A Star Looks Down Read online

  Indeed, lately I have found myself doing and thinking a number of

  strange things--I expect it's something to do with my stars.

  ' "Stars?

  ' He nodded.

  "You're a West Country woman--do you not remember: "A star looks down

  at me and says: Here am I and you.

  Stand, each in our degree.

  What do you mean to do?

  '" "Thomas Hardy," she said mechanically. "I didn't think you were

  like that." Her pansy eyes searched his face and she made no attempt

  to explain what she meant, but he understood, for he said gently: "But

  you do not know me, Beth." "No. Do you know what you mean to do?"

  "Oh, yes, but it needed a star to point the way, as it were--a man gets

  a little set in his ways, you know." She was going to have to go over

  this conversation very carefully later on; it could mean something or

  nothing at all, but it seemed suddenly very important that she should

  know which it was. She would have liked to have asked him a great deal

  more, but she guessed that he wanted to talk to Dirk, and if he was

  leaving after dinner, there wasn't much time.

  "I haven't thanked you yet," she said, 'and I should like to do that.

  I--we were so glad to see you--you'll never know.

  ' "Shan't I?

  I was rather hoping you would tell me about that.

  ' But he made no attempt to delay her as she reached the door.

  She was busy after that, getting Alberdina ready for bed and then

  seeing to the children's supper.

  There was no sign of Dirk and she made no attempt to find him; the less

  said about his interview with his uncle the better.

  He turned up when the meal was half finished, and ate silently amidst

  his sisters' and brother's chatter, and when the dressing138 A STAR

  LOOKS DOWN gowned Alberdina and Hubert had gone to say good night to

  their mother and Marineka was getting ready for bed, Beth ventured to

  ask: "Your uncle wasn't cross.

  Dirk?

  ' She was quite shocked at the look he gave her; childish rage she

  could understand, but this was something more; dislike, contempt.

  .

  .

  "Why should you want to know?

  So that you can feel pleased with yourself?

  ' She gaped at him.

  "Dirk, what a funny thing to say!

  Why should I be pleased?

  And after our dreadful fright this afternoon.

  .

  .

  ' She had said the wrong thing, for he told her in a furious voice that

  he hadn't been in the least frightened.

  He hunched his shoulders in a manner which reminded her forcibly of

  William in his younger days when he had been caught out in some

  naughtiness, and asked if he might leave the table.

  "I shall go to bed," he informed her, and wished her a cold good

  night.

  Beth piled the plates on to a tray, ready for Mrs Burge to carry

  away.

  "Good night, Dirk," she said cheerfully.

  "We'll go riding tomorrow.

  ' He didn't answer, and his mouth was set in such a stubborn line that

  she hardly expected one.

  She saw all the children into their beds presently and bade them good

  night, then went along to her room to change her dress.

  The green one, she decided, and brushed her hair until it gleamed like

  copper and did her face with special care.

  A great waste of time, actually, because when she went into the

  sitting-room the profess or was on the point of going.

  Mevrouw Thor becke was lying on one of the sofas and they were speaking

  Dutch, although they switched at once to English as he wished his

  sister good-bye, gave her a brotherly peck on her cheek, then took a

  businesslike leave of Beth.

  She was conscious of disappointment as she heard the door close behind

  him, and this turned to peevishness when her companion, over their

  dinner, told her that he had decided to leave a few hours earlier so

  that he could call on friends on his way.

  Friends, thought Beth, crossly, he had been riding with a friend,

  hadn't he--another girl, most likely, someone he couldn't bear to tear

  himself away from.

  She frowned so fiercely at her soup that Mevrouw Thor becke asked her

  if she didn't like it.

  After that she didn't think about him any more but laid herself out to

  be a pleasant companion; she was beginning to think too much about the

  man.

  The week went by, too fast.

  No one had said anything to her, but the agreed time had been two weeks

  and Saturday would be the last day; on Friday evening Beth packed her

  case and when she had put the children to bed, went down to join their

  mother for dinner.

  Something would surely be said during the meal, and if it wasn't she

  would give a little prompting; Mevrouw Thor becke was chamnir-nnir-ig

  and she liked her, but she had, Beth guessecfc^ecS, been looked after

  and cherished all her life al-fe :; probably the profess or had made

  all her decisions for her before she got married, and he 3neir husband

  doubtless did the same.

