but any one who was entertained by him was momentarily ennobled by the fact, and not all the anxious telegraphy of his wife and daughters could, for instance, recall to him that the striking young woman in Mrs. Dressel’s wake was only some obscure protégée, whom it was odd of Effie to have brought, and whose presence was quite unnecessary to emphasize.
“Juliana, Miss Brent tells me she has never seen our roses. Oh, there are other roses in Hanaford, Miss Brent; I don’t mean to imply that no one else attempts them; but unless you can afford to give carte blanche to your man—and mine happens to be something of a specialist… well, if you’ll come with me, I’ll let them speak for themselves. I always say that if people want to know what we can do they must come and see—they’ll never find out from me!”
A more emphatic signal from his Wife arrested Mr. Gaines as he was in the act of leading Miss Brent away.
“Eh?—What? The Amhersts and Mrs. Ansell? You must excuse me then, I’m afraid—but Westy shall take you. Westy, my boy, it’s an ill-wind… I want you to show this young lady our roses.” And Mr. Gaines, with mingled reluctance and satisfaction, turned away to receive the most important guests of the day.
It had not needed his father’s summons to draw the expert Westy to Miss Brent: he was already gravitating
toward her, with the nonchalance bred of cosmopolitan
[ 155 ]
