A Star Looks Down Part 13

The hall was bright with flowers and sunlight, and there was a nice smell of baking coming from the kitchen.

Beth glanced around her as she followed the others up the uncarpeted oak stairs.

She supposed the house belonged to Mevrouw Thor becke's husband, and from what the children had said, she gathered that they seldom came more than once a year, and yet the place showed no signs of having been closed for months on end; the furniture shone with polish, there was not a speck of dust to be seen and the carpet under her feet bore every sign of constant care.

Perhaps Mrs Burge lived the whole year in the house, acting as caretaker as well as housekeeper.

In the long narrow corridor at the head of the stairs, she opened the door the profess or indicated, into a room which reminded her strongly of Chifney--dark furniture and a bed whose chintz cover matched the curtains and chairs, and a silky carpet underfoot--a restful, sweet-smelling room, it would have been like that for generations; people living in the country weren't so p.r.o.ne to follow fashion slavishly, and if curtains and hangings had to be replaced they would, like as not, search far and wide to get exactly the same pattern as before.

The profess or put down the case he was carrying, consigned his sister to her care and went downstairs again, where she could hear him urging the children to wash their hands for lunch.

Mevrouw Thor becke was tired but cheerful enough.

"I feel a fraud, going to bed in this way," she admitted, 'but I am weary, Beth.

You are sure that you don't mind being left with the children for the rest of the day?

' "Not a bit," said Beth stoutly.

"They can show me round and I daresay they'll go to bed willingly enough and sleep like tops if we spend the afternoon out of doors.

' She settled the pillows just so behind her patient, and with the promise of lunch on a tray just as soon as it could be arranged, she went downstairs.

The car had gone from before the door and there was no sign of her luggage.

She was on the point of going in search of it when the profess or came round the side of the house.

"T'll take you to your room in a moment," he promised.

"Mrs Burge is getting a tray ready for Mar tina and the children are upstairs.

Come and have a drink.

' He swept her along with him into a large, low-ceilinged room, beamed and panelled and furnished with comfortable sofas and armchairs, and here again there was chintz and a thick carpet underfoot.

"I really should.

' she began, 'the children.

' "Sherry first.

Sit down, do.

' She sat, accepted her gla.s.s and sipped.

The sherry was good; she shut her eyes for a second, listening to the vague country sounds coming in through the open windows.

London and their miserable little flat seemed very far away.

"I am going back this evening, after dinner.

' The profess or's voice, very quiet, merged nicely into her dreamy thoughts.

"What shall you do with the children, have you any idea?

' "Well, could they show me round?

They seem to love the place very much and there's a lot to see, isn't there?

And after tea we could make some plans, perhaps, there must be things they specially want to do while they're here.

They should be tired enough by bedtime.

Would you tell me what you would like me to do exactly?

I mean, I know I look after the children and help Mevrouw Thor becke once in a while, but is there anything else?

' "Good G.o.d, girl, that sounds like slave labour!

Mrs Burge sees to the housekeeping and cooks and she has ample help; you'll not need to lift a finger.

She has a niece who will take the children for a couple of hours when you want to be free; I'll leave you to see to that, and as for Mar tina, she needs nothing beyond companionship and a little rea.s.surance.

I think you will find that within a very short time she will want to join in the children's quiet activities.

But not just yet--she is tired, isn't she?

Do what you think fit, Beth; I'll leave you in charge.

We will have lunch in a few minutes and go round the place; you're quite right, the children love it here, it is a pity that they only visit me once a year.

' She had finished her sherry and he took her gla.s.s from her and went over to the side table.

"I should like them to come more often, but my sister and brother-in-law have a pleasant home in Willemstad and they don't like leaving it too often.

' She stared at him in surprise.

"Oh, it's your house--I don't know why I thought it was Mevrouw Thor becke's, at least, I a.s.sumed it was because you've already got one house in London.

' He looked meek.

"I'm afraid I own this one too--my G.o.dmother, you know.

Perhaps I should have sold it, but I came here a great deal as a boy and I'm fond of it.

I'm fond of the London house too.

' Beth coloured faintly.

"Oh, I'm sure you are.

I didn't mean, that is--it must be lovely to have two homes.

' He looked as though he were about to say something, but he smiled faintly instead.

"Shall we go up to your room?

' he suggested.

It was a charming apartment at the end of the landing where it joined a little pa.s.sage at right angles.

The children's rooms were close by as well as a bathroom, the profess or told her as he opened the door.

Rather to her surprise he came in too and walked over to the latticed window overlooking the wide sweep of gra.s.s behind the house.

He spoke casually, looking over his shoulder at her.

"I shall be down for the week-end--we will go over to Chifney if you would like that.

' She beamed her pleasure.

"Oh, lovely-could we really?

We can see it easily from the road.

' "My intention was to take you to see your stepbrother.

' Her smile faded.

"Then I'd rather not go," she told him uncertainly.

"It's awfully nice of you to have thought of it, but I don't want to see him.

' "You are afraid of him?

' His voice was bland.

She considered the question carefully.

"No--not at all, but I dislike him very much.

He was unkind to my mother after my father died.

' "And unkind to you too?

' His voice had an edge to it.

"Yes, and William.

That's why we've never gone back--you see, he might gloat.

' "Ah yes.

All the same, would it not be an excellent opportunity toer--drop in on him in pa.s.sing?

We might mention William's success in the medical world--a little shop window dressing, as it were.

Perhaps we might alter his ideas about you; presumably he thinks of you as a pair of struggling workers, trying to make ends meet.

' "But that's just what we are.

' She was incurably honest.

"You know that, and so do I. But we could, without deviating too much from the truth, give him a different picture.

Success, my dear girl--a gentle hint that you neither require his help nor wish for it.

' Beth eyed him in some astonishment.

"I should never have guessed.

that is, I can't think why you should be so interested.

' There was a gleam of amus.e.m.e.nt in his eyes.

"Shall we say that I like to see justice done?

' he answered mildly, and strolled to the door.

"Lunch in five minutes, and I'll bring the children down with me.

' He nodded pleasantly to her and left her to her thoughts.

They were waiting for her when she returned from taking up Mevrouw Thor becke's tray, the children unnaturally tidy, the profess or lying back in a great easy chair with his eyes shut, but at Beth's appearance he got up and ushered everyone across the hall into the dining room, and the children, finding their tongues, chattered like magpies, but peace reigned again after a few minutes; Mrs Burge was a splendid cook and they all did justice to her roast beef.

It wasn't until they were nicely embarked on the apple pie and cream that the conversation, from a polite trickle, became a flood once more.

Beth, helping Alberdina and eating her own lunch, felt happier than she had done for a long time.

Happy wasn't quite the right word, content was nearer the mark; a pleasant feeling of being somewhere where she was wanted and where she wanted to be.