Mrs. Ames

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 Excerpt: ...little sigh, as of a contented child. He had expressed with the most ruthless accuracy exactly what she wished him to feel. Then, in the manner of a woman whose nature is warped throughout by a slight but ingrained falsity, she spoke as if it was not she who had prompted the three words which she had almost made him say. "She is enjoying herself so," she said. "I have never seen Cousin Amy look so thoroughly pleased and contented. I thought she looked so charming, too, and what dear, plump little feet she has. But, my dear, it was rather a surprise when you and she were announced. It looked as if this poor Cleopatra was going to be Antony-less! Dear me, what a word!" Here was a more direct appeal, and again Major Ames was powerless in her soft clutch. Hers was not exactly an iron hand in a velvet, but a hand made of fly-catching paper. She had taken her glove off now. And he was beginning to stick to her. "Pshaw!" he said. That, again, had a perfectly satisfactory sound to her ears. The very abruptness and bluffness of it pleased her more than any protestation could have done. He was so direct, so shy, so manly. She laughed softly. "Hush, you mustn't say those things," she said. "Ah, there is the band beginning, and it is our dance. But let us just walk through the shrubbery before we go back. Then dusk and quiet are such a relief after the glare. Lyndhurst--ah, dear me. Cousin Lyndhurst I ought to say--you really must not go home till my little dance is quite finished. You make things go so well. Dear Wilfred is quite useless to me. Does he not look an old darling as Timon of Athens? A sort of mixture between George the Fourth in tights and a lion-tamer." Mrs. Evans was feeling more actively alive to-night ...