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“A little-perhaps-”
“Perhaps a lot?”
And with that there was a good resounding crash. Alan had tripped over a chair and was down with a tangle of shrieking, excited little girls. Je
“Oh, my goodness! What are you up to, Alan?”
“I’m not up at all-I’m d-down,” he said laughing and got up, his hair rumpled.
Je
“Shocking children! Now behave, or I’ll send the boys away.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t do that!” said Meg.
“Oh, Je
Mac and Alan struck an attitude and repeated her words, “Oh, Je
Looking back on it afterwards, Je
It went on being happy. The little girls, protesting, were removed by Carter. They could go to tea with Na
“Just any time at all, Carter-you know we can! But we can’t have Mac and Alan to tea with us-only once in a blue moon!” they protested.
Carter was very firm indeed.
“I don’t know when I heard such nonsense,” she said. “It’s come out quite bright and clear, and the rain over as anyone can see. And Na
“Will she have made the sort that has chocolate icing on it?” said Joyce in a hopeful tone.
“I shouldn’t wonder,” said Carter more indulgently.
Their protests had grown feebler. They hadn’t had much hope of being let off. They went away to be washed and dressed, and finally set out, the very picture of two good obedient little girls.
When Je
“Mac’s gone to the Raxalls.”
Je
Chapter VII
I’m really very glad that Mac has gone for Mother,” said Alan. “I don’t often get a chance t-to talk to you alone.”
Je
“What did you say, Alan? I was thinking of something else.”
Alan looked hurt. When he was hurt he stammered more than usual. He said with an angry rush of syllables,
“You w-weren’t l-listening! You n-never do l-listen when it’s m-me!”
Je
“Oh, Alan-I’m so sorry. I-I was just thinking of something else.” Her colour burned brighter as she remembered what she had been thinking of.
That raised colour went to Alan’s head. He took it for what it certainly was not, an interest in him. He reached out across the tea-table and caught at the hand which was offering him cake.
“Je
Je
“Alan, don’t be ridiculous! You’re hurting me!”
“I don’t want to hurt you. Oh, my God, Jen-I’d do anything to stop you being hurt. It’s because of that-oh, you m-must know-you m-must see!”
Je
“Alan, what is it?”
He released her hand as suddenly as he had taken it. He got up, spilling his cup of tea, and went over to the mantelpiece, where he stood looking down into the little black fire.
“D-don’t you know that I l-love you?” he said in a muffled voice.
“Oh, Alan, you can’t-you don’t really!”
“Because I’m not M-Mac,” he said.
“Oh, Alan-”
“Why shouldn’t I l-love you? Will you t-tell me that? I’m no one of c-course-no one to anyone.”
“Alan-”
He swung suddenly round and faced her.
“N-no, you listen to me! I’ve got things to say to you, and this is a good time to say them.”
He had stopped stammering, and he was very like his father. She had only seen Colonel Forbes angry once. It was a long time ago when she was quite a little girl. There was a man who had frightened a woman. The whole scene flashed back into Je
“What do you want to say?” she said.
“This. I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time. I can’t afford to marry yet-I know that. But if you’ll be engaged, it-it would be a protection for you. We’ll get married in about three years’ time if-if you didn’t mind starting in a small way. I didn’t mean to say anything, but Mac’s no use to you-he isn’t really. And if you were engaged to me, he’d leave you alone-he-he’d have to.”
Je
“Oh, Alan, please-”
He came across to her.
“It’s no good saying ‘Oh, Alan-’ It’s not a bit of use. You’re mine -you’re not Mac’s-I won’t let him. Oh, J-Je
She felt suddenly sure of herself. She wasn’t frightened of him, because he was just Alan whom she had known always, who had been like a brother. That was it. That was why she felt it was all wrong. When she spoke, her voice shook a little, but she felt an i
“Alan, you mustn’t-you mustn’t really. And it’s no use-it’s no use at all.”
He looked up at her wildly.
“Why is it no use? Why should you say that? I’d work for you-I’d do anything. Listen-I’ve got an idea. There’s a friend of mine-his name’s Ma
At this point Je