Hester Waring's Marriage by Paula Marshall Read Free Book Online Page B

drivelling fool Fred Waring told her of him to frighten her so? Or was she like this with all men?
    Hester gazed dumbly at him in his gentlemanly finery. Why was he here? Had he come to torment her? She had been so happy a few minutes ago. She watched him walk across to the group of very young children to whom shehad been reading. He put his hand in his pocket to do something which he had seen his old friend Dr Alan Kerr do many times to disarm little ones.
    â€˜I’ve a paper of comfits here, my dears. Do you think that your teacher will allow you to share them?’
    Hester looked at him stonily. Then, to her dismay, she heard her voice come out in a squeak. ‘Of course.’
    Tom handed her the packet, and she divided the sweets among the children while he watched.
    â€˜I thought that I’d come to see you without warning,’ he drawled. ‘Better for you and the children, too. I told the Board that I would check your progress regularly.’
    Damn him, thought Hester, dismally aware that her Mentor’s language deteriorated even more than usual in his presence. What does Dilhorne know about anything that gives him the right to check on me? But meekly, head bent, she explained what she was doing in a defeated manner which contrasted so strongly with her behaviour when she had thought that she was alone that it was almost as though he had imagined what he had previously seen.
    Tom grinned inwardly. He decided to see how Miss Waring’s defeated manner would stand up to a little teasing provocation. When she had finished he looked at her earnestly, and drawled, ‘The Latin, Miss Waring? When do you get to the Latin?’
    She stared at him. What could he be talking about?
    â€˜The Latin which you promised the Board. Or was it Greek? Amo , I believe you said. What exactly does that mean?’
    â€˜I love,’ she replied, before she could stop herself, her expression stupefied and her Mentor screaming, Is the man mad?
    â€˜You love.’ His expression was as grave as a parson’s.‘When do you begin to teach the little ones this important discipline?’
    â€˜I shall not teach them Latin,’ returned Hester repressively. ‘The mere idea is ridiculous.’
    The lunatic ruffian appeared to consider this.
    â€˜If you say so,’ he remarked dubiously.
    â€˜I do say so!’ Hester was more firmly repressive than ever.
    â€˜Then Greek, perhaps?’ The air with which Tom offered this might almost have been described as helpful.
    Could the man be serious? There was not the ghost of a smile on his face.
    â€˜I shall not teach them Greek, Mr Dilhorne. Mother Goose is quite sufficient for them at this age.’
    How can I be having such a ridiculous conversation with a man who, whatever his other faults, is supposed to be inconveniently clever?
    â€˜You relieve my mind, Miss Waring. The mere idea of a roomful of youthful prodigies was beginning to worry me.’
    Madder still. Hester had an insane desire to laugh. Indeed, her voice wobbled a little with amusement as she answered him. ‘I have no intention of creating prodigies, Mr Dilhorne.’
    â€˜Splendidly said, Miss Waring. Nursery rhymes and easy sums are the thing, I see. You have set my mind at rest. I shall not be haunted by thoughts of overset children.’
    Hester gritted her teeth to prevent the giggles from escaping. ‘You may rest easy, Mr Dilhorne. I have no intention of oversetting them. Neither do I intend to teach them percentages or the rudiments of Hebrew.’
    Her whole face, her body, her speech had changed. She was warm and living where previously she had been coldand inanimate. She was now twitting him with the memory of the foolish questions of Godfrey Burrell. Defeated Miss Waring had flown away, to be replaced by a lively girl who possessed a sharp wit and was not afraid to use it to try to set Mr Tom Dilhorne down. He decided to reward her