by an expression of unwilling interest, now laughed her sudden angry laugh, and said:
“It would be swell if everyone would only act like decent human beings for a change!”
In spite of her angry words, her face had a tender, radiant look of joy and happiness as she spoke, and it seemed that all her hope and belief had returned to her.
“But of course!” Elinor answered instantly, and with complete conviction. “And that’s just exactly how everyone is going to act! Eugene will be all right,” she cried—“the moment that we get out of Paris! You’ll see! We’ve gone at a perfectly killing pace this last month or two! No one in the world could stand it! Eugene is tired, our nerves are all on edge, we’re worn out by staying up all night, and drinking, and flying about from one place to another—but a day or two of rest will fix all that…. And that, my children, is just exactly what we’re going to do—now—at once!” She spoke firmly, kindly, with authority. “We’re getting out of Paris today!”
“Where?” said Starwick. “Where are we going?”
“We’re all going out to St. Germain-en-Laye to rest up for a day or two before we leave. We’ll stay at your pension, Francis, and you can pack your things while we’re out there, because you won’t be going back again. After that we’ll come back to Paris to spend the night—we won’t stay here over a day at the outside: Ann and I will clear our things out of the studio, and Eugene can get packed up at his hotel—that should mean, let’s see”—she tapped her lips lightly with thoughtful fingers—“we should be packed up and ready to start Monday morning, at the latest.”
“Hadn’t I better stay in town and do my packing now?” Eugene suggested.
“Darling,” said Elinor softly, with a tender and seductive humour, putting her fingers on his arm—“you’ll do nothing of the sort! You’re driving out with us this afternoon! We all love you so much that we’re going to take no chance of losing you at the last minute!”
And for a moment, the strange and almost noble dignity of Elinor’s face was troubled by a faint smile of pleasant, tender radiance, the image of the immensely feminine, gracious, and lovely spirit which almost grotesquely seemed to animate her large and heavy body.
Thus, under the benevolent and comforting dictatorship of this capable
