The Black Benedicts by Anita Charles Page A

sitting-room, after which there were no further attempts at persuasion so far as going downstairs was concerned.
    Their meal was served to them more than an hour before the main meal in the dining-room downstairs, and during that time, while they sat cosily at Mallory ’ s little gate-legged table, and Rose brought up special tit-bits from the kitchen with which to tempt Serena, there was a great deal of coming and going in the corridors outside, and the whole house had a different atmosphere because it was now filled with visitors.
    Mallory thought of Mrs. Carpenter ’ s lament that her peace ended when visitors arrived, and she was inclined to agree with her. For the opening and shutting of doors, the rustling movements outside her own sitting-room, the little bursts of low-toned conversation and occasional snatches of laughter—masculine as well as feminine—made her feel that the house had been taken over by an unseen army.
    They were enjoying their sweet when the door suddenly opened, without any warning knock such as Rose tactfully always gave, and Raife Benedict walked in. He was already dressed for dinner, and Mallory ’ s first impression of him, received in the midst of sudden confusion, was that he was almost start l ingly handsome, with his white shirt front throwing into prominence his dark and swarthy skin, and hi s sleek blade hair. Her second was that for the first time she saw him in a thoroughly amiable mood, and that his strange brown eyes actually held little dancing points of laughter, and his white teeth—very hard, strong, and perfect teeth—gleamed in a smile.
    “ Well, well, ” he observed, as he took in the fact that they were obviously enjoying a meal, and that Serena was plainly quite content, “ you seem to be very comfortable, both of you! Had you forgotten that you possessed an un cl e, my infant, and that he was coming home to-day? I looked for you downstairs when we arrived. ”
    Serena let forth a delighted shriek and simply flew at him. To Mallory ’ s considerable amazement he allowed her to wind both slim arms about his neck and almost strangle him with her hug, and she even found herself holding her own breath lest his immaculate neckwear should come to any harm.
    “ Oh, Uncle Raife!—dearest, belov ed est Uncle Raife! Miss Gower wouldn ’ t let me come downstairs and she said I could have dinner with her in here instead. ”
    “ Did she, indeed? ” He managed to free himself from the cli nging arms, and then inserted a careful finger inside his collar and made sure that his beautifully tied bow-tie was not seriously disarranged. “ And I take it that you prefer having dinner with Miss Gower in her sitting-room to coming and finding out whether I still exist? Incidentally, Sonia has been asking after you, and she wants to see you after dinner, if Miss Gower will bring you down. ”
    He crossed over to an arm-chair beside the fire and dropped into it, stretching his long legs out before him as if he was tired and glad to relax. He rested his dark head against the cushions, and Mallory could see how the light from the shaded lamp on the table was reflected in the polished waves of his hair. His eyes regarded her smilingly, but also she thought a trifle mockingly.
    “ So Miss Gower conquers! Miss Gower is already Favourite No. 1. ”
    “ Nothing of the kind, ” Mallory returned quite seriously, feeling the situation should be clarified. “ I was not at all sure whether you would want us downstairs, but Serena was keen enough to see you. Too keen, ” she added truthfully. “ I had difficulty in keeping her up here. ”
    “ Nevertheless, you succeeded, and Serena is an impetuous young woman, and accustomed to having her own way. You must be dealing very competently with her. ”
    “ Thank you, ” Mallory replied to this, with her customary rather deceptive demureness. “ But Serena is not all that difficult .”
    “ I am relieved to hear you say so, ” he told her.