Violet Jacob > Flemington

328
FLEMINGTON
received the visits of many women alone since
leaving England, but his guests were younger
than the one whose approach he could now hear
in the anteroom outside. He drew his brows
together, for he expected no profit and some
annoyance from the interview.
He rose as she was ushered in and went to the
open fireplace, where he stood awaiting her, drawn
up to his full height, which was not great. The
huge iron dogs behind him and the high mantel¬
piece above his head dwarfed him with their large
lines. He was not an ill-looking young man,
though his hair, pulled back and tied after the
fashion of the day, showed off the receding con¬
tours that fell away from his temples, and made
his blue eyes look more prominent than they were.
He moved forward clumsily as Christian
curtsied.
“Come in, madam, come in. Be seated. I
have a few minutes only to give you,” he said,
pointing to a chair on the farther side of the
table.
She sat down opposite to him.
“ I had the honour ^of being presented to your
Royal Highness last year,” she said.
“ I remember you well, ma’am,” replied he
shortly.
“ It is in the hope of being remembered that
I have come,” said she. “ It is to ask you, Sir,
to remember the services of my house to yours.”
“ I remember them, ma’am ; I forget nothing.”
“ I am asking you, in remembering, to forget