H庄园的午餐09

V“Oh! Come on, Mary. It’s Garbo, and a grand film—all about Paris. And a story by a tiptopauthor. There was an opera of it once.”

“It’s frightfully nice of you, Ted¹, but I really won’t.”

Ted Bigland said angrily:

“I can’t make you out nowadays, Mary. You’re different—altogether different.”

“No, I’m not, Ted.”

“You are! I suppose because you’ve been away to that grand school and to Germany. You’retoo good for us now.”

“It’s not true, Ted. I’m not like that.”

She spoke² vehemently³.

The young man, a fine sturdy specimen⁴, looked at her appraisingly⁵ in spite of his anger.

“Yes, you are. You’re almost a lady, Mary.”

Mary said with sudden bitterness:

“Almost isn’t much good, is it?”

He said with sudden understanding:

“No, I reckon it isn’t.”

Mary said quickly:

“Anyway, who cares about that sort of thing nowadays? Ladies and gentlemen, and all that!”

“It doesn’t matter like it did—no,” Ted assented⁷, but thoughtfully. “All the same, there’s afeeling. Lord, Mary, you look like a duchess or a countess or something.”

Mary said:

“That’s not saying much. I’ve seen countesses looking like old-clothes women!”

“Well, you know what I mean.”

A stately figure of ample proportions, handsomely dressed in black, bore down upon them. Hereyes gave them a sharp glance. Ted moved aside a step or two. He said:

“Afternoon, Mrs. Bishop⁸.”

Mrs. Bishop inclined her head graciously.

“Good afternoon, Ted Bigland. Good afternoon, Mary.”

She passed on, a ship in full sail.

Ted looked respectfully after her.

Mary murmured.

“Now, she really is like a duchess!”

“Yes—she’s got a manner. Always makes me feel hot inside my collar.”

Mary said slowly:

“She doesn’t like me.”

“Nonsense, my girl.”

“It’s true. She doesn’t. She’s always saying sharp things to me.”

“Jealous,” said Ted, nodding his head sapiently⁹. “That’s all it is.”

Mary said doubtfully:

“I suppose it might be that….”

“That’s it, depend upon it. She’s been housekeeper¹⁰ at Hunterbury for years, ruling the roost andordering everyone about and now old Mrs. Welman takes a fancy to you, and it puts her out!

That’s all it is.”

Mary said, a shade of trouble on her forehead:

“It’s silly of me, but I can’t bear it when anyone doesn’t like me. I want people to like me.”

“Sure to be women who don’t like you, Mary! Jealous cats who think you’re too good-looking!”

Mary said:

“I think jealousy’s horrible.”

Ted said slowly:

“Maybe—but it exists all right. Say, I saw a lovely film over at Alledore last week. Clark Gable.

All about one of these millionaire blokes who neglected his wife; and then she pretended she’ddone the dirty on him. And there was another fellow….”

Mary moved away. She said:

“Sorry, Ted, I must go. I’m late.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to have tea with Nurse Hopkins.”

Ted made a face.

“Funny taste. That woman’s the biggest gossip in the village! Pokes¹¹ that long nose of hers intoeverything.”

Mary said:

“She’s been very kind to me always.”

“Oh, I’m not saying there’s any harm in her. But she talks.”

Mary said:

“Goodbye, Ted.”

She hurried off, leaving him standing⁶ gazing resentfully after her.

 

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