Part 36 (2/2)
”But I can make him arrange for us to visit there. His sister thinks everything of him.... Masters won't go there.”
”Don't be so sure of that.”
”I am. He is one of those thin-skinned, sensitive sort of beasts. There has been some misunderstanding--probably of his own creation--which he counts on being able to wipe away. But he has never stayed there; we have. He goes year after year to rooms in the place; he'll put up at the same rooms again.”
”Think so?”
”Am certain of it. I can read the man as easily--well, as easily as his books are read.”
”Yes, he's read. A popular writer like that must be earning pots of money in royalties. Might be worth setting your cap at, Amy.”
He looked at his sister critically. She was a handsome girl. The face a trifle hard, perhaps, but not every man goes in for melting beauty; some look for character--so thought her brother.
Bitter laughter shaped on her lips at her brother's suggestion; a woman ever takes defeat badly; she replied:
”I am not his sort; I am not the kind of woman he writes about! He can dissect me, probably has done so, as easily as you can carve a pigeon.
Besides, he's dead gone on Mabel.”
”Curse him!”
”By all means. But whatever you do, don't fear him. Outwardly he is as cold as ice; inside there is a raging volcano. Women don't hanker after that kind of love, if there's anything more outwardly tempestuous: like yourself. They are apt to judge of the surface.”
”Thanks!”
”Oh! It's true; we don't want to mince words. That's where the average woman makes a fool of herself; where your chance comes in. Masters is worth fifty of you, but there are no scales to balance or register values of that kind.”
”Thanks again!”
”Oh, we know it, you and I. We can speak to each other without putting foot on the soft pedal. He has a nature which would make him stick to a woman till, literally, death did them part. Yours is of the type which would prompt thoughts of a separation the moment the woman's bank balance ran out.”
”And you?”
He could not resist the sneer; she had fingered a sore place. But he did not hurt her this time; she owned up at once:
”Cast in the same mould! I did not mean blame to you. My own gla.s.s-house prevents stone-throwing. I was merely stating facts; I would not have them otherwise. Men like Masters are profitless in this world. When virtue is its own reward, the reward is usually too small to be seen with the naked eye. I have a distinct preference for qualifications which are otherwise.”
Percy smiled. Was full of admiration points for his sister. She was the stronger of the two: he ever recognized that; she continued bitterly:
”Virtue is all very well for woman: it may serve her purpose. For a man it is a useless luxury.”
His own non-possession of it made him smile again; she went on:
”As you don't seem inclined to take the initiative I shall do so myself.
Before we reach Wivernsea, Mabel will have received a letter from me. I am going to write it ready to post at the first port we touch. It will go by the overland route.”
It did.
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