Part 29 (1/2)
”Very well.”
”I want to hear so many things about you, child--tell me what made you come to my aunt's?--I somehow cannot ever feel that you should be in any dependent position.”
”I came to educate myself--I do not mean to be dependent always--What do you do in the Foreign Office?”
He gave her a brief sketch of his days.
”Well, then,” she said, ”you have to do what you are told to also--nothing matters as long as the spirit is not dependent. You will be a Chief some day, I suppose?”
”Perhaps--and are you learning here?”
”Yes--and you could teach me if you liked.”
”I should quite adore it--what wages should I have?”
”None.”
”Then that means, by the rules of all games, that I should be working for--love----”
She shrugged her shoulders and put in another piece of paper in the typing machine. She had no intention of talking about--love----
”You are the queerest creature--you make me feel--I do not know what--Well, if you won't discuss wages--tell me what I am to teach you?”
”Literature--Do you remember a day when I came in and had coffee in the dining-room?--It was before you knew I existed--You and Her Ladys.h.i.+p talked of the things then which I would like you to talk to me about.”
”Yes, was it not strange?--I must have been blind all those weeks.”
The sphinxlike smile hovered round Katherine's mouth; it was enigmatic and horribly tantalizing. Gerard Strobridge felt a rush of wild emotion again; the temptation to seize her in his arms and pa.s.sionately kiss those mocking lips almost overcame him. It is quite doubtful what might have eventuated, if at that moment he had not caught sight of old Colonel Hawthorne in the rose garden. He had come out through the same little door which Katherine used, the pa.s.sage from which, on the ground floor, led to the smoking-room. He waved his hand and beckoned to Gerard.
It broke the spell, and drove some sense into the latter's head.
”Colonel Hawthorne is calling you; had not you better go and get some air?” Miss Bush suggested graciously. ”It would be most beneficial, I am sure, to you, on this fine morning!”
”I daresay you are right--Well, I will go--only some day perhaps you will pay me some wages after all!”
”Is that a threat?”
”Not in the least”; he went towards the door. ”Don't be cross--and when you have time will you come and see the pictures in the gallery?”
”Yes--I would love that,” and her face brightened. ”But you had better ask Lady Garribardine if I may.”
”All right--Leave it to me--_Au revoir!_” and he was gone.
As he went down the stairs, he thought that it was a good idea of his aunt's to have had the smoking-room removed to this wing of the house.
It had only been done that autumn, so that the shooters could go straight in if they pleased, by the side door.
Katherine did not continue her typing for a moment after she was left alone. Her brows were contracted. She was thinking deeply.
Mr. Strobridge might not be quite so easy to rule as Charlie Prodgers.
She had heard that thoroughbred racers required the lightest hand, and also that there were moments when nothing would control them, neither bridle, nor whip, nor spur. She must think out her plan of action coolly. It was necessary for what she required of him that his desire to please her should surmount all other things. At the present stage it would be difficult to get him to talk sense--but she would do her best to make him do so. This point settled, she went on with her work again undisturbed.