ARABELLA by Anonymous Read Free Book Online

to be about the place, though the reason for this soon struck me. All others had been dismissed for the night, perhaps locked in their rooms with their supper or packed off to an inn. Thus there were to be no witnesses as to what followed other than the assembled gentry.
    As Elaine and I had already surmised, they were not many. I counted as many ladies as gentlemen and found the score not greater than fourteen. Among the former were several beauties of local distinction. By good fortune I knew none of them. All were perfectly polite and utterly discreet, as I discovered. Mrs. Eastwood was a lady of remarkable charm, approaching then her fortieth year, who herself met us in the hall and took our cloaks without the faintest hint of embarrassment.
    “You have come well provided for,” she said with a laugh to my uncle while gazing both Elaine and I up and down most approvingly. “You have advised them well, Harold, I trust, for there are to be no understandings.”
    Such boldness took me as equally by surprise as it did my cousin. We exchanged the most furtive glances. A purplish hue spread meanwhile over my uncle's features. The doors to the drawing room being closed, we all stood alone.
    “Ah, as to that, perhaps we might converse privately,” he said. His voice sounded exceedingly strained. I stared at my feet as did Elaine.
    Mrs. Eastwood shrugged in a languid manner. “If you wish ” she declared and led him into a small side room, though leaving the door ajar of a purpose, as I surmised. A muttering came to our ears and then a faint laugh from our hostess.
    “My dear Harold, discretion is all here. You above all should know that. I make no demur myself about the presence of Elaine and nor will anyone else. What? I cannot hear what you say, and really I cannot keep the others waiting. She must be put up to the gentlemen as needs be, as we all are. That is the sport of it. You had no need to bring her, my pet. Let me speak with her for I do not wish her to enter upon the proceedings in total innocence, though should she wish to make play upon struggling a little that will be all the more fun. As to the other very pretty young lady who accompanies you, I will have her no more in the dark than Elaine.”
    “Oh, I say! But Mavis...”
    All was lost, or all was gained, depending upon one's philosophy, for my uncle's interruption was itself interrupted by the emergence of our hostess who clearly was determined to have no break in her evidently smooth affairs.
    “Elaine, my dear, there will be much pleasantry tonight for which you must forgive us, as I am sure that— Arabella, is it not?—will also. Within half an hour or so when all have been well warmed with wine we shall call upon the ladies to present themselves, by which I mean you will doff as gracefully as possible such outer attire as you have, including of course your drawers.”
    A gurgling sound came from behind her as these words were spoken. My uncle stood in the doorway of the side room as might have Hamlet or Macbeth. No sooner had this sound struck softly upon us than Mrs. Eastwood, persuading herself between us, took us both by the elbows and steered us towards the drawing room, talking as merrily meanwhile as if we had been attending a fete.
    Within was such a bubbling of voices and laughter as immediately warms the senses. Though the hall had been well lit, the drawing room was otherwise. A single chandelier had been lit in the centre of the ceiling, the gas mantles being dimmed so that while the middle of the room was sufficiently illumined, pools of shadow lay all about around the sides which gave a cosy atmosphere. The room was naturally commodious, there being some five large sofas and divans placed about the walls for such comfort as would be required. A huge sideboard accommodated piles of tiny sandwiches and canapes together with an impressive number of bottles and glasses.
    “You, my dear, are one out, for we have an equal number of ladies