A Star Looks Down Page 4

  super, but she cheered herself up with the promise of the shopping

  expedition she would have--a new suit, she decided happily while she

  packed a few things in a case; the despised skirt and sweater, a suede

  jerkin to wear over them if the days proved cool, a raincoat and a

  jersey dress; the only decent one she had, leaf green and simple enough

  for it not to matter that it was a year old at least, slacks, she

  supposed, and a shirt-blouse.

  She would wear her suit, a bargain in the January sales, Irish tweed

  and well cut, and she had her good leather shoes and handbag.

  She dressed quickly, did her face and hair, picked up her case and went

  downstairs to telephone for a taxi; it wasn't the sort of neighbour

  hood where one was easily to be found.

  The address which the profess or had given her was just offSloane

  Square; a quiet cul-de sac reached by a narrow street and lined on

  three sides by tall elegant houses.

  There was an enclosed garden in its centre and it had all the peace of

  a country village.

  Very Knights bridge, thought Beth, paying the driver before picking up

  her case and ascending the steps of number three.

  The door was opened before she could ring the bell.

  A small, cheerful-faced woman wished her good day and without asking

  her what her business was, stood aside for her to go in.

  "You'll be Miss Partridge," she declared comfortably, 'the profess or

  said you'd be arriving about now.

  If you'll put your case down someone will bring it to your room

  presently, miss.

  I thought you might like to go there straight away and then have a cup

  of tea.

  The children are in the park with Nelly, who comes in to help most

  days; that'll give you time to look around you.

  This way, if you please.

  ' She led the way down the narrow elegant hall to the staircase,

  curving up from its end wall.

  Half-way up she paused to get her breath, for she was on the stout

  side.

  "Your room's on the second floor, with the children, miss; the profess

  or thought it might be nicer for you as well as easier.

  ' She beamed kindly at Beth, who smiled back, liking her, before they

  went on again, across a surprisingly wide landing and up another flight

  of stairs opening on to a semicircle of thick carpet, lighted by a big

  bow window and with several doors leading from it.

  The housekeeper opened the first of these, disclosing a good sized

  room, furnished tastefully with Regency mahogany and curtained and

  carpeted in a delicate shade of blue.

  "Oh, charming!

  ' exclaimed Beth, quite carried away with the idea of having it for her

  own for a week; it reminded her of her room at Chifneys, only there

  were no fields to be seen from its window, only the treetops from the

  little square in front of the house.

  She turned to smile again at her companion.

  "You must be the housekeeper--may I know your name?

  ' "Mrs Silver, miss.

  I've been housekeeper here for many years now, ever since the profess

  or inherited this house from his grandfather--that was his mother's

  father, her being English.

  He's not here all that often, not having the time, being such a busy

  gentleman.

  ' She turned round as a thin youngish woman appeared in the doorway

  with Beth's case.

  "And this is Miss Powers; she comes in daily to help and what a

  blessing that is, I can tell you.

  ' She nodded and smiled and went on: "And now we'll leave you to unpack

  your things, then perhaps you'll come downstairs when you're ready,

  there'll be a nice tea ready for you.

  Would ten minutes suit you, miss?

  ' Beth thanked her and fell to unpacking, a task quickly accomplished

  so that she had time to tidy her hair and re-do her face and take a

  closer look at the room.

  It was really quite beautiful; the profess or's grandfather must have

  been a man of excellent taste.

  She looked around her as she made her way downstairs too, and found the

  same elegance, and promised herself a closer inspection of the pictures

  hanging on the walls when she had the leisure--if she had any leisure;

  the profess or had warned her that she would have her hands full.

  Mrs Silver appeared in the hall as Beth trod the last stair and led the

  way across the hall and opened a door, inviting her to enter, adding

  that tea would be brought in a very few minutes.

  Beth murmured her thanks, wishing to ask if there really was time for

  her to have tea before the children arrived, but Mrs Silver had already

  gone, closing the door silently behind her, leaving Beth to look around

  her.

  It was a large, comfortably furnished room, two button-backed sofas

  flanked the marble fireplace, and there were a variety of easy chairs

  scattered about, as well as a Sheraton sofa table, a number of lamp

  tables and a handsome display cabinet against one wall.

