CHAPTER XXV
A FAMILY CONCLAVE
At eleven o’clock on Wednesday morning Beatrice called at the Athels’ house. Receiving the expected information that Wilfrid was not at home, she requested that Mr. Athel senior might not be disturbed and went to Wilfrid’s study.
Alone in the room, she took from her hand-bag a little packet addressed to Wilfrid on which she had written the word ‘private,’ and laid it on the writing-table.
She appeared to have given special attention to her toilet this morning; her attire was that of a lady of fashion, rich, elaborate, devised with consummate art, its luxury draping well the superb form wherein blended with such strange ardour the flames of heroism and voluptuousness. Her moving made the air delicate with faint perfume; her attitude as she laid down the pac
