All at Sea

This book is a reproduction from the original text.
Chapter I
MRS. RENSHAW, charming and most insouciante of widows, looked round the pretty little room in Green Street, Mayfair, and sighed-sighed because nowhere could her eyes alight without encountering a portrait of the man she was about to marry; and the man she was about to marry was not beautiful to look upon. He had plain, undistinguished features and not very much hair; but, then, he loved her devotedly, and he was a Park Lane millionaire.
"I ought to be very happy," she thought to herself reproachfully, hastily changing her glance from Mr. Gattlinger in fancy dress to Mr. Gattlinger playing golf in very wide knickerbockers. "He is absurdly rich, and really not so very bad looking." Then she closed her eyes that she might see him no more, and thought of the late Mr. Renshaw, killed steeplechasing in the prime of life.
In a moment or two, however, Mrs. Renshaw opened one eye again to look warily at the clock.
"I wish Minnie would be more punctual," she reflected; "she always cheers me up, and," -glancing at the tea-table-"there is nothing quite so nasty as sodden muffins"
The doors were thrown open and Lady Vernham was announced.
Mrs. Renshaw rose and threw herself into her visitor's arms.
"You wretch-to be so late" she exclaimed gaily, giving her a violent kiss.
"Am I late?" asked Lady Vernham, smiling at the boisterous welcome. "I have had such a lot of shopping to do, and I wanted to get it all off my mind before coming to hear your great news."
"The great news of my marriage?" said Mrs. Renshaw. "Yes, isn't it dreadful?"
"Dreadful?"
"Well-I mean, unexpected."
"I was not the least surprised-I have long ceased to be surprised at anything you do."