One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

One of Our Conquerors
‘My naughty girl is not to poke her fun at orators,’ Nataly
said. ‘No, dearest; it would agitate me to go. I’m better here.
I shall be at peace when the night is over.’
‘But you will be all alone here, dear mother.’
Nataly’s eyes wandered to fall on Colney. He proposed to
give her his company. She declined it. Nesta ventured another
entreaty, either that she might be allowed to stay or
have her mother with her at the Meeting.
‘My love,’ Nataly said, ‘the thought of the Meeting—’ She
clasped at her breast; and she murmured: ‘I shall be comforted
by your being with him. There is no danger there.
But I shall be happy, I shall be at peace when this night is
over.’
Colney persuaded her to have him for companion. Mr.
Peridon, who was to have driven with Nesta and mademoiselle,
won admiration by proposing to stay for an hour and
play some of Mrs. Radnor’s favourite pieces. Nesta and Victor
overbore Nataly’s objections to the lover’s generosity. So
Mr. Peridon was left. Nesta came hurrying back from the
step of the carriage to kiss her mother again, saying: ‘Just
one last kiss, my own! And she’s not to look troubled. I shall
remember everything to tell my own mother. It will soon be
over.’
Her mother nodded; but the embrace was passionate.
Nesta called her father into the passage, bidding him prohibit
any delivery to her mother of news at the door. ‘She is
easily startled now by trifles—you have noticed?’
Victor summoned his recollections and assured her he had
noticed, as he believed he had ‘The dear heart of her is fretting
for the night to be over! And think! seven days, and she
is in Lakelands. A fortnight, and we have our first Concert.
Durandarte! Oh, the dear heart ‘ll be at peace when I tell her
of a triumphant Meeting. Not a doubt of that, even though
Colney turns the shadow of his back on us.’
‘One critic the less for you!’ said Nesta. Skepsey was to
meet her carriage at the theatre.
Ten minutes later, Victor and Simeon Fenellan were proceeding
thitherward on foot.
‘I have my speech,’ said Victor. ‘You prepare the way for
me, following our influential friend Dubbleson; Colewort
winds up; any one else they shout for. We shall have a great
evening. I suspect I shall find Themison or Jarniman when I
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