  It was lik ;>IHk-ely that she took it for granted that the matter i--r

  of Beth's departure would be taken care oftool^" by someone, and that

  the necessary arranges^ age--ments would be made without bothering her

  i^ei" TheyY3"e>-s/ were beginning on Mrs Burge's excellent watercress

  soup when they heard the gentle ae swish of the Citroen's tyres, and a

  minute or so later the profess or's step in the halllfaaal:].

  Mew vs^rouw Thor becke looked pleased.

  "That is nice," she observed.

  "Alexander did no-ono .

  t think that he would get here until tomorr -rI-rr--ow, now he will be

  able to see how well t-I the children have progressed with their rwi ri

  ding.

  ' She a e lifted her face for his kiss as he joined them a axnd Beth

  answered his greeting with a relieveo3^e.

  d smile; now perhaps she would hear something definite about going

  back.

  If she stayed b d just long enough to put the children througH Ag i

  their paces on Sugar and Beauty, she would = b
  catch the early afternoon train toot to Yeovil; she could be at St

  Elmer's by the evov-vening and back at the flat in time to get the

  suQusuipper.

  The prospect didn't appeal; she didn't ^ 1~ t -want to go back.

  She was contemplating the idea sourly in her rnind's eye when the

  profess or's voice disturbed her unhappy train of thought.

  "Mar tina has spoken to you about going back?

  ' he wanted to know.

  "Well, no not yet.

  I thought, that is, I expected that we might talk about it this

  evening.

  I have packed.

  ' She faltered to a halt because of the surprise on his face.

  "We did say two weeks," she pointed out.

  He sat back to allow Mrs Burge to remove his soup plate.

  "So we did.

  Tell me, Beth, are you so anxious to return to your hospital duties?

  ' "No, I'm not," she was quite certain about it.

  "It's been absolutely super here, but I have to go back and that's

  that.

  ' Sadness at le
aving compounded of a mixture of the old house, the

  children, their mother.

  Sugar and Beauty, and last but by no means least, the profess or,

  almost choked her.

  "You have told the children that you are going?

  ' He was carving the saddle of lamb with negligent skill and wasn't

  looking at her.

  "No, as a matter of fact, I haven't.

  I thought I'd tell them after they had had their riding lesson in the

  morning.

  If I caught the train to Yeovil directly after lunch they wouldn't have

  time to to think about it.

  ' "Never mind the train.

  Mar tina wants you to go to Holland with her and the children for

  charming and she liked her, but she had, Beth guessed, been looked

  after and cherished all her life; probably the profess or had made all

  her decisions for her before she got married, and her husband doubtless

  did the same.

  It was likely that she took it for granted that the matter of Beth's

  departure would be taken care of by someone, and that the necessary

  arrangements would be made without bothering her.

  They were beginning on Mrs Burge's excellent watercress soup when they

  heard the gentle swish of the Citroen's tyres, and a minute or so later

  the profess or's step in the hall.

  Mevrouw Thor becke looked pleased.

  "That is nice," she observed.

  "Alexander did not think that he would get here until tomorrow, now he

  will be able to see how well the children have progressed with their

  riding.

  ' She lifted her face for his kiss as he joined them and Beth answered

  his greeting with a relieved smile; now perhaps she would hear

  something definite about going back.

  If she stayed just long enough to put the children through their paces

  on Sugar and Beauty, she would still be able to catch the early

  afternoon train to Yeovil; she could be at St Elmer's by the evening

  and back at the flat in time to get the supper.

  The prospect didn't appeal; she didn't want to go back.

  She was contemplating the idea sourly in her mind's eye when the

  profess or's voice disturbed her unhappy train of thought.

  "Mar tina has spoken to you about going back?

  ' he wanted to know.

  "Well, no not yet.

  I thought, that is, I expected that we might talk about it this

  evening.

  I have packed.

  ' She faltered to a halt because of the surprise on his face.

  "We did say two weeks," she pointed out.

  He sat back to allow Mrs Burge to remove his soup plate.

  "So we did.

  Tell me, Beth, are you so anxious to return to your hospital duties?

  ' "No, I'm not," she was quite certain about it.

