The Lonely Stronghold

  CHAPTER VI

  COMMENCING ACQUAINTANCE

  Deb having, as a matter of course, laid supper for two in the now warmand cosy parlour, Olwen could not object. Reflection showed it as hardlypossible that this egregious young man was anybody but the person heclaimed to be. She had agreed to go to his mother for a month, and shecould not well say: "I have decided not to come any further, as I havetaken a strong dislike to your son."

  Thus no course was open to her but to endure his society, and do herpoor best to mend his manners.

  On their return from the post she found a room upstairs had beenprepared for her; and as there was a good fire there, she did not godown again until Flossie knocked at her door and said that supper wasready.

  The parlour was empty when she entered it; and she seated herself oncemore in the porter's chair, to await her companion, her feet extended tothe warmth of the wood-fire.

  Her feet, like the rest of her, were small. They were also perhapsexceptionally slender. She had her vanities, like other girls of herage, and she could not help thinking they looked rather nice in theirbuckled shoes as she turned them this way and that in the flickeringlight. The door being ajar, she was unaware of the entrance of Mr. Guyseuntil she heard a chuckle, and, glancing up, saw him close beside her,his black head sleek and silky like a seal's, his large hands red withcold water. She drew back her feet and straightened herself in thechair with a "caught-in-the-act" haste which she instantly regretted,for his laughter increased as, pointing to her feet, he said, in tonesof what was apparently meant for complimentary chaff:

  "Now that's too bad! You might have given me a minute longer beforeringing down the curtain. You're a hard-hearted little midget."

  "Your repeated allusions to my size begin to be irritating, Mr. Guyse,"said she, rising as she spoke and taking her place at table. "What isthere for supper! It smells very good."

  "Before we uncover, tell me what you'll drink? Old Dan's got sometolerable port."

  "Thanks. I never take wine."

  "Holy Moses! Never take wine!" He mimicked her sedate accent "Well,you are! I should have thought---- Is it hot spirits and water, then?"

  "Water, please."

  "Water, please! On a night like this, I'll trouble you! Comes of beingbrought up in a vicarage."

  "To that I plead guilty. It had become a habit before I was old enoughto object."

  He flashed a look at her, as of appreciation, and uncovered therump-steak. "Can your Majesty get her royal teeth into this?"

  "Indeed she can! I really am like the Queen of Sheba in two respects.I have come from a far country--you can hardly judge how remote--and Ihave no more spirit left in me."

  "Fate preserve me, then, when you are bucked up," he grinned, "if thisis a specimen of one of your off days. This will do you good. Deb'ssteak and fried potatoes are not to be sneezed at, even by travellingroyalties."

  "She has provided spinach too," said Olwen, uncovering the dish. "Wheredoes she get that, I wonder?"

  "Ah! that's one of her secrets. They're just nothing but turnip-topsput through a sieve. Good fake, aren't they?"

  "Excellent! Quite an idea!" She began to put questions concerning theAskwiths and the little town of Caryngston, not caring in the leastwhether or no the young man might be bored. She thought he was, for hismind appeared to be elsewhere. He seemed to wish not to be supposed tobe watching her; yet the rays of his odd, gem-like eyes met hers everytime she ventured a glance at him. At last he burst out suddenly:

  "You sent that wire to a parson called Wilson. He's not your father?"

  "No. As you know, my name is Innes. He is my grandfather."

  "Both parents dead?"

  She hesitated; then, to avoid further questioning, said: "Yes."

  "So that's why you have to support yourself?"

  "I don't know. I think I should have chosen to be independent in anycase."

  "Hallo, hallo! A suffragette?"

  "If you mean a woman who wants a vote, yes indeed."

  He was intensely amused. "The vote! A shrimp like you! Three of youwould go to one elector. Oh gee, I forgot! No references to sizepermitted. But, you know, you look as if you were cut out for a man'swaist-coat pocket."

  She made a little sound of disgust. "Men are all alike," said she inscorn. "You are the second man who has told me that within afortnight."

  "Oh, indeed!" He looked oddly alert and angry. She thought he gave theimpression of a dog who has pricked his ears. "I wonder who the otherfellow was?"

  "Your curiosity borders on impertinence, sir."

  "If that's the kind of little thing you throw off when you're onhalf-time, I wonder what will happen to me when the machine is runningfull power? What may I say! What does one say to a girl, if one mayn'tchaff and one mayn't pay compliments?"

  "You might try treating a girl like a rational human being for a change,and try how that works."

  "Oh, moonshine! Mighty interesting you'd find that! Would you like toknow something about steers? Or split-oak fencing? Or rotation crops?"

