Clara Hopgood - Page 17/105

'Yes, but that also is something he does not believe. What is there

in him which is positive? What has he distinctly won from the

unknown?'

'Ah, Miss Hopgood, you ought to hear him yourself; he is wonderful.

I do admire him so much; I am sure you would like him.'

'If you do not go home on Saturday,' said Mrs Hopgood, 'we shall be

pleased if you will have dinner with us on Sunday; we generally go

for a walk in the afternoon.'

Frank hesitated, but at that moment Madge rose from the sofa. Her

hair was disarranged, and she pushed its thick folds backward. It

grew rather low down on her forehead and stood up a little on her

temples, a mystery of shadow and dark recess. If it had been

electrical with the force of a strong battery and had touched him, he

could not have been more completely paralysed, and his half-erect

resolution to go back on Saturday was instantly laid flat.

'Thank you, Mrs Hopgood,' looking at Madge and meeting her eyes, 'I

think it very likely I shall stay, and if I do I will most certainly

accept your kind invitation.'