He was like a man who has an acrobatic feat
to perform--a wide ditch to leap, a high pole to climb--and who has a
presentiment of fractures and bruises. Fortunately he was not obliged to
talk much, as Mrs. Gordon displayed even more than her usual vivacity,
rendering her companions the graceful service of lifting the burden of
conversation from their shoulders.
"I suppose you were surprised to see us rushing out here so suddenly,"
she observed in the course of the repast. "We had said nothing about
it when you last saw us, and I believe we are supposed to tell you
everything, ain't we? I certainly have told you a great many things, and
there are some of them I hope you have n't repeated. I have no doubt
you have told them all over Paris, but I don't care what you tell in
Paris--Paris is n't so easily shocked. Captain Lovelock does n't repeat
what I tell him; I set him up as a model of discretion. I have told him
some pretty bad things, and he has liked them so much he has kept them
all to himself. I say my bad things to Captain Lovelock, and my good
things to other people; he does n't know the difference and he is
perfectly content."
"Other people as well often don't know the difference," said Gordon,
gravely.
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