Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/96

The square was overlooked from its remoter corner by the house of which the young girl bad spoken, a dignified residence of considerable size, having several windows on each floor. Inside one of these, on the first floor, the apartment being a large drawing-room, sat a lady, in appearance from twenty-eight t6 thirty years of age. The blinds were still undrawn, and the lady was absently surveying the weird scene without, her cheek resting on her hand. The room was unlit from within, but enough of the glare from the marketplace entered it to reveal the lady’s face. She was what is called an interesting creature rather than a handsome woman; dark-eyed, thoughtful, and with sensitive lips.

A man sauntered into the room from behind and came forward.

“Oh, Edith, I didn’t see you,” he said. ‘“ Why are you sitting here in the dark ?”

“I am looking at the fair,” replied the lady, in a languid voice,

“Oh? Horrid nuisance every year! I wish it could be put a stop to.”

“I like it.”

“H’m. There’s no accounting for taste.”

For a moment he gazed from the window with her, for politeness’ sake, and then went out again.

In a few minutes she rang.

“Hasn’t Anna come in ?” asked Mrs. Harnham,

“No, m’m.”

“She ought to be in by this time. I meant her to go for ten minutes only.”

"Shall I go and look for her, m’m?” said the housemaid, alertly.