Bird of Paradise   By: Ada Leverson (1862-1933)

by

ADA LEVERSON

Grant Richards Ltd. 1914

TO ERNEST

CONTENTS

Chapter Page

I EXCUSES 9

II LADY KELLYNCH 25

III NIGEL 38

IV RUPERT AT RUMPELMEYER'S 49

V A HAPPY HOME 63

VI FUTURISM 77

VII RUSSIAN BALLET 90

VIII PERCY 95

IX AN ANONYMOUS LETTER 110

X MASTER CLIFFORD KELLYNCH 120

XI A DISCOVERY 129

XII A LOVE SCENE 142

XIII RECONCILIATION 150

XIV "TANGO" 155

XV CLIFFORD'S HISTORICAL PLAY 163

XVI A SECOND PROPOSAL 167

XVII MORE ABOUT RUPERT 172

XVIII "A SPECIAL FAVOUR" 177

XIX A DEVOTED WIFE 184

XX RUPERT AGAIN 192

XXI THE HILLIERS' ENTERTAINMENT 196

XXII BERTHA AT HOME 202

XXIII NIGEL'S LETTER 205

XXIV LADY KELLYNCH AT HOME 210

XXV MRS. PICKERING 219

XXVI NEWS FROM VENICE 227

XXVII ANOTHER ANONYMOUS LETTER 232

XXVIII AN INTERVIEW 237

XXIX NIGEL AND MARY 245

XXX MISS BELVOIR 256

XXXI MARY'S PLAN 263

XXXII PRIVATE FIREWORKS AT THE PICKERINGS' 267

XXXIII NIGEL ABROAD 284

XXXIV MOONA 289

XXXV TWO WOMEN 300

XXXVI PLAIN SAILING 313

CHAPTER I

EXCUSES

Poor Madeline came into the room a little flustered and hustled, with papers in her muff. She found Bertha looking lovely and serene as usual.

Madeline Irwin was a modern looking girl of twenty three; tall, thin, smart and just the right shape; not pretty, but very sympathetic, with thick dark hair and strongly marked eyebrows, a rather long and narrow face, delicately modelled, a clear white complexion, and soft, sincere brown eyes.

Bertha Mrs. Percy Kellynch was known as a beauty. She was indeed improbably pretty, small, plump and very fair, with soft golden hair that was silky and yet fluffy, perfectly regular little features, and a kind of infantine sweetness, combined with an almost incredible cleverness that was curious and fascinating. She was of a type remote equally from the fashion plate and the suffragette, and was so physically attractive that one could hardly be near her without longing to put out a finger and touch her soft, fair face or her soft hair; as one would like to touch a kitten or a pretty child. And yet one felt that it would not be an entirely safe thing to do; like the child or the kitten she might scratch or run away. But it is probable that a large average of her acquaintance had been weak enough or strong enough to give way to the temptation and take the risk.

This charming little creature sat in a room furnished in clear, pale colours that was pink, white and blonde like herself. Madeline sat down without greeting her, saying in a scolding voice, as she rustled a letter:

"He's refused again ... more excuses ... always, always excuses!"