I'll Never Marry! by Juliet Armstrong Read Free Book Online

response—with the somewhat disconcerting addition: “ even if it makes me as sick as sick. ”
    Catherine felt very glad during the course of that afternoon that the task of taking Maureen in to the dentist had fallen to her. The child ’ s gratitude and touching trust in her made her conquer completely any regrets she might feel over Andrew. She was here to mother children who needed love and care, to help them through their difficulties, not to form friendships on her own account; and she knew that her presence gave Maureen just the reassurance she craved.
    Hilda, with the best intentions in the world, could not have succeeded so well with this ultrasensitive child. New to the Home, and having—as Catherine had by now discovered—suffered ill-treatment at the hands of a stepmother who sharply resented the very fact of her existence, she shrank into herself if addressed in the most ordinarily crisp tones. She was nervous, not only of Hilda, but of Matron; it was only from Catherine, with her low - pitched voice and slow movements, that she gained confidence and poise.
    “ She is doing better at school already, ” Matron had told Catherine one day, “ and it ’ s largely due to you. Her poor little brain seemed paralyzed when she first came; she just couldn ’ t concentrate at all. But this term she really is beginning to take in and remember. All the teachers are remarking on it. ” And on observing Catherine ’ s quick flush of pleasure, she had gone on quietly: “ Don ’ t spoil her, but give her all the love you, can. You can do more at the moment than any of us to heal the bruises which stupidity and cruelty have inflicted on her mind. ”
    The tooth-drawing ordeal, faced with white - faced courage, was soon over, and within a few minutes Maureen was announcing that she felt, not only “ much better, ” but “ ever so hungry. ”
    The dentist, who had children of his own, smiled down at her as he dried his hands after his vigorous ablutions.
    “ She can have some hot milk and a sponge-cake, ” he told Catherine cheerfully. “ But I should pop her into bed when you get her home. A nice long rest, and she ’ ll wake up tomorrow feeling grand. ”
    Much relieved at the ease with which the tiresome business had been got through, Catherine tucked Maureen ’ s hand through her ar m and trotted her out to the car .
    “ Are we really going to that grand new cafe? ” Maureen demanded in awestruck tones. “ One of the big girls at school was telling us about it. She says the waitresses wear rose-colored dresses, and b ows of the same shade in their hair. Doesn ’ t it sound lovely? ”
    They found the place without difficulty, but had hardly seated themselves at a small table when Catherine suddenly realized that she had left her handbag in the car and, with an injunction to Maureen to “ stay put, ” she hurried out to retrieve it.
    She had just rescued it, and was shutting the car door again, when a masculine voice caught her ear.
    “ Hello, Miss Emberley, what luck meeting you. I was wondering how you were all getting on at Little Garsford. ”
    Turning, Catherine saw Roland Alldyke, whose very existence she had by now almost forgotten, and his somewhat p uckish smile was so friendly she could not but respond.
    “ Haven ’ t you been there lately? ” she asked.
    “ Not since the fateful day of your arrival . I went back to London a day or two later—I ’ m in my father ’ s office, you know, and the old man gets frightfully peeved if I don ’ t show up pretty often—and I only came back to Brexham yesterday. A week end in the country doesn ’ t come amiss at this time of year, I can tell you. ”
    “ You ’ ve certainly struck good weather, ” Cath e rine returned, beginning to move away.
    “ Haven ’ t I! But, tell me; have you seen anything of the Playdles? I hear rumors that Beryl has been staying there quite a bit just lately—on and off. ”
    “ I ’ ve seen Mr. Playdle once