  There were pictures on its panelled walls, too; she began a leisurely

  tour of them, craning her neck to see those above her head and

  retracing her steps to take another look at something she had liked.

  She had reached the fireplace by now and tiptoed to study the portrait

  above it--bewhiskered old gentleman, smiling a little, with

  heavy-lidded blue eyes.

  "That'll be Grandfather," Beth told herself aloud.

  "He looks an old poppet--he's got the same eyes too.

  ' She turned with a smothered shriek at the chuckle behind her.

  Deep in the recesses of a porter's chair, half turned away from the

  room, sat the profess or, watching her.

  "You're quite right," he observed blandly, 'we do share the same eyes

  and he was--what was the word?

  --an old poppet.

  ' He got up as he spoke and came towards her.

  "Unpardonable of me to remain silent, was it not?

  But if you had turned this way you would have seen me.

  ' "Yes--well I didn't expect you to be here.

  ' She was a little indignant.

  "I didn't expect to be here either, but the last case fell through and

  it occurred to me that it might be easier for you if I were here to

  introduce you and the children." His kind smile came and went. "Do

  sit down. Miss Partridge. Mrs Silver will be here at any moment with

  tea--I seldom have the chance to have it at home, and still less to

  share it with such a delightful companion." Beth frowned horribly,

  aware that she had gone a bright pink, and he asked in a matter-of fact

  way: "You do not care for compliments?

  I assure you that I meant what I said.

  ' "Of course I like compliments," she spoke a trifle crossly, 'all

  girls do, only I never quite believe them.

  You see, my face.

  .

  .

  you must have noticed I'm rather plain.

  .

  .

  ' His heavy lids drooped still further over his eyes and if she had

  hoped, deep down, that he would disclaim this bald statement, she was

  to be disappointed, for all he said was: "I would have thought that it

  could be quite an ass
et in these days, when girls wear their prettiness

  like a uniform.

  ' She shook her head.

  "Not for me, though I know what you mean, but there are some quite

  beautiful girls around.

  ' "Ah, beauty is quite a different matter and there aren't all that

  number, you know.

  ' "There's a very beautiful girl on the Surgical Block," Beth told him,

  "Maureen Brooks, you're bound to see her while you're at St

  Elmer's--she's super; black hair and.

  .

  .

  ' "She lisps.

  ' "Oh, you've met her already.

  Most people think a lisp's rather nice.

  ' He looked amused.

  "My dear Miss Partridge, has somebody told you that I am still a

  bachelor?

  I assure you that I am very content to be so, and although I am sure

  that you mean to be helpful, I'm quite able to find myself a wife

  should I wish for one.

  ' She went scarlet and jumped out of the chair where she had perched

  herself.

  "You know very well that I didn't mean anything of the sort," she

  declared indignantly.

  "As a matter of fact, I didn't know you weren't married, although," she

  added honestly,

  "I thought perhaps you weren't.

  ' The profess or had got to his feet too, standing so close to her that

  she was forced to put her head back to see his face.

  "Perhaps I won't do," she stated flatly.

  He gave a crack of laughter.

  "Of course you're going to do--the children will like you, I'm sure of

  it, and I could think of no one I would rather have to look after

  them.

  You're a nice change from the usual girl.

  Miss Partridge; it's pleasant to meet a girl who is different.

  ' He went back to his chair.

  "And now sit down again, dear girl, here is tea at last, and if it

  makes you happier we will discuss the weather or some such topic, which

  will be very dull but should guarantee us not arguing.

  ' But there was no need for them to talk about anything as mundane;

  they fell to discussing books and music and a surprisingly large number

  of other subjects which they found they had in common, although Beth,

  munching her way daintily through anchovy toast, sandwiches and a rich

  chocolate cake, noticed that he kept the conversation impersonal; at

  the end of it she was just as ignorant as to where he lived in Holland

  and where he worked as she had ever been.

  Not, she thought vaguely, that that mattered in the slightest, for he

  would be going back to his own country very shortly, no doubt, and it

  could be of no consequence to her where he went or what he did.

  Tea had been eaten and cleared away before the children arrived back.

  They came rushing in, all talking at once and in Dutch, making a

  beelifs for their uncle, who sat back in his chair, apparently

  unworried by their delighted onslaught upon his vast person.

  It was only after they had talked themselves to a standstill that he

  said in English: "I told you that while your mama was in hospital I

  would find someone to look after you all.