  "It's been absolutely super here, but I have to go back and that's

  that.

  ' Sadness at leaving compounded of a mixture of the old house, the

  children, their mother.

  Sugar and Beauty, and last but by no means least, the profess or,

  almost choked her.

  "You have told the children that you are going?

  ' He was carving the saddle of lamb with negligent skill and wasn't

  looking at her.

  "No, as a matter of fact, I haven't.

  I thought I'd tell them after they had had their riding lesson in the

  morning.

  If I caught the train to Yeovil directly after lunch they wouldn't have

  time to to think about it.

  ' "Never mind the train.

  Mar tina wants you to go to Holland with her and the children for a

  week or two more.

  ' He gave his sister a tolerant smile.

  "But it seems she hadn't got around to saying anything about it to

  you.

  She has a way of leaving everything to arrange itself at the last

  minute, knowing that someone or other will make sure that it does.

  ' Mevrouw Thor becke laughed apologetically.

  "Alexander is right, Beth.

  That is exactly what I do, and I am ashamed that I haven't asked you

  sooner, but most truly I would wish you to come with us--just for a

  little while.

  I do not know how I shall manage without you--in another week or so I

  shall be quite able to cope with the children, even without a

  nanny--besides, my husband will be home very shortly.

  ' A charming smile lit her face.

  "Please, Beth!

  ' Beth made no attempt to hide her delight; indeed, it would not have

  entered her head to do so, although she felt bound to point out one or

  two obstacles to the plan.

  "But they're expecting me back," she pointed out, 'and there's

  William.

  .

  .

  ' The profess or laid down his knife and fork.

  "There will be no objection to you being loaned to Mar tina for another

  few weeks," he stated positively, 'and as for William, this arrangement

  he now has--could it not be continued for a little longer?

  Look, I'll tell you what I'll do; run you back to St Elmer's when I go

  on Sunday; you can spend a couple of days at your flat and I'll pick

  you up on our way over to Holland.

  ' It was all so easy it would have been churlish to refuse, although

  Beth suspected that the ease had been well planned beforehand.

  It must have given him a good deal of trouble, although less trouble

  perhaps than finding someone else to help Mevrouw Thor becke until she

  was on her feet once more.

  "Well," she said at last, 'if nobody minds me going and you really want

  me, I'd like to come very much--until you can find someone else.

  ' The profess or resumed his dinner with the air of a man who had

  pulled off a trickey deal to his own advantage, and Mevrouw Thor becke,

  beaming with satisfaction, plunged at once into details of their

  impending journey.

  Several times during the evening Beth detected a look of almost smug

  satisfaction upon the profess or's handsome face, which somehow

  disturbed her; had she been too easy to persuade?

  she wondered.

  Very likely he was in the habit of using his wealth and influence--and

  his undoubted charm--in getting what he wished for; she had been far

  too quick to jump at his offer.

  But when they parted at bedtime, and he thanked her in his kind way,

  she forgot her disquiet.

  He was a dear, she reflected as she went upstairs, and always so calm

  and good-natured.

  She wondered what he would be like if ever he lost his temper, for she

  felt sure that beneath that calm he was capable of a fine rage.

  She dismissed the thought, for she was unlikely to witness such an

  occasion, and with rather more difficulty dismissed her thoughts of the

  profess or too.

  CHAPTER SEVEN beth was awakened the next morning by a gentle tapping

  on her door.

  It was far too soon to get up, and supposing it to be one of the

  children she called: "Come in," and started from her bed, only to jump

  back in again at the profess or's: "T'll do no such thing--think of my

  reputation.

  I'm taking Prince out, would you like to keep me company on Kitty?

  ' She was already out of bed again.

  "Give me ten minutes," she begged him, and f
ell to tearing into her

  clothes.

  He was standing by the open door when she got downstairs, looking out

  into the early morning.

  He had his back to her so that she had the time to notice his well cut

  jodhpurs, highly polished riding boots and polo-necked sweater; they

  made her cast a surreptitious glance at her own workaday person and

  reminded her that she had bothered with neither make-up nor a proper

  hair-do; indeed, her hair, though brushed, hung in a plait down her

  back, fastened haphazardly with an elastic band.

  But the profess or didn't appear to notice these shortcomings, only