She looked very beautiful, that Aylmer admitted to himself, and she sang
simply and charmingly; that he owned also. Why did it irritate him so
intensely to see Teddy moved and thrilled, to see his eyes brighten, his
colour rise and to see him obviously admiring the girl? When she made an
excuse to leave them Teddy was evidently quite disappointed.
The next day Aylmer limped down to the library. To his great surprise he
heard voices in the room Dulcie used for her sitting-room. He heard
Teddy begging her to sing to him again. He heard her refuse and then
Teddy's voice asking her to go out to tea with him.
Aylmer limped as loudly as he could, and they evidently heard him, but
didn't mind in the least. He didn't want Miss Clay to stop at home. He
was expecting Edith.
'Hang it, let them go!' he said to himself, and he wondered at himself.
Why should he care? Why _shouldn't_ she flirt with the boy if she liked,
or rather--for he was too just not to own that it was no desire of
hers--why shouldn't the boy make up to her? Whatever the reason was, it
annoyed him.
Annoyance was soon forgotten when Mrs Ottley was announced.
Since their drive to Richmond there had been a period of extraordinary
happiness and delight for Edith.
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