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

to speak to, and the others only in the distance, ” Catherine said briefly. “ But I ’ m afraid you ’ ll have to excuse me, Mr. Alldyke. There ’ s a child waiting for me in here. ”
    “ You ’ re having tea here? I ’ m coming in, too, as it happens. ”
    She gave him a sharp look, and he went on, smiling: “ I ’ m afraid I can ’ t offer you hospitality on this occasion, as my aunt is expecting me back for tea. I ’ m deputed to buy a special sort of chocolate cake. ” And then he added, holding the door open for her to pass through: “ I ’ ll say ‘ goodbye ’ now. But perhaps some other time, when you ’ re on your own, we can h ave a meal together. I ’ m sure we should have lots to talk about. ”
    She gave him a non-committal smile, feeling sure that this last remark meant nothing and, rejoining Maureen, put him right out of her mind.
    The children were not back from their picnic when she and Maureen reached the Home, but they came tumbling in soon after in the highest spirits, full of the marvellous time they had had. The most scrumptious tea imaginable had been provided: shortbread, and orange cake and almond slices; and simply masses of strawberries and cream.
    “ Miss Playdle came and had tea with us, ” Nicola piped up, her dark eyes shining, “ and afterwards she helped us build houses in the hay. It was ever such fun. ”
    “ Didn ’ t Mr. Playdle put in an appearance? ” For the life of her Catherine could not suppress the question.
    “ He came for a little while, just at the beginning, ” Ruth returned, “ and I heard him ask Miss Dewney where you were. I thought she might have told him, but she didn ’ t. She just said you were busy, and couldn ’ t come. ”
    And Winnie chimed in, rather thoughtfully: “ I don ’ t think she likes him very much. ”
    “ Any more than she likes cows! ” Ruth, making this cryptic remark, exploded with laughter, and to Catherine ’ s mystification all the other children in the room, with the exception of the dignified Winnie, were likewise seized with fits of mirth.
    Too busy getting the toddlers to bed, Catherine dismissed their giggles as proof of a somewhat too exciting afternoon, and left them to share the joke— whatever it was—among themselves. She had something else to think about but their silliness—the fact that Andrew had noticed her absence, and inquired about it.
    That thought was still in her mind when she at last got to bed herself, and she planned, sleepily, how the next time she met Andrew she would thank him heartily for giving the children such a splendid party, and explain how it was she had been obliged, at the last moment, to stay away.
    But on the following Monday, happening to be alone in the house but for Maureen, who had developed a slight cold, that young person came along with the awe-struck announcement that Mr. Playdle had called and had asked for “ Miss Emberley. ”
    Surprised, but glad to have such a good opportunity of expressing her gratitude, Catherine pulled off her apron—she had been in the middle of a big wash—and hurried along to Matron ’ s office where Maureen had very sensibly conducted him.
    But when she entered the room, the smile died on her lips, and every word of her nice little speech vanished out of her head.
    H e stood on the hearth,-rug, his big figure dwarfing the little room; and the expression on his sunburned face as he met her eyes was thunderous.
     

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
    She did not have to wait long for an explanation of his wrath. After a curt “ Good morning, ” he went on at once, fixing her with his blue, angry eyes: “ Miss Emberley, this is really too bad. I asked you particularly to be sure that those children went to the hay-field by way of that grazing meadow. Instead they went by a roundabout route, trampling through a field of high grass just ready to be cut and—what is a far worse crime—forcing their way through a small gap in a hedge with such