CHAPTER IX
LADY TANAGRA TAKES A HAND
At a quarter to five Patricia left the library to go upstairs to put onher hat and coat. In the hall she encountered Mrs. Bonsor.
"Finished?" interrogated that lady in a tone of voice that implied shewas perfectly well aware of the fact that it wanted still a quarter ofan hour to the time at which Patricia was supposed to be free.
"No; there is still some left; but I'm going home," said Patricia.There was something in her voice and appearance that prompted Mrs.Bonsor to smile her artificial smile and remark that she thoughtPatricia was quite right, the weather being very trying.
When she left the Bonsors' house, Patricia was too occupied with herown thoughts to notice the large grey car standing a few yards up thesquare with a girl at the steering-wheel. Patricia turned in theopposite direction from that in which the car stood, making her waytowards Sloane Street to get her bus. She had not gone many steps whenthe big car slid silently up beside her, and she heard a voice say,"Can't I give you a lift to Galvin House?"
She turned round and saw a fair-haired girl smiling at her from the car.
"I--I----"
"Jump in, won't you?" said the girl.
"But--but I think you've made a mistake."
"You're Patricia Brent, aren't you?"
"Yes," said Patricia, smiling, "that's my name."
"Well then, jump in and I'll run you up to Galvin House. Don't delayor you'll be too late for your aunt."
Patricia looked at the girl in mute astonishment, but proceeded to getinto the car, there seemed nothing else to be done. As she did so, thefair-haired girl laughed brightly. "It's awfully mean of me to takesuch an advantage, but I couldn't resist it. I'm Peter's sister,Tanagra."
"Oh!" said Patricia, light dawning upon her and turning to Tanagra witha smile, "Then you're the solution?"
"Yes," said Lady Tanagra, "I'm going to see you two out of the messyou've somehow or other got into."
Suddenly Patricia stiffened. "Did he--did he--er--tell you?"
"Not he," said Lady Tanagra, shoving on the brake suddenly to avoid acrawling taxi that had swung round without any warning. "Peter doesn'ttalk."
"But then, how do you----?"
"Well," said Lady Tanagra, "he told me that I was to be the one who hadintroduced him to you and explain him to your aunt. It's all overLondon that I've got measles, and there will be simply piles of flowersand fruit arriving at Grosvenor Square by every possible conveyance."
"Measles!" cried Patricia uncomprehendingly.
"Yes, you see when Peter wants me I always have to throw up any sort ofengagement, and he does the same for me. When he asked me to lunchwith him to-day and said it was important, I had to give somereasonable excuse to three lots of people to whom I had pledged myself,and I thought measles would do quite nicely."
Patricia laughed in spite of herself.
"So you don't know anything except that you have got to----"
"Sponsor you," interrupted Lady Tanagra.
For some time Patricia was silent. She felt she could tell her storyto this girl who was so trustful that everything was all right, and whowas willing to do anything to help her brother.
"Can't we go slowly whilst I talk to you," said Patricia, as theyturned into the Park.
"We'll do better than that," said Lady Tanagra, "we'll stop and sitdown for five minutes." She pulled up the car near the Stanhope Gateand they found a quiet spot under a tree.
"I cannot allow you to enter into this affair," said Patricia, "withouttelling you the whole story. What you will think of me afterwards Idon't know; but I've got myself into a most horrible mess."
She then proceeded to explain the whole situation, how it came aboutthat she had come to know Bowen and the upshot of the meeting. LadyTanagra listened without interruption and without betraying by herexpression what were her thoughts.
"And now what do you think of me?" demanded Patricia when she hadconcluded.
For a moment Lady Tanagra rested her hand upon Patricia's. "I think,you goose, that had you known Peter better there would not have been somuch need for you to worry; but there isn't much time and we've got toprepare. Now listen carefully. First of all you must call me Tan orTanagra, and I must call you Patricia or Pat, or whatever you like.Secondly, as it would take too long to find out if we've got anyfriends in common, you went to the V.A.D. Depot in St. George'sCrescent to see if you could do anything to help. There you met me.I'm quite a shining light there, by the way, and we palled up. Thisled to my introducing Peter and--well all the rest is quite easy."
"But--but there isn't any rest," said Patricia. "Don't you see howhorribly awkward it is? I'm supposed to be engaged to him."
"Oh!" said Lady Tanagra quietly, "that's a matter for you and Peter tosettle between you. I'm afraid I can't interfere there. All I can dois to explain how you and he came to know each other; and now we hadbetter be getting on as your aunt will not be pleased if you keep herwaiting. What I propose to do is to pick her up and take her up to theQuadrant where we shall find Peter."
"But," protested Patricia, "that's simply getting us more involved thanever."
"Well, I'm afraid it's got to be," said Lady Tanagra, smilingmischievously; "it's much better that they should meet at the Quadrantthan at Galvin House, where you say everybody is so catty."
Patricia saw the force of Lady Tanagra's argument, and they were soonwhirling on their way towards Galvin House. She wanted to pinchherself to be quite sure that she was not dreaming. Everything seemedto be happening with such rapidity that her brain refused to keep pacewith events. Why had she not met these people in a conventional way sothat she might preserve their friendship? It was hard luck, she toldherself.
