A Star Looks Down Page 11
when the profess or walked in again.
He crossed the hall rapidly to her and Beth stood still, wondering why
he had returned.
"That was a ridiculous waste of time at dinner," he remarked to
surprise her.
"What is it about you which prevents me from saying what I wish to
say?
' He frowned, kissed her thoughtfully and went away again, leaving her
standing there, listening to the sound of the car's engine diminishing
into the distance.
The week rolled away at a leisurely pace, with the children to fill her
days and any time there was over taken up by Mevrouw Thor becke, who
felt better with each successive day.
She was good company now that she was almost herself once more and Beth
found it no hardship to forego her free time in order to drive her into
Shepton Mallett or Castle Cary to shop, or spend a little time
exploring the country roads around these two little towns.
The elderly estate car in the garage suited her very well, for although
she had driven for several years she was very out of practice, but as
both of them enjoyed tooling along quietly while they talked about a
great many things, that hardly mattered.
Mevrouw Thor becke was well enough to entertain her friends by now,
too.
They came after tea and played bridge, so that Beth was free to go out
with the children again before their supper; down to the pond to feed
the ducks or take carrots to the donkey and sometimes to play ball.
It was Friday evening when the profess or came again, arriving silently
and putting the car in the garage while she and the children were
feeding the ducks.
They were on their way upstairs to tidy themselves for supper when he
came to his study door, and stood, patient and laughing, while they
milled around him, and Beth, watching quietly, was conscious that she
was just as glad to see him as the children were, although her,
"Good evening.
Profess or," was staid enough.
She saw him later, at dinner.
For some reason which she hadn't gone into too deeply, she had elected
to wear a woollen dress, by no means new and of an uninteresting brown
which did nothing for her at all, and even if she hadn't known this
already, his appraising glance and quick dismissal of her person would
have told her so; she had a kind of wry pleasure from it, as though she
had proved something to herself, as she sat between him and his sister,
taking part in the conversation without essaying to draw attention to
herself.
"Your day off tomorrow, Elizabeth," the profess or told her.
"You should by rights have two, and from what Mar tina tells me, you
seem to have had precious little time to yourself this, week.
Can you be ready by ten o'clock tomorrow?
' "Can I be ready at ten.
.
.
' she repeated stupidly.
"Why?
' "We're going out together.
I need your advice about something I want to buy.
' "Oh, birthday presents or something?
Yes, of course I can be ready.
' He nodded briefly.
"Good.
' It was only afterwards, when she was getting ready for bed after a
pleasant evening in the sitting room, talking idly and listening to the
record player, that she remembered, that although he had offered a day
off he had at the same time taken it for granted that she would spend
some hours of it helping him with his shopping, although upon
reflection, she had to admit that she didn't mind in the least.
It was a fine morning again; she put on a jersey dress of a deep mauve
which matched her eyes and went down to breakfast, where she was forced
to sit under the reproachful gaze of four pairs of eyes.
They were not jealous other going out with their uncle.
Dirk was quick to explain, but they would miss her, a remark which
touched her very much.
It was better when the profess or sat himself down with an apology for
being late and the remark that if they behaved themselves he had a
treat in store for them.
All the same, the little group looked glum when it assembled to wish
them good-bye as they got into the car.
Beth, settling herself beside the profess or, said: "This is smashing,
but I feel frightfully guilty about leaving the children after all, it
is Saturday.
' "As you say, it is Saturday your Saturday too, Beth, and if I heard
aright, you have been their constant companion for the whole week.
' "I enjoyed it," she assured him.
"You like them?
' "Immensely.
' "So do I I envy Mar tina and Dirk they married young.
' "You should marry.
Profess or.
' She added,
"Someone suitable, of course.
' "How unpleasant that sounds!
You consider that I have reached an age when a suitable marriage is all
that is left for me?
' "Heavens, no.
I'm not sure exactly how old you are, but William said thirty-five
that's not in the least old just right, in fact.
