Let Mr.
Hammond make his home here, if it pleases your ladyship to have him. So
long as I am well and able to get about there can be no danger of
anything awkward happening.'
Lady Maulevrier looked alarmed.
'But you have no expectation of falling ill, I hope, Steadman; you have
no premonition of any malady?'
'No, my lady, none--except the malady of old age. I feel that I am not
the man I once was, that is all. My brain is getting woolly, and my
sight is clouded now and then. And if I were to fall ill suddenly----'
'Oh, it would be terrible, it would be a dire calamity! There is your
wife, certainly, to look after things, but----'
'My wife would do her best, my lady. She is a faithful creature, but she
is not--yes, without any unkindness I must say that Mrs. Steadman is not
a genius!'
'Oh, Steadman, you must not fail me! I am horror-stricken at the mere
idea,' exclaimed Lady Maulevrier. 'After forty years--great God! it
would be terrible. Lesbia, Mary, Maulevrier! the great, malignant,
babbling world outside these doors.
Pages:
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637