Two on a Tower - Page 99/147

Meanwhile the interior of Welland House was rattling with the progress of

the ecclesiastical luncheon.

The Bishop, who sat at Lady Constantine's side, seemed enchanted with her

company, and from the beginning she engrossed his attention almost

entirely. The truth was that the circumstance of her not having her

whole soul centred on the success of the repast and the pleasure of

Bishop Helmsdale, imparted to her, in a great measure, the mood to ensure

both. Her brother Louis it was who had laid out the plan of entertaining

the Bishop, to which she had assented but indifferently. She was

secretly bound to another, on whose career she had staked all her

happiness. Having thus other interests she evinced to-day the ease of

one who hazards nothing, and there was no sign of that preoccupation with

housewifely contingencies which so often makes the hostess hardly

recognizable as the charming woman who graced a friend's home the day

before. In marrying Swithin Lady Constantine had played her

card,--recklessly, impulsively, ruinously, perhaps; but she had played

it; it could not be withdrawn; and she took this morning's luncheon as an

episode that could result in nothing to her beyond the day's

entertainment.

Hence, by that power of indirectness to accomplish in an hour what

strenuous aiming will not effect in a life-time, she fascinated the

Bishop to an unprecedented degree. A bachelor, he rejoiced in the

commanding period of life that stretches between the time of waning

impulse and the time of incipient dotage, when a woman can reach the male

heart neither by awakening a young man's passion nor an old man's

infatuation. He must be made to admire, or he can be made to do nothing.

Unintentionally that is how Viviette operated on her guest.

Lady Constantine, to external view, was in a position to desire many

things, and of a sort to desire them. She was obviously, by nature,

impulsive to indiscretion. But instead of exhibiting activities to

correspond, recently gratified affection lent to her manner just now a

sweet serenity, a truly Christian contentment, which it puzzled the

learned Bishop exceedingly to find in a warm young widow, and increased

his interest in her every moment. Thus matters stood when the

conversation veered round to the morning's confirmation.

'That was a singularly engaging young man who came up among Mr.

Torkingham's candidates,' said the Bishop to her somewhat abruptly.

But abruptness does not catch a woman without her wit. 'Which one?' she

said innocently.

'That youth with the "corn-coloured" hair, as a poet of the new school

would call it, who sat just at the side of the organ. Do you know who he

is?' In answering Viviette showed a little nervousness, for the first time

that day.