  This is Miss Elizabeth Partridge, who will do just that.

  Say how do you do and shake hands with her, if you pleas^-' He had told

  Beth that they were as disobed's"1 as most children, but not at that

  par tiC"!3!" moment they weren't. They came forward in turn to do as

  their uncle had bidden them, saying

  "How do you do?" and giving their names with almost old-fashioned good

  manners.

  "How nice to meet you all," declared Beth, bearniog down at them all,

  'and do you suppose that you might call me Beth?

  I should much prefer it.

  ' The profess or had got to his feet; now he had ^one his duty in

  introducing the children to her it seemed that he now felt free to

  go.

  "Why not?

  ' he agreed placidly.

  "Do whatever MissP^ridge asks of you, my dears.

  Now I have^ evening engagement and will bid you all good night, for you

  will be asleep by the time I get home.

  I shall see you tomorrow, no d^bt.

  ' A STAR LOOKS DOWN Left alone with the children, Beth sat down again

  and invited them to tell her about theW selves, something they were

  ready enough to do and which gave her the opportunity to observe them

  rather more closely.

  Dirk, the obvious leader of the quartet, was tall for his age,

  fair-haired and blue-eyed and thin as o^ly boys often can be.

  Marineka, who came ne^i was blue-eyed and fair-haired too and almost as

  tall as Dirk, although a good deal plump^ and Hubert was nicely chubby

  too, with (he same ash-blond hair.

  It was the littlest oX1^ Alberdina, who wasn't like any of them; ^he

  was short and decidedly plump, with lafg0 dark eyes and long brown

  hair.

  She could be only just five, Beth decided, for she still htsd a babyish

  way of sidling close and holding any hand which happened to present

  itself, ^he was holding Beth's hand now, smiling up a^ her and saying

  something in Dutch.

  "You have to speak English, Alberdina' Dirk told her, and then

  explained: "We ^ know how, because we had a nanny, but sh^'s married

  now, and Alberdina hasn't had a^ much time to learn it as we have.

  ' "You all speak English beautifully," Be?

  the hastened to assure him.

  "I only wish I coi/lld speak Dutch.

  And now will you tell me wr^a1 you do now?

  Have you had your tea?

  A^"d what do you do before bedtime?" They all told her, so that it

  took her a little while to discover that they had their supper at six

  o'clock and then, starting with Alberdina, they went to bed Dirk last

  of all at eight o'clock. " Although sometimes I go to bed earlier than

  that," he took pains to tell her, 'so that I can read, and of course on

  Saturdays, while we are here with Uncle Alexander, we stay up later.

  ' "What fun why?

  ' "We go out with him in the afternoon, to the Zoo or for a ride in his

  car, and then we have tea somewhere special, and when we come home we

  play cards.

  We're good at cards.

  You play also?

  ' "Well, yes, though I'm not very good, I'm afraid, but I don't

  expect.

  .

  that is, I daresay your uncle would like to have you to himself.

  ' They all nodded agreement so cheerfully that she felt quite

  disappointed.

  It was evident that they were on their best behaviour; they took Beth

  over the house, much larger than it looked from the outside, showing

  her everything, even the cupboards and attics.

  They would have shown her their mother's room as well as their uncle's

  if she had given them the smallest encouragement.

  She declined a conducted tour of the kitchen too, merely asking where

  it was, just in case she should need to go there, though that seemed

  unlikely because Mrs Silver, stopping for a chat when she came to call

  the children to their supper, informed her in a kindly way that she was

  expected to do nothing at all save be with the children.

  "And a great relief that will be to us all, miss, if I might
say so

  dear little things though they are and quite unnaturally quiet this

  evening, but that's because you're here.

  It will be nice to be able to get on with our work knowing they're in

  good hands.

  ' With which heartening words, she nodded and smiled and went off to

  the kitchen.

  Supper was in a small room at the back of the house, given up to the

  children's use while they were staying there.

  It was a pleasant place, furnished comfortably and obviously well lived

  in.

  Beth, presiding over the supper table, pouring hot chocolate and

  cutting up Alberdina's scrambled egg on toast into small pieces, found

  herself enjoying the children's company; it was a nice change to talk

  about fast cars, the dressing of dolls and the star foot ballers