur said, “I was here a few evenings ago, when the band played the anthem. God save Her if the whole restaurant didn’t stand up, cheering and waving napkins. Food grew cold on the plates…. Really, one may have too much of a good thing.”
    â€œOh,” cried Miss Bateman, the first time she’d spoken. “How too too TwoTwo, don’t you think?”
    â€œâ€¦ and