' "But I do not wish to make a suitable marriage.
Miss Partridge a tepid love and a well ordered life with no ups and
down; I would wish for fun, a few healthy quarrels and a love to toss
me to the skies.
' He turned to look at her, smiling, so that she knew that his words
weren't meant to be taken seriously.
"Would you consider yourself to be a suitable wife for me, little
Partridge?
' She frowned down her small, beaky nose at him; it didn't matter what
he chose to call her, it sounded endearing; and thai was a piece of
nonsense, she told herself sternly.
"Don't be ridiculous," she made her voice severe.
"Your wife should be very pretty--no, more than that, beautiful, and
wear gorgeous clothes and be charming too.
She would have to be interested in your work and run your
house-houses--perfectly without bothering you about silly little
things, and be a super hostess, too.
' She had become quite carried away.
"She sounds like a dead bore to me.
One day, Beth, I will tell you exactly what kind of wife I intend to
marry.
' It was absurd to feel so unhappy.
"Oh, you have someone in mind?
' and then, because she couldn't bear to talk about this dream girl of
his, she changed the subject abruptly.
"What do you want to buy?
' "You shall know very shortly, dear girl.
' She was looking about her.
"We're going to Shepton Mallett?
That's the turning to Lamyott, if we go a little further we shall pass
Chifney.
' She smiled widely at him.
"How kind of you to remember, we can get a lovely view as we go past.
' But they didn't go past; he slowed the car as they went through the
village to turn in through the well-remembered gates and halt in front
of the house.
She turned to look at him, not smiling now.
"Oh, why.
.
.
' she began.
"You will see, Beth.
Come along.
' He got out of the car and helped her out too, and with a hand under
her arm, walked across the gravel to the door and knocked while she
stood beside him, not knowing what to say, looking about her at the
familiar garden; it was still beautifully kept--her stepbrother would
make sure of that; he might not love Chifney, but it was his now and he
loved his own image as the squire.
The door opened and she turned to face Mrs Trugg, and at the sight of
that well remembered face with its wrinkles and boot button eyes, she
cried: "Oh, Truggy!
' and flung herself into the old woman's arms.
"Miss Beth!
Dearie me, what a sight for sore eyes.
' She turned those same eyes, very sharp now, on to the profess or,
adding: "Good day to you, sir.
You'll both come in?
' She held the door wide and they both went inside, the profess or's
hand still cupping her elbow.
"Oh, Truggy," said Beth in a soft voice, 'how super to see you again.
I suppose my stepbrother and his wife are home?
' "Yes, love.
' Mrs Trugg beamed at her, puffing a little, for she was a stout little
woman.
"And this gentleman?
' she prompted.
"Oh, I'm so sorry.
.
.
' Beth looked at him apologetically, 'it was seeing Truggy.
Profess or, this is Mrs Trugg who's been housekeeper here for years and
years and is my friend.
Truggy, this is Profess or van Zeust from Holland.
' Mrs Trugg took the hand he held out.
"Fancy that now--a foreign gentleman," and Beth, reading the kind old
face like an open book, added hastily: "The profess or is a consultant
surgeon at St Elmer's, Truggy--he lectures in London but he lives in
Holland.
I'm looking after his sister's children for a week or two.
' Mrs Trugg accepted this statement with a placid: "Fancy that now, and
very nice too, Miss Beth--a change from all those nasty operations.
Now take the profess or into the small sitting-room, dearie, and I'll
fetch your brother.
' The room hadn't been changed.
Beth went over to look out of the window and asked without looking
round: "Why have you brought me here?
I didn't want to come--I said.
' He didn't say anything, and she went on looking out at the garden,
quite at a loss, and didn't turn round again until the door opened and
Philip came in; he hadn't changed either; he was older, of course, but
just as sour as she remembered him to be.
