Fair Margaret - Page 61/206

'My husband's name was Goodyear,' continued the prima donna

thoughtfully. 'You will find it in all biographies of me.' 'Goodyear,' Margaret repeated, looking at Lushington. 'What a nice

name! I like it.' 'You understand,' Madame Bonanni went on, explaining. '"Goodyear,"

"buon anno," "bonanno," "Bonanni"; that is how it is made up. It's a

good name for the stage, is it not?' 'Yes. But why did you change it at all for your son?' Madame Bonanni shrugged her large shoulders, glanced furtively at

Lushington, and then looked at Margaret.

'It was better,' she said. 'Fruit, Angelo!' 'Can I be of any use to you in getting off, mother?' asked Lushington.

Margaret felt that she had made another mistake, and looked at her

plate.

'No, my angel,' said Madame Bonanni, answering her son's question, and

eating hothouse grapes; 'you cannot help me in the least, my sweet. I

know you would if you could, dear child! But you will come and dine

with me quietly at the Carlton on Sunday at half-past eight, just you

and I. I promise you that no one shall be there, not even

Logotheti--though you do not mind him so much.' 'Not in the least,' Lushington answered, with a smile which Margaret

thought a little contemptuous. 'All the same, I would much rather be

alone with you.' 'Do you wonder that I love him?' asked Madame Bonanni, turning to

Margaret.

'No, I don't wonder in the least,' answered the young girl, with such

decision that Lushington looked up suddenly, as if to thank her.

The ordeal was over at last, and the prima donna rose with a yawn of

satisfaction.

'I am going to turn you out,' she said. 'You know I cannot live without

my nap.' She kissed Margaret first, and then her son, each on both cheeks, but

it was clear that she could hardly keep her eyes open, and she left

Margaret and Lushington standing together, exactly as she had left the

young girl with Logotheti on the first occasion.

Their eyes met for an instant and then Lushington got his hat and stick

and opened the door for Margaret to go out.

'Shall I call a cab for you?' he asked.

'No, thank you. I'll walk a little way first, and then drive to the

station.' When they were in the street, Lushington stood still.

'You believe that it was an accident, don't you?' he asked. 'I mean my

coming to-day.' 'Of course! Shall we walk on?' He could not refuse, and he felt that he was not standing by his

resolution; yet the circumstances were changed, since she now knew his

secret, and was warned.