Part 62 (1/2)
”I noticed that Yates called you Mrs. Thompson.”
”Yes, I mentioned my idea to Yates; but I told her I shouldn't do it without consulting you. I did not think of dropping my real name altogether, but I thought I might perhaps call myself Mrs.
Marsden-Thompson--with or without a hyphen.”
And she went on to explain that she was doubtful as to the legal aspects of the case. She did not wish to advertise the change of name, or to make it a formal and binding change. She just wished to call herself Mrs. Marsden-Thompson.
”Very well, Mrs. Marsden-Thompson, consider it done. For there's nothing to prevent your doing it. Your friends will call you by any name you tell them to use--with or without a hyphen.”
”Oh, I'm so glad you say that. I was afraid you might not approve....
And now I want your advice about something else. It is a house with a little land that I am most anxious to buy, if I can possibly manage it--and I want you to find out if the owners would be inclined to sell.”
Mr. Prentice advised her on this and several other little matters.
Indeed, before his third cup of tea was finished, he had made enlightening replies to questions that related to half a dozen different subjects.
”Thank you. A thousand thanks. Some more tea, Mr. Prentice?”
But Mr. Prentice did not answer this last question. He put down his empty cup, and began to laugh heartily.
”Why are you laughing like that?”
”Mrs. Marsden-Thompson,” he said jovially. ”For once I have seen through you. All things are permissible to your s.e.x; but if you were a man, I should be tempted to say you are an impostor--an arch-impostor.”
”Oh, Mr. Prentice! Why?”
”Because you don't really think my advice worth a straw. You don't want my advice, or anybody else's. No one is capable of advising you. You just do things in your own way--and a very remarkable way it is.”
”But really and truly I--”
”No. Not a bit of it. You fancied that my feathers might have been rubbed the wrong way by recent surprises; and ever since I came into this room, you have been most delicately smoothing my ruffled plumage.”
”Oh, no,” said Mrs. Marsden-Thompson demurely, ”I a.s.sure you--”
”Yes, yes. But, my dear, it wasn't in the least necessary. I am just as pleased as Punch, and I have quite forgiven you for keeping me so long in the dark.”
”On my honour,” she said earnestly, ”I wouldn't have kept you in the dark for _one_ day, if I could have avoided doing so. It was most painful to me, dear Mr. Prentice, to practice--or rather, to allow of any deception where _you_ were concerned.... But my course was so difficult to steer.”
”You steered it splendidly.”
”But I do want you to understand. I shall be miserable if I think that you could ever harbour the slightest feeling of resentment.”
”Of course I shan't.”
”Or if you don't believe that I trust you absolutely, and have the greatest possible regard for your professional skill.... You may remember how I _almost_ told you about it.”
”No, I'll be hanged if I remember that.”
”Well, I tried to explain--indirectly--that the whole affair was so complicated.... There were so many things to be thought of. There was Enid. I had to think of _her_ all the time.... Honestly, I put her before myself. Until Enid could get rid of Kenion, it didn't seem much use for me to get rid of poor Richard.... And if either of them had guessed, everything might have gone wrong--I mean, might have worked out differently. And of course it made _secrecy_ of such vital importance.