Red Stefan by Patricia Wentworth Read Free Book Online Page B

Mikhail. Your brother is Ivan—you haven’t seen him for two years. There aren’t any more of you. Your mother’s house was like this, only there was no partition and the stove was on the other side. Get it all into your head, and then talk as little as possible. You’re very shy, and a little weak in the head.”
    Elizabeth’s sudden faint laughter took him quite by surprise. He explained earnestly,
    â€œI’m just thinking of what will be easiest for you.”
    Her laughter came with a rush. After a moment he laughed too.
    â€œI say, I didn’t mean it like that! Of course it sounds funny. But you see what I mean, don’t you? It’s an easy part to play really. You’ve just to say yes and no, and try to look as if part of you was somewhere else.”
    The laughter went out of Elizabeth and left her shaken. She said, “I’ll try,” and Stephen nodded encouragingly.
    â€œIt isn’t the village people who matter so much,” he said—“It’s Irina. You’ll have to be most awfully careful.”
    â€œWho is Irina?” said Elizabeth.
    The question had been burning on her lips. They trembled a little when she had spoken, and she was angry with them for trembling. What did it matter to her who Irina was? She had come here and asked for Stephen. And why shouldn’t she? That was what Stephen had said—why shouldn’t she?
    Stephen did not answer for a moment. Then he said, “We shall have to look out for her—she’s clever.”
    â€œWho is she?”
    He laughed.
    â€œYou might call her a sort of Communist missionary. She goes round amongst the villages trying to convert the old people and hotting up the enthusiasm of the young. I was hoping she wouldn’t be here just now—we’ve had rather more than our share of her lately. Not but what we’re very good friends and all that—” He broke off rather suddenly.
    Elizabeth raised herself on her elbow. She looked at him, and he was looking away.
    â€œWhat is she like? Is she young?”
    He turned back, laughing.
    â€œOh yes, she’s young—and most awfully good-looking at that. She’s got the whole bag of tricks—brains, and looks, and most of the virtues. And that’s why we’ve got to be careful. I’ve a great respect for Irina.”
    â€œYou said you were friends.”
    He nodded.
    â€œOh yes.”
    With a little flush of effort she said,
    â€œWouldn’t you like to tell her—we’re not married?”
    When Stephen stared, his eyes looked quite extraordinarily blue.
    â€œGood Lord, no! I beg your pardon—but she’s the very last person on earth. I say, what put that into your head? Did you think I was in love with her?”
    â€œWhy shouldn’t you be?”
    He frowned, and said with unexpected gravity,
    â€œI’m not. Put it out of your head.” Then he smiled again, a wide, amused smile. “I said we were good friends—not friends . There’s a difference, you know. She’s intelligent, and it’s a God-send to have someone intelligent to talk to in a place like this—only I have to keep on taking care not to be too intelligent myself, and that’s a bit wearing. We’re not pals. We’ve really only got the colour of our opinions in common. I didn’t get called Red Stefan just on account of my hair. No—we’re fellow enthusiasts, and red-hot Communists. So if you hear me getting things off my chest like ‘universal socialist materialistic ideology,’ try and look as edified as you can, will you?—the dumb upward look of the neophyte in fact. Would you like to wash your face and hands? There’s some hot water if you would.”

CHAPTER VI
    They were alone again in the afternoon, when Yuri was in the barn and Akulina was milking the cow. He asked her how she was, and she said, “Nearly well.” All day