Part 12 (1/2)
She had a letter--Aren't you interested?”
He was thinking, ”I'll start breaking up that ground tomorrow,” and behind that conscious thought there was another: ”I shall be able to watch her going in and out.”
”John--”
”No, I'm not interested. Go home and look after your uncle. I've a lot to think about.”
She left him sitting on a fence and staring creatively at his knees.
CHAPTER VIII
Helen met Miriam in the hall.
”There's been a telegram and Notya's going to Italy.”
”Ah!” Miriam said, but her bright looks faded when Helen added, ”With Uncle Alfred.”
Miriam dropped her head and thrust her doubled fists under her chin, in the angry movement of her childhood. ”Oh, isn't that just my luck!” she muttered fiercely. ”I--I hadn't done with Uncle Alfred.”
”Perhaps father hasn't done with life,” Helen remarked.
”Oh, don't be pious! Don't be pious! You're always adorning tales.
You're a prig!”
”Well, I haven't time to think about that now,” Helen said with the excellent humour which made amends for her many virtues. ”I'm helping Notya to pack and I want you to ask George Halkett if he will drive her down. The train goes at a quarter to three.”
”I'm sorry,” Miriam said, looking like the heroine in a play, ”but I can't go there. I--don't approve of George.”
”Oh!” Helen cried, s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up her face. ”Has John been telling you about Lily Brent?”
”No. What? Tell me!” Miriam answered with complete forgetfulness of her pose.
”Some nonsense. George tried to kiss her.”
”Did he?” There was a flat tone in Miriam's voice.
”And she hit him, and now John thinks he's wicked.”
”So he is.” She was hardly aware of what she said, for she was hesitating between the immediate establishment of her supremacy and the punishment of George, and having decided that his punishment should include sufficient tribute, she said firmly, ”I won't have anything to do with him.”
”Then I'll go. Help Notya if you can.”
Miriam took a step nearer. ”What is she like?”
”Oh--queer.”
”Then perhaps I'd rather go to George,” she whispered.
”I'm halfway there already,” Helen said from the door.