He greeted her with chilly politeness, as though she were a complete
stranger, shook hands with the profess or when she introduced them, and
after making some meaningless remark about the weather, said: "Of
course I know of you.
Profess or-you own Caundle Bubb house, do you not?
Quite a showplace, I believe.
' He sounded patronizing.
"Is it?
--I had no idea.
' The profess or was at his silkiest and Beth saw Philip frown angrily
as she went forward to greet her sister in-law, who shook hands limply
and looked her up and down.
"My dear Elizabeth," she remarked in a high penetrating voice, 'that
dress is at least five years old," a remark which set Beth's cheeks
burning, although she choked back the retort bubbling on her tongue and
introduced the profess or in a wooden voice.
He shook hands with his hostess and then dropped an arm round Beth's
shoulders.
"Beth looks delightful in that colour," he observed gently, at the same
time dismissing the other woman's expensive jersey suit with the
faintest curl of his lip, so that Beth, quite diverted by this
behaviour, wanted to laugh.
"You must be wondering why we are here.
' His voice was courteous, although he managed to convey at the same
time the idea that he didn't care less whether they wondered or not.
"You have a mare.
Beauty, I believe, and a pony.
Sugar.
I have four nephews and nieces, anxious to ride, and I am looking for
quiet mounts for them; I believe that they would be most suitable for
that purpose.
I should be glad if you would sell them to me.
' Beth drew a sharp breath and felt the pressure of the profess or's
hand on her shoulder.
"They must be a good age," he added, 'but of course they'll not be
overworked.
My own mounts are too lively for children.
' Philip's voice was sharp.
"I presume Elizabeth put you up to this.
Profess or, though how she got to hear of it I don't know.
' "Hear of what?
' asked Beth in a quiet voice which shook a little.
"They're both going to the knacker's tomorrow morning," he told her
brutally.
She felt the blood drain from her face and it took her a few minutes to
find her voice, for rage had choked it, but before she could speak the
profess or said: "Indeed?
You are not an animal-lover, Mr Partridge?
How fortunate that I am in time to buy them from you--if you will state
your price.
' "I have no intention of selling them.
' Philip had gone very red.
"Making a gift of them to the knacker?
In which case I can arrange to buy them from him.
' The profess or's smile was quite ferocious, although he spoke
placidly enough.
"We won't trouble you further.
' It was Margaret Partridge who intervened.
"Of course my husband will sell them to you," she threw Beth a look of
dislike.
"I suppose Elizabeth conned you into this well, we're well rid of them,
eating their heads off I wish you joy of them!
' "Thank you, Mrs Partridge.
' He looked at his unwilling host.
"If you would name the sum you have in mind?
' It was Philip who answered this time, stating a ridiculously high sum
which made Beth catch her breath.
The profess or was a kind man, but surely he wouldn't be prepared to go
to such lengths to acquire two elderly animals.
He was quite prepared; he wrote a cheque without so much as a lift of
the eyebrows and handed it over without comment.
"Perhaps I may telephone my house and arrange transport?
' he asked, and when he had done that: "And now if we might take a
look?
' he suggested.
They all left the house and walked round the back to the stables, with
the profess or maintaining a flow of small talk, just as though they
were all on the best of terms, but his silence was eloquent when he saw
how the mare and the pony were housed; neither had been groomed, and
they stood dejectedly, their heads down, in a stable which hadn't been
cleaned for a long time.
Beth, her teeth clenched against the things she wished to say and
didn't because something told her that the profess or didn't want her
to speak just then, stroked their well-remembered, elderly noses and
was overjoyed when they remembered her, while the profess or grunted in
disgust.
Presently she ventured in a small voice: "Could we wait until the horse
box gets here?
' and was deeply satisfied by his decided: "We could and we shall.
' Which made it obligatory for Margaret to offer them coffee.
They sat uneasily in the sitting-room again, with the profess or in
complete charge of the conversation; a gentle monologue for the most
part, leaving them in no doubt as to William's success in his chosen