For the first time, he
began to understand those men, and to sympathize with them. He
admitted, in a certain bewildered way, that he was an admirer of pretty
feet--and waited for what was to come next.
"When a woman has a pretty hand," Mrs. Farnaby proceeded; "she is ready
enough to show it. When she goes out to a ball, she favours you with a
view of her bosom, and a part of her back. Now tell me! If there is no
impropriety in a naked bosom--where is the impropriety in a naked
foot?"
Amelius agreed, like a man in a dream.
"Where, indeed!" he remarked--and waited again for what was to come
next.
"Look out of the window," said Mrs. Farnaby.
Amelius obeyed. The window had been opened for a few inches at the top,
no doubt to ventilate the room. The dull view of the courtyard was
varied by the stables at the farther end, and by the kitchen skylight
rising in the middle of the open space. As Amelius looked out, he
observed that some person at that moment in the kitchen required
apparently a large supply of fresh air. The swinging window, on the
side of the skylight which was nearest to him, was invisibly and
noiselessly pulled open from below; the similar window, on the other
side, being already wide open also.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173