"Would you mind telling me what you propose doing?" enquired Patricia.
"I promised Peter to gather up the pieces," was the response. "Allyou've got to do is to remain quiet."
Lady Tanagra brought the car up in front of Galvin House with amagnificent sweep. Gustave, who had been on the watch, swung open thedoor in his most impressive manner.
As Patricia and Lady Tanagra entered the lounge, Miss Wangle and Mrs.Mosscrop-Smythe were addressing pleasantries to a particularly grimMiss Brent.
"Oh, here you are!" Miss Brent's exclamation was uttered in such avoice as to pierce even the thick skin of Miss Wangle, who havinginstantly recognised Lady Tanagra, retired with Mrs. Mosscrop-Smythe afew yards, where they carried on a whispered conversation, castingsignificant glances at Lady Tanagra, Miss Brent and Patricia.
"I told Patricia that it was time the families met," said Lady Tanagra,"and so I insisted on coming when I heard you were to be here."
"I think you are quite right."
Patricia was surprised at the change in her aunt. Much of her usualuncompromising downrightness had been shed, and she appeared almostgracious. For one thing she was greatly impressed at the thought thatPatricia was to become Lady Peter Bowen. As the aunt of Lady PeterBowen, Miss Brent saw that her own social position would beconsiderably improved. She saw herself taking precedence at LittleMilstead and issuing its social life and death warrants. Apart fromthese considerations Miss Brent was not indifferent to Lady Tanagra'spersonal charm.
"Tan's parlour tricks," as Godfrey Elton called them, were notorious.Everyone was aware of their existence; yet everyone fell an instantvictim. A compound of earnestness, deference, pleading, irresistibleimpertinence and dignity, they formed a dangerous weapon.
Lady Tanagra's position among her friends and acquaintance was unique.When difficulties and contentions arose, the parties' instinctiveimpulse was to endeavour to invest her interest. "Tanagra is sosensible," outraged parenthood would exclaim; "Tan's such a sport.She'll understand," cried rebellious youth. People not only asked LadyTanagra's advice, but took it. The secret of her success, unknown toherself, was her knowledge of human nature. Even those against whomshe gave her decisions bore her no ill-will.
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Her manner towards Miss Brent was a mixture of laughter andseriousness, with deft little touches of deference.
"I've come to apologize for everybody and everything, Miss Brent," shecried; "but in particular for myself." Lady Tanagra chatted on gaily,"sparring for an opening," Elton called it.
"You mustn't blame Patricia," she bubbled in her soft musical voice,"it's all Peter's fault, and where it's not his fault it's mine," sheproceeded illogically. "You won't be hard on us, will you?" Shelooked up at Miss Brent with the demureness of a child expecting severerebuke for some naughtiness.
Miss Brent's eyes narrowed and the firm line of her lips widened.Patricia recognised this as the outward evidences of a smile.
"I confess, I am greatly puzzled," began Miss Brent.
"Of course you must be," continued Lady Tanagra, "and if you were notso kind you would be very cross, especially with me. Now," shecontinued, without giving Miss Brent a chance of replying, "I want youto do me a very great favour."
Lady Tanagra paused impressively, and gave Miss Brent her most pleadinglook.
Miss Brent looked at Lady Tanagra with just a tinge of suspicion in herpea-soup coloured eyes.
"May I ask what it is?" she enquired guardedly.
"I want you to let me carry you off to a quiet place where we can talk."
Miss Brent rose at once. She disliked Calvin House and the inquisitiveglances of its inmates.
"I told Peter to be at the Quadrant until seven. He is very anxious tomeet you," continued Lady Tanagra as they moved towards the door. "Iwould not let him come here as I thought, from that Patricia has toldme, that you would not care--to----" She paused.
"You are quite right, Lady Tanagra," said Miss Brent with decision. "Ido not like boarding-houses. They are not the places for thediscussion of family affairs."
Patricia descended the steps of Galvin House, not quite sure whetherthis were reality or a dream. She watched Miss Brent seat herselfbeside Lady Tanagra, whilst she herself entered the tonneau of the car.As the door clicked and the car sprang forward, she caught a glimpse ofeager faces at the windows of Galvin House.
As they swung into the Park and hummed along the even road, Patriciaendeavoured to bring herself to earth. She pinched herself until ithurt. What had happened? She felt like someone present at her ownfuneral. Her fate was being decided without anyone seeming to think itnecessary to consult her.
"By half-past five to-morrow afternoon I shall have found a solution."Bowen's words came back to her. He was right. Lady Tanagra was indeeda solution. Patricia and Miss Brent were merely lay-figures. It mustbe wonderful to be able to make people do what you wished, she mused.She wondered what would have happened had Bowen possessed his sister'spowers.
At the Quadrant Peel was waiting in the vestibule. With a bow thatimpressed Miss Brent, he conducted them to Bowen's suite. As theyentered Bowen sprang up from a writing-table. Patricia noticed thatthere was no smell of tobacco smoke. The Bowens were a wonderfulfamily, she decided, remembering her aunt's prejudices.
