“Depuis six semaines,” he said proudly.
The waiter lifted arms and eyebrows eloquent with astounded disbelief.
“Mais c’est merveilleux!” the waiter cried, and as the others jeered Eugene said with bitter sarcasm:
“Everyone can’t be a fine old French scholar the way you are; after all, I’m not travelled like the rest of you—I’ve never had your opportunities. And even after six weeks here there are still a few words in the French language that I don’t know…. But I’m going to speak the ones I do know,” he said defiantly, “and no one’s going to stop me.”
“Of course you are, darling!” Elinor said quickly and smoothly, putting her hand out on his arm with a swift movement. “Don’t let them tease you!… I think it’s mean of you,” she said reproachfully. “Let the poor dear speak his French if he wants to—I think it’s sweet.”
He looked at her with a flushed and angry face while Starwick bubbled with laughter, tried to think of something to say in reply, but, as always, she was too quick for him, and before he could think of something apt and telling, she had flashed off as light and quick as a rapier blade:
“—Now, children,” she was studying the card again—“what shall it be after the fish—who wants meat—?”—
“No fish for me,” said Ann, looking sullenly at the menu. “I’ll take—” suddenly her dark, sullen, and nobly beautiful face was transfigured by her short and almost angry laugh again—“I’ll take an’awmlet,’” she said sarcastically, looking at Eugene.
“Well, take your’awmlet,’” he muttered. “Only I don’t say it that way.”
“Pas de poisson,” she said quietly to the waiter. “I want an omelette.”
“Bon, bon,” he nodded vigorously and wrote. “Une omelette pour madame. Et puis après—?” he said inquiringly.
“Rien,” she said.
He looked slightly surprised and hurt, but in a moment, turning to Eugene, said:
“Et pour monsieur?—Après le poisson?”
“Donnez-moi un Chateaubriand garni,” he said.
And again Ann, whose head had been turned sullenly down towards the card, looked up suddenly and laughed, with that short and almost angry laugh that seemed to illuminate with accumulating but instant radiance all of the dark and noble beauty of her face.
“God!” she said. “I
