Page 188 - the-portrait-of-a-lady

many of your questions. When will you come?’
‘Whenever Miss Archer will take me. We’re thinking of
going to London, but we’ll go and see you first. I’m deter-
mined to get some satisfaction out of you.’
‘If it depends upon Miss Archer I’m afraid you won’t get
much. She won’t come to Lockleigh; she doesn’t like the
place.’
‘She told me it was lovely!’ said Henrietta.
Lord Warburton hesitated. ‘She won’t come, all the same.
You had better come alone,’ he added.
Henrietta straightened herself, and her large eyes ex-
panded. ‘Would you make that remark to an English lady?’
she enquired with soft asperity.
Lord Warburton stared. ‘Yes, if I liked her enough.’
‘You’d be careful not to like her enough. If Miss Archer
won’t visit your place again it’s because she doesn’t want to
take me. I know what she thinks of me, and I suppose you
think the same—that I oughtn’t to bring in individuals.’
Lord Warburton was at a loss; he had not been made ac-
quainted with Miss Stackpole’s professional character and
failed to catch her allusion. ‘Miss Archer has been warning
you!’ she therefore went on.
‘Warning me?’
‘Isn’t that why she came off alone with you here—to put
you on your guard?’
‘Oh dear, no,’ said Lord Warburton brazenly; ‘our talk
had no such solemn character as that.’
‘Well, you’ve been on your guard—intensely. I suppose
it’s natural to you; that’s just what I wanted to observe. And

188 The Portrait of a Lady