Mistress of the House by Eleanor Farnes Read Free Book Online Page B

coming to meet you.”
    “I promise you I won’t add to the turmoil.”
    “I could almost find it in my heart to wish you weren’t going to the dance.”
    “Oh, but why? I love dancing.”
    “Do you? Yes, of course you do.”
    “Why don’t you want me to go?”
    “I thought of the music we could enjoy when the others had gone.”
    “So we could. But perhaps we’ll be able to have music soon. There may not be another dance for a long time.”
    “It was only a notion,” he said. “You’re looking forward to it—had your hair done, and I’m sure you’ve got a lovely dress.”
    “I haven’t danced for such a long time.”
    “My dear child, I’m not reproaching you. I want you to enjoy yourself. Do you dance a great deal in Town?”
    “Well, at least one evening a week. There are quite a lot of us, old friends, and we belong to a dancing club.”
    “Do you miss it, your town life?”
    “No,” she said, and then added, as if surprised, “No. Isn’t that strange? I don’t miss it at all. I always have done before—when I’ve been away on jobs.”
    “Then you like it here?”
    “Oh yes, rather. I love it I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a house where I’ve felt so much at home.”
    “Except for Jess,” he said.
    “Except for Jessica. Why does she dislike me so?”
    “I can only think that it’s because we’ve always rather spoiled her, made much of her, in a quiet way, you know. She resents your coming here to take any of our attention.”
    “Does she dislike Roger’s girl?”
    “She doesn’t know much of her. No, she doesn’t dislike her, but then Roger’s girl doesn’t live in the house.”
    “She takes Roger’s attention all the same.”
    “But she doesn’t trespass on Jess’s kingdom. Don’t think that I think you trespass. I’m trying to put her possible viewpoint. Does it worry you?”
    “No. It doesn’t worry me, but I don’t like it, naturally. It’s a little uncomfortable.”
    “Are you saying that you want to move?”
    “No. I don’t want to move. Not at all.”
    There was a long silence between them. The car sped along the country road and turned into the farm lane. “Do you think it would be better for me to move?”
    He turned his head and glanced at her, as she turned her head to look at him.
    “I? No. However unsettling it may be, I don’t want you to go.” And he added belatedly: “Nor do the others, I’m sure, Roger and Mother.”
    They came to the farm. Max stopped the car at the house. “I’ll bring in your parcels for you,” he said.
    In spite of his warning, there was tea waiting for them, and the usual good tea. Laurie did not bother to go upstairs but left her hat and coat over the back of a chair and sat down straight away. Max came in, put her parcels on the same chair and went to wash his hands. Then he rem? in and sat down at the table.
    “Is Diana Humphries coming to the dance?” Roger asked Laurie.
    “Yes. I didn’t see her, because she went out when I was working and hadn’t come back when I left, but Mr. Humphries said I would meet her at the dance . Her brother had said he was coming home for the weekend, but didn’t arrive.”
    “That’s Neville all over,” said Mrs. Lorney. “Always promising to come, but always going somewhere else at the last moment. He finds it dull here, without a doubt.”
    Jessica looked across the table at Max.
    “You’ll come down, won’t you, Max?”
    “If Roger drives you, it won’t be necessary. There will just be room for the four of you in the car.”
    “But if Diana is to be there, she’ll be disappointed not to see you.”
    “Yes, I must see Diana, but I can see her tomorrow. She’s sure to come over.”
    As Roger was ready and wanted to go on for his Audrey, and as Jessica did not want to be left to go with Laurie, they both piled in with their mother and the trifles, with Max to drive them down and bring back the car for Laurie.
    When Max came back she was ready. The lamp in