"I have only just heard you were in town," she heard Bowen explainingto Miss Brent. "I rang up Patricia this morning, but she could notremember your address."
Patricia gasped; but, seeing the effect of the "grey lie" (it was notquite innocent enough to be called a white lie, she told herself) sheforgave it.
During tea Lady Tanagra and Bowen set to to "play themselves in," asLady Tanagra afterwards expressed it.
"Poor Aunt Adelaide," Patricia murmured to herself, "they'll turn hergiddy young head."
"And now," Lady Tanagra began when Bowen had taken Miss Brent's cupfrom her. "I must explain all about this little romance and how itcame about."
Patricia caught Bowen's eye, and saw in it a look of eager interest.
"Patricia wanted to do war work in her spare time," continued LadyTanagra, "so she applied to the V.A.D. at St. George's Crescent. I amon the committee and, by a happy chance," Lady Tanagra smiled across toPatricia, "she was sent to me. I saw she was not strong and dissuadedher."
Miss Brent nodded approval.
"I explained," continued Lady Tanagra, "that the work was very hard,and that it was not necessarily patriotic to overwork so as to get ill.Doctors have quite enough to do."
Again Miss Brent nodded agreement.
"I think we liked each other from the first," again Lady Tanagra smiledacross at Patricia, "and I asked her to come and have tea with me, andwe became friends. Finally, one day when we were enjoying a quiet talkhere in the lounge, this big brother of mine comes along and spoilseverything." Lady Tanagra regarded Bowen with reproachful eyes.
"Spoiled everything?" enquired Miss Brent.
"Yes; by falling in love with my friend, and in a most treacherousmanner she must do the same." Lady Tanagra's tone was matter-of-factenough to deceive a misanthropist.
Patricia's cheeks burned and her eyes fell beneath the gaze of theothers. She felt as a man might who reads his own obituary notices.
"And why was I not told, her sole surviving relative?" Miss Brentrapped out the question with the air of a counsel for the prosecution.
"That was my fault," broke in Bowen.
Three pairs of eyes were instantly turned upon him. Miss Brentsuspicious, Lady Tanagra admiring, Patricia wondering.
"And why, may I ask?" enquired Miss Brent.
"I wanted it to be a secret between Patricia and me," explained Boweneasily.
"But, Lady Tanagra----" There was a note in Miss Brent's voice thatPatricia recognised as a soldier does the gas-gong.
"Oh!" replied Bowen, "she finds out everything; but I only told her atlunch to-day."
"And he told me as if I had not already discovered the fact formyself," laughed Lady Tanagra.
"Patricia wanted to tell you," continued Bowen. "She has often talkedof you (Patricia felt sure Aunt Adelaide must hear her start ofsurprise); but I wanted to wait until we could go to you together andconfess." Bowen smiled straight into his listener's eyes, a quiet,friendly smile that would have disarmed a gorgon.
For a few moments there was silence. Miss Brent was thinking, thinkingas a judge thinks who is about to deliver sentence.
"And Lady Meyfield, does she know?" she enquired.
Without giving Bowen a chance to reply Lady Tanagra rushed in as iffearful that he might make a false move.
"That is another of Peter's follies, keeping it from mother. He arguedthat if the engagement were officially announced, the family would takeup all Patricia's time, and he would see nothing of her. Oh! Peter'svery selfish sometimes, I am to say; but," she added with inspiration,"every thing will have to come out now."
"Of course!" Patricia started at the decision in Miss Brent's tone.She looked across at Bowen, who was regarding Lady Tanagra with anadmiration that amounted almost to reverence. As he looked upPatricia's eyes fell. What was happening to her? She was gettingfurther into the net woven by her own folly. Lady Tanagra was gettingthem out of the tangle into which they had got themselves; but was shenot involving them in a worse? Patricia knew her aunt, Lady Tanagradid not. Therein lay the key to the whole situation.
Miss Brent rose to go. Patricia saw that judgment was to be deferred.She shook hands with Lady Tanagra and Bowen and, finally, turning toPatricia said:
"I think, Patricia, that you have been very indiscreet in not taking meinto your confidence, your sole surviving relative," and with that shewent, having refused Lady Tanagra's offer to drive her to her hotel,pleading that she had another call to make.
When Bowen returned from seeing Miss Brent into a taxi, the threeculprits regarded each other. All felt that they had come under theban of Miss Brent's displeasure. It was Lady Tanagra who broke thesilence.
"Well, we're all in it now up to the neck," she laughed.
Bowen smiled happily; but Patricia looked alarmed. Lady Tanagra wentover to her and bending down kissed her lightly on the cheek. Patricialooked up, and Bowen saw that h
er eyes were suspiciously moist. With amurmured apology about a note he was expecting he left the room.
That night the three dined at the Quadrant, "to get to know eachother," as Lady Tanagra said. When Patricia reached Galvin House,having refused to allow Bowen to see her home, she was conscious ofhaving spent another happy evening.
"Up to the neck in it," she murmured as she tossed back her hair andbegan to brush it for the night, "over the top of our heads, I shouldsay."