  "I believe all those things might be interesting, but I am bound to ownthat as yet I know nothing about them. We might talk of books perhaps!"

  "Books? We're so likely to read the same kind, aren't we? How aboutBennett's theory of chemical manures? Eh? Or would you prefer Plato fora start?"

  "Plato with all my heart," said she composedly. "Do you read him in theoriginal, or translated?"

  He looked up and laughed as if pleased that she had scored a point"That's a good bluff," he said, with appreciation. "You'll get on, youwill."

  "But you don't answer my question. Can you read Plato in Greek?"

  "No, I can't."

  "Then we're quits. I never got beyond Xenophon. But I am rather keen onPlato when translated. Meanwhile, for a change, let me ask you one ortwo questions. Of whom does the family at the Pele consist? Your motherdid not mention you. She said she was a widow, and I presumed that shelived alone."

  "She doesn't. I live there too. If you'd known that, you wouldn't havecome, would you?"

  "No, I shouldn't," she answered simply and naturally; and could see atonce that this was not the reply he had expected. He leaned back in hischair and stared without speaking.

  "You might ring the bell," she suggested. With a start he rose and didas she asked.

  When Deb appeared to change the plates, he put his elbows on the tableand glanced up, a mocking gleam under his lids. "Deb, this young ladyknows all about Plato. What d'you think of that?"

  "Plato? What's that, Master Nin? Some kind of a silver polish! Ihaven't seen it advertised!"

  His shout caused her to pause in the process of removing the dishes, andgive him a smart slap across the shoulders. "You dare to laugh at me!"said she, beaming. "Oh, you're a rascal, if ever one was born in thenorth. There's Shino; and all these havering new fancies, and I nobbutthought Plato was another of 'em."

  "Deb, you're priceless! I want to kiss you for that! Hang it, a manmust kiss somebody, and Flossie says she's too old to be kissed anymore!"

  "Away with your nonsense, Master Nin! What do you suppose yoong lassthinks of 'e?" said Deb, somewhat tartly, escaping with her tray, whileOlwen, with downturned lip, sat silent in her place crumbling bread andtrying not to laugh. The lamplight gilded those tendrils of hair, sodear to Ben--like the bits that escape from the coif of a GhirlandajoMadonna. It also accentuated the curves at the corners of her mouth,where a dimple lurked betrayingly.

  Deb brought back an apple-pie, and a little brown ewer filled with thickcream. She placed the dish before Olwen, who cut a piece for her_vis-a-vis_ in complete silence.

  "No more questions to ask me?" he demanded at length. His voice soundeda little defiant, as if he resented her unspoken disapproval.

  "I don't think so; yes, perhaps I have. Tell me something of yourmother. What are her tastes, her hab
its, her opinions?"

  "She has none. Absolutely none. That's why she ought to have acompanion. You must tell her what to like, what to do, what to read,and so on. Perhaps I had better warn you that you won't find her veryexpansive. She has no use for me, which I dare say won't surprise you."

  A pause. The polite protest for which he evidently waited did not come."What does she do all day?" asked Olwen, after thought.

  "Feeds her poultry. That's about all. There's another member of thehousehold of whom I ought to tell you something--rather an importantperson--Sunia, my mother's ayah."

  "Ayah! Mrs. Guyse has lived in India, then?"

  "No; as a matter of fact, my mother never was in India. My father had ayoung sister, who married and went out there. She was left a widow veryyoung and came back to England, bringing this woman with her. I was achild at the time, and Sunia has been with us ever since, because--well,because she can't bear to part from me, I believe. Bum taste, eh?"

  This hint was no more successful in evoking a disclaimer than itspredecessors had been. Olwen had revenge to take for his impudence, andshe preserved a steady silence. After a somewhat lengthy pause, sheinquired:

  "Am I the first companion that your mother has tried?"

  He lowered his gaze, which was fixed on her, to his plate.

  "No," he said, "she had another. Not recently, though."

  He did not change colour, but something in his voice sounded likeembarrassment. She guessed, with a quick leap of her mind to aconclusion, that her predecessor had probably welcomed the "glad eye" ina manner she could not imitate, and it was possible that complicationshad ensued. For herself, she had no fears in this connection. A veryfew days would suffice to show the Demon Huntsman his place; and mostprobably her attraction--had he felt it, which, judging from his manner,seemed unlikely--would vanish when he found that in good earnest shedeclined to be romped with, flirted with, or teased.

  Very soon after supper she excused herself on the plea of fatigue, andthought she detected relief in the alacrity with which he lighted herbedroom candle and set open the door.