Part 31 (2/2)
”Ah no, don't go home; it's too jolly here. Let them come, let them come, poor wretches!”
”How little you know me,” Julia presently broke out, ”when, ever so many times, I've lived here for months without a creature!”
”Except Mrs. Gresham, I suppose.”
”I have had to have the house going, I admit.”
”You're perfect, you're admirable, and I don't criticise you.”
”I don't understand you!” she tossed back.
”That only adds to the generosity of what you've done for me,” Nick returned, beginning to pull faster. He bent over the oars and sent the boat forward, keeping this up for a succession of minutes during which they both remained silent. His companion, in her place, motionless, reclining--the seat in the stern was most comfortable--looked only at the water, the sky, the trees. At last he headed for the little temple, saying first, however, ”Shan't we visit the ruin?”
”If you like. I don't mind seeing how they keep it.”
They reached the white steps leading up to it. He held the boat and his companion got out; then, when he had made it fast, they mounted together to the open door. ”They keep the place very well,” Nick said, looking round. ”It's a capital place to give up everything in.”
”It might do at least for you to explain what you mean.” And Julia sat down.
”I mean to pretend for half an hour that I don't represent the burgesses of Harsh. It's charming--it's very delicate work. Surely it has been retouched.”
The interior of the pavilion, lighted by windows which the circle of columns was supposed outside and at a distance to conceal, had a vaulted ceiling and was occupied by a few pieces of last-century furniture, spare and faded, of which the colours matched with the decoration of the walls. These and the ceiling, tinted and not exempt from indications of damp, were covered with fine mouldings and medallions. It all made a very elegant little tea-house, the mistress of which sat on the edge of a sofa rolling her parasol and remarking, ”You ought to read Mr.
Hoppus's article to me.”
”Why, is _this_ your salon?” Nick smiled.
”What makes you always talk of that? My salon's an invention of your own.”
”But isn't it the idea you're most working for?”
Suddenly, nervously, she put up her parasol and sat under it as if not quite sensible of what she was doing. ”How much you know me! I'm not 'working' for anything--that you'll ever guess.”
Nick wandered about the room and looked at various things it contained--the odd volumes on the tables, the bits of quaint china on the shelves. ”They do keep it very well. You've got charming things.”
”They're supposed to come over every day and look after them.”
”They must come over in force.”
”Oh no one knows.”
”It's spick and span. How well you have everything done!”
”I think you've some reason to say so,” said Mrs. Dallow. Her parasol was now down and she was again rolling it tight.
”But you're right about my not knowing you. Why were you so ready to do so much for me?”
He stopped in front of her and she looked up at him. Her eyes rested long on his own; then she broke out: ”Why do you hate me so?”
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