Marjorie Bowen

“ I believe in young people enjoying themselves, but it can't be pleasure all the time."
Rosamund had heard this so often that it had no effect on her. She knew that Miss Brett meant well, and was really not such a bad old lady at all, and that it would be useless to try and shake her delusion that to watch others having "a good time" was to have "a good time" yourself; she was really persuaded that she had provided Rosamund with a round of enjoyment by taking her—as a spectator—to a series of fashionable and "select" health resorts. ”

“ Sir Tony saw one of the biggest thrills of his life looming near. "Did you want to be asked?" he inquired with an earnestness that made the question impersonal.
Truth rushed to Rosamund's lips. "Very much. But I never expected it," she added honestly. "When one is quite so ordinary as I am——"
Sir Tony rose with alacrity. "I think you are the most extraordinary person I ever met. Come along and have tea." ”

“ Rosamund did not understand, either. She did not try to understand; she was only aware that life had suddenly become more interesting than she had ever supposed it would be. You might not think that it was very exciting to play the part of a substitute, even to such a splendid person as Sir Tony Langton, but then Rosamund had never hoped to be even a substitute. ”

“ She had meant this remark to be quite non-committal, but evidently the young man took it as an encouragement, for he brightened considerably.
"I say, don't you think I might save that chap so many journeys, and come and take my coffee at your table?" he suggested hopefully.
"I don't take coffee," said Rosamund in a tone of which Miss Brett would have thoroughly approved.
"But I do. Heaps. Aren't you going to take pity on me?"
The orchestra was staring, the waiter was staring. Rosamund rose to the moment and said, in quite a woman-of-the-world fashion: "Of course. I shall be delighted." ”

“ In the morning this sparkling light was of a divine clearness and radiance; in the evening amber, orange, scarlet stained the serene sky, and in between these were precious, lovely hours on the silver dunes, on that long bare parade, in the crooked streets with the closed shops, where the one little café tea place so gallantly defied the end of the season. ”

“ Over the tiny tea-table he studied with interest the girl whom everyone had overlooked, who was eating wickedly exotic cakes for the first time, who didn't dance, or play tennis, or golf, or smoke, or know anything about cigarettes, or cocktails, or flirting.
During the course of that extravagant tea he probed into the mystery of this strange being. What could she do? The queerest things, of course—cooking, sewing, nursing—all those out-of-date affairs women were trying to forget all about.
"I should have made a good domestic servant if only I had been stronger "remarked Rosamund sincerely. ”

“ Miss Brett was most triumphantly justifying her doctor and her cure. She required extraordinarily little attention from Rosamund—she was always giving her "time off."
"I don't want to be fussed," she would say. "You might just as well be amusing yourself or trying to amuse that poor young man, whose fiancée, or whatever she is, seems to be treating him very badly. ”

“ And she concluded, as Rosamund dutifully assisted her across the corridor to her luxurious ground floor rooms: "Why you modern young women don't get married is too much for me. There are plenty of men about, and you've got so much liberty." ”

“ On her return she arranged this superb bouquet in Miss Brett's sitting-room and gave that attentive lady a sparkling account of the afternoon's adventure—for it did, all of it, seem an adventure to Rosamund.
Miss Brett's comment seemed to be at a tangent. "You want some new clothes. You haven't got anything really nice." ”

“ Author of "Five People," "The Presence and the Power," "Stinging Nettles," etc.
"HOW very fortunate," said Miss Brett, much gratified, "that the hotel remains open all the winter! I think I shall stay on indefinitely. The air suits me exactly, and Dr. Gray is really very attentive." And she smiled pleasantly at Rosamund Fairfax, who felt her already low spirits give another decided jerk downwards. In fact, though she was only a paid companion, Rosamund was so depressed by this news that she ventured on a humble protest. "Won't you find it rather dull, Miss Brett? Everyone has gone away." ”

“ Sir Tony Langton—from Deauville—a very popular, fashionable personage, quite well off, but not rich for that "set"—staying indefinitely at "Le Sporting."
"How funny!" said Miss Brett.
Then she nosed about the lady—Miss Nora Forttis from Scotland. Had booked rooms for a week, but been called away by a wire—was probably returning.
"An elopement," said Miss Brett. "He's waiting for her. How very exciting! Someone must be ill. Poor young man! I shouldn't have thought they would have needed to run away; surely he's good enough for anyone."
"He hasn't much money," remarked Rosamund unwisely. ”

“ And then the hotel motor 'bus swept into sight along the esplanade, a cheerful gleam of scarlet, and stopped outside the hotel verandah. There was actually luggage, proper, important-looking traveller's luggage, on top, and two people inside.
Rosamund actually tingled with excitement, though common-sense told her that these must be stray wanderers stopping for a mere night on their way home, Still, for the moment it was something to watch, and Rosamund, from behind the heavy damask curtain, stared with avidity.
Two travellers. A man and a woman. English. Extremely "smart." ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1952, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 71 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”