Page:Dark Hester.djvu/201

and everything was to end happily as it ought to have done years and years ago.

‘Well, my dear child,’ she said, going up to her. ‘What delicious weather—and you match it.—That darling dress.—Where is Norah? Are you expecting anyone except just ourselves?’

‘Only the tiniest little tea-party—for Clive and Hester;—Captain Ingpen, Mr. and Mrs. Fellows, Rosemary Dixon and Lady Tyler. Norah is in the drawing-room with Lady Tyler now. She came early so that she could go early. She has a meeting at the other side of the county, as usual, and she’s talking Women’s Institutes, as usual. I’m afraid poor Norah will have to be Secretary after all. Her hens won’t exonerate her,’ laughed Celia, who was merry to-day. ‘Your dress is a darling, too, Monica,’ she went on, clasping her hands on her friend’s arm. ‘You are dazzling in black and white,—only that’s too violent a word for anything so soft and bright.—You are like Helen of Troy, as Clive always said—there’s something so ageless, so “is this the face” about you, and you always smell of violets,’ Celia sniffed at her cheek.—‘I’m sure Helen did too—fresh violets out of the wood.—Oh, Monica, isn’t it your doing that Captain Ingpen is going to plant all sorts of lovely things in his