And while he was eating she sat with her feet on the
fender, talking of some girls in the neighbourhood--their jealousies, and
how Edith Eastwick could not think of anything for herself, but always
copied her dresses. Dandy drowsed at her feet, and very often she would
take him to the window and make him go through all his tricks, calling on
Hubert to admire him.
She had a knack of monopolising Hubert, and since his return from London,
her desire to do so had become almost a determination. Hubert showed no
disinclination, and after breakfast they were to be seen together in the
gardens. Hubert was a great catch, and there were other young ladies eager
to be agreeable to him; but he did not seem to desire flirtation with any.
So they came to speak of him as a very clever man, no doubt; but as they
knew nothing about plays, he very probably did not care to talk to them.
Hubert was not attractive in general society, and he would soon have failed
to interest them at all had it not been for Emily. She was proud of her
influence over him, and for the first time showed a desire to go into
society. Day by day her conversation turned more and more on
tennis-parties, and she even spoke about a ball. He consented to take her;
and he had to dance with her, and she refused nearly every one, saying she
was tired, leading Hubert away for long conversations in the galleries and
on the staircases.
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