Chapter 9
Poor Elaine, she was the subject of my mischief that night, but it could not be helped. Her benefits, however, were considerable and so mollified the wrath she might other wise have poured upon me.
We have argued about it since."You were sulking," I have said. "Oh, you story, I was resting," would come her reply, though said with a smile she could not conceal.
Had we been in less civilised company, our host might have demanded or at least enquired why my cousin was not party to our merriment. Being of great experience, he knew her predicament to be one of seeming shyness which, like an egg, but waits to be cracked open. It was for me to spring the hare, so to speak, and this I duly did since all were again ready for the fray. All eyes then being fixed upon the reclining beauty
