Part 44 (1/2)
”How long does Mr. Tancred propose to stay?” she asked.
”How can I tell,” Jan answered wearily, as she sat down in one of the deep window-seats. ”He has nowhere to go and no money to go with; and, so far, except for a vague allusion to some tea-plantation in Ceylon, he has suggested no plans. Oh, yes! I forgot, there was something about fruit-farming or vine-growing in California, but I fancy considerable capital would be needed for that.”
”And how much longer do you intend to keep Mr. Ledgard waiting for _his_ visit?”
”It would be small pleasure for Mr. Ledgard to come here with Hugo, and horrid for Hugo, for he knows perfectly well what Peter ... Mr. Ledgard thinks of him.”
”But if friend Hugo knew Mr. Ledgard was coming, might it not have an accelerating effect upon his movements? You could give him his fare--single, mind--to Guernsey. Let him go and stay with his people for a bit.”
Jan shook her head. ”I can't turn him out, Meg; and I'm not going to let Mr. Ledgard waste his precious leave on an unpleasant visit. If I could give him a good time it would be different; but after all he did for us while we were in Bombay, it would be rank ingrat.i.tude to let him in for more worries at home.”
”Perhaps he wouldn't consider them worries. Perhaps he'd _like_ to come.”
Jan's strained expression relaxed a little and she smiled with her eyes fixed on Meg's neat swinging feet. ”He _says_ he would.”
”Well, then, take him at his word. We can turn the excellent With.e.l.ls on to Hugo. Let him instruct Hugo in the importance of daily free gymnastics after one's bath and the necessity for windows being left open at the top 'day and night, but _especially_ at night.' Let's tell that Peter man to come.”
Jan shook her head.
”No, I've explained the situation to him and begged him not to consider us any more for the present. We must think of the maids too. You see, Hugo makes a good deal of extra work, and I'm afraid Hannah might turn grumpy if there was yet another man to do for.”
Meg thoughtfully blew beautiful rings of smoke, carefully poked a small finger exactly into the centre of each and continued to swing her feet in silence.
Jan leaned her head against the cas.e.m.e.nt and closed her eyes.
Without so much as a rustle Meg descended from the table. She went over to Jan and dropped a light kiss on the top of the thick wavy hair that was so nearly white. Jan opened her tired eyes and smiled.
This quaint person in the green linen frock and big white ap.r.o.n always looked so restfully neat and clean, so capable and strong with that inward s.h.i.+ning strength that burns with a steady light. Jan put her arms round Meg and leaned her head against the admirable ap.r.o.n's cool, smooth bib.
”You're here, anyway,” she said. ”You don't know how I thank G.o.d for that.”
Meg held her close. ”Listen to me,” she said. ”You're going on quite a wrong tack with that brother-in-law. You are, Jan--I grieve to say it--standing between him and his children--you don't allow him to see his children, especially his adored daughter, nearly enough. Now that he is well enough to take the air with Mr. With.e.l.ls I propose that we allow him to _study_ his children--and how can he study them if they are never left with him? Let him realise what it would be if he had them with him constantly, and no interfering aunt to keep them in order--do you understand, Jan? Have you tumbled to it? You are losing a perfectly magnificent opportunity.”
Jan pushed Meg a little away from her and looked up: ”I believe there's a good deal in what you say.”
”There's everything in what I say. As long as the man was ill one couldn't, of course, but now we can and will--eh, Jan?”
”Not Tony,” Jan said nervously. ”Hugo doesn't care much for Tony, and I'm always afraid what he may say or do to the child.”
”If you let him have them both occasionally he may discover that Tony has his points.”
”They're _both_ perfect darlings,” Jan said resentfully. Meg laughed and danced a two-step to the door.
”They're darlings that need a good deal of diplomatic managing, and if they don't get it they'll raise Cain. I'm going to take them down to the post-office directly with my Indian letters. Why not come with us for the walk?”
Hugo quite enjoyed his run with Mr. With.e.l.ls and Mr. With.e.l.ls enjoyed being consulted about Hugo's plans. He felt real sympathy for a young man whose health, ruined by one bad station after another, had forced him to give up his career in India. He suggested various ameliorating treatments to Hugo, who received his advice with respectful grat.i.tude, and they arranged to drive again together on Sat.u.r.day, which was next day but one.
Hugo sought the sofa in the drawing-room for a quiet hour before dinner and lit a cigar. He had hardly realised his pleasantly tired and rather somnolent condition when his daughter entered carrying a large Teddy-bear, two dolls, a toy trumpet and a box containing a wooden tea-set. She dropped several of these articles just inside the door.
”Come and help me pick up my sings,” she commanded. ”I've come to play wis loo, Daddie.”
Hugo did not move. He was fond of little Fay; he admired her good looks and her splendid health, but he didn't in the least desire her society just then.