She advanced to
the fireplace with her halting movement, embraced the little lady by
the fire with a soft and unimpassioned clasp.
"Well, Elizabeth, here we are, you see," turned to the thin
gentleman saying, "Why you, Mr. Magnus! I thought that you were
still in Wiltshire! "then from the middle of the room addressing the
stout young man: "I'm very glad to see you, Mr. Warlock."
Maggie fancied that the three persons were nervous of her aunt; the
stout young man was amused perhaps at the general situation, but Mr.
Magnus by the fireplace showed great emotion, the colour mounting
into his high bony cheeks and his nostrils twitching like a horse's.
Maggie had been always very observant, and she was detached enough
now to notice that the drawing-room was filled with ugly and
cumbrous things and yet seemed unfurnished. Although everything was
old and had been there obviously for years, the place yet reminded
one of a bare chamber into which, furniture had just been piled
without order or arrangement. Opposite the door was a large and very
bad painting of the two sisters as young girls, sitting, with arms
encircled, in low dresses, on the seashore before a grey and angry
sea, and Uncle Mathew as a small, shiny-faced boy in tight short
blue trousers, carrying a bucket and spade, and a smug, pious
expression.
Pages:
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107