DOI Artikel:
Harland, Henry: Merely Players
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25499#0029
By Henry Harland 25
“Very likely she didn’t know who you were,” his friend
reasoned. “And anyhow, your zeal is mighty sudden. You
appear to have been letting things go at loose ends for I don’t
know how long ; and all at once you take fire like tinder because
a poor woman amuses herself by throwing bread to the carp. It’s
simply spite : you’re disappointed in the colour of her hair. I
shall esteem it a favour ir you’ll leave the keepers’ instructions as
they are. She’s a damned good-looking woman ; and I’ll beg you
not to interfere with her diversions.”
“ I can deny you nothing, Uncle,” said Hilary, by this time re-
stored to his accustomed easy temper; “ and therefore she may make
hay of the whole blessed establishment, if she pleases. But as for
her good looks—that, you’ll admit, is entirely a question of taste.”
“ Ah, well, then the conclusion is that your taste needs
cultivation,” laughed Ferdinand. “ By-the-bye, I shall be glad if
you will find out who she is.”
“ Thank you very much,” cried Hilary. “ I have a reputation
to safeguard. Do you think I’m going to compromise myself,
and set all my underlings a-sniggling, by making inquiries about
the identity of a woman ? ”
“But,” persisted Ferdinand, “if I ask you to do so, as
your ——”
“What? ” was Hilary’s brusque interruption.
“As your guest,” said Ferdinand.
“ Mille regrets, impossible, as the French have it,” Hilary
returned. “ But as your host, I give you carte-blanche to make
your own inquiries for yourself—if you think she’s worth the
trouble. Being a stranger here, you have, as it were, no
character to lose.”
“After all, it doesn’t matter,” said Ferdinand Augustus, with
resignation.
But
“Very likely she didn’t know who you were,” his friend
reasoned. “And anyhow, your zeal is mighty sudden. You
appear to have been letting things go at loose ends for I don’t
know how long ; and all at once you take fire like tinder because
a poor woman amuses herself by throwing bread to the carp. It’s
simply spite : you’re disappointed in the colour of her hair. I
shall esteem it a favour ir you’ll leave the keepers’ instructions as
they are. She’s a damned good-looking woman ; and I’ll beg you
not to interfere with her diversions.”
“ I can deny you nothing, Uncle,” said Hilary, by this time re-
stored to his accustomed easy temper; “ and therefore she may make
hay of the whole blessed establishment, if she pleases. But as for
her good looks—that, you’ll admit, is entirely a question of taste.”
“ Ah, well, then the conclusion is that your taste needs
cultivation,” laughed Ferdinand. “ By-the-bye, I shall be glad if
you will find out who she is.”
“ Thank you very much,” cried Hilary. “ I have a reputation
to safeguard. Do you think I’m going to compromise myself,
and set all my underlings a-sniggling, by making inquiries about
the identity of a woman ? ”
“But,” persisted Ferdinand, “if I ask you to do so, as
your ——”
“What? ” was Hilary’s brusque interruption.
“As your guest,” said Ferdinand.
“ Mille regrets, impossible, as the French have it,” Hilary
returned. “ But as your host, I give you carte-blanche to make
your own inquiries for yourself—if you think she’s worth the
trouble. Being a stranger here, you have, as it were, no
character to lose.”
“After all, it doesn’t matter,” said Ferdinand Augustus, with
resignation.
But