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It cleared up after lunch, and they went out. A
CHAPTER 40
Lizabet looked into the sitting-room and saw A
A
‘I don’t know.’
‘Hadn’t you better think about it?’
A
‘You don’t like my being here.’
Lizabet tossed her head.
‘Isn’t that fu
‘I think it is rather. Why do you mind?’
Lizabet put her hands down on the arm of the chair and leaned forward.
‘Who are you? Where do you come from? Why are you hiding?’
‘I’m not hiding.’
Lizabet tossed her head.
‘Oh, yes, you are. Janet says not to talk about your being here-not to anyone. Why does she do that if you haven’t got something to hide? Something horrid! And I won’t have it! I won’t have you dragging Janet into whatever you’re mixed up in! And it’s no use telling me you’re not mixed up in anything, because I wouldn’t believe you! Do you hear-I wouldn’t believe you!’
What does one say to an unreasonable jealous child? A
‘I am making it difficult?’
‘Well, you’re not making it easy. I’m sorry you don’t like my being here. It will only be for a little while.’
Lizabet tossed her head.
‘Am I expected to like it?’
A
‘Lizabet, don’t be so difficult. Can’t you put up with me for a week or two?’
‘If it were really only for a week or two-’
‘It won’t be for longer. I’ll promise you that, if you like.’
Lizabet coloured suddenly, deeply. She stamped with her foot.
‘Do you think I believe anything you say? Well then, I don’t-I don’t-I don’t!’
As she reached the second ‘don’t’, they both heard the front door close on the floor below. Lizabet swung round and ran out of the room. A
Janet had been to see Miss Silver. She went because she wanted to talk about A
Miss Silver did. And gave her reasons. Having got so far, Janet hesitated, and then came out with, ‘I’m having a very difficult time with my cousin. She has been thoroughly spoilt… Oh, not by me. She hasn’t been with me for very long, but she’s been very difficult. You see, she’s been the first object of consideration both with her grandfather and with her old nurse, and she’s jealous. She’s only seventeen. It’s not A
‘What did you wonder, my dear?’
Janet said, ‘I don’t know. It’s not like me to be uncertain about what I should do, but I am. Lizabet is so young and she’s been so spoilt, she might do anything. But if it’s only for a little time, I can manage her, I think.’
She came away a good deal relieved and encouraged. Miss Silver did not think that she would need to be responsible for A
‘It might be better if she were near you without being under the same roof. You could go and see her without rousing up this tiresome jealousy on your cousin’s part.’
Janet returned home much encouraged. She was a great deal too much taken up with her thoughts to notice the man who had been hanging about in the street opposite Miss Silver’s, and who turned and followed her when she left.
CHAPTER 41
Lizabet was looking out of her window. She was full of jealousy and anger and spite. Janet had come into the house, but she hadn’t come to look for her. She had gone into the sitting-room, and there she was, talking to A
There was a man there. He was looking at the numbers. Presently he turned away and crossed over. Lizabet had the strangest idea that he had been on the point of ringing their bell and had thought better of it. She picked up a hat and ran lightly down the stairs. If Janet came out of the sitting-room, she could say she was going to the post. But Janet didn’t come out. They were much too busy talking to know, or to care, that she had come down. A sharp little jab of anger caught her as she opened the front door and looked up the road.
The man was about half-way to the corner. She needn’t speak to him. She could catch him up easily enough without his noticing. She could just walk past him and go up to the pillar-box at the corner and pretend to be posting something, and that would give her a good opportunity of looking at him. If she liked him, she would say something. If she didn’t like him, there was no harm done.
She quickened her steps, came up with the man, who was walking slowly, passed him, and came to the pillar-box. There she went through the pretence of posting a letter and allowed her eyes to rest on the man whom she had passed. She thought him very good-looking. He wasn’t the man whom A
‘I wonder if you could tell me what street this is?’
Lizabet coloured brightly. She had only been long enough in London to think Janet was very un-up-to-date. When you have lived in a village all your life and been the squire’s granddaughter, and when everyone knows you and has known you since you were in your cradle, it gives you a certain feeling of confidence. This had, unfortunately, not had time to wear off. Janet had preached, but of course Lizabet knew better. She responded in the friendliest ma
‘Can I help you?’
‘I just wondered whether you knew a friend of mine who I believe lives near here. It’s so very awkward not having her address. I suppose you can’t help me?’
‘I don’t know.’
She wouldn’t have thought anything of a stranger asking a question of that sort in Cruxford, so why should she think anything of it here? But all the time something niggled at her. She knew very well what Janet would say. Janet was old-fashioned and pernickety. Janet wasn’t treating her properly- coming into the house like that and not so much as calling out to know if she was there! Other people thought her worth noticing. This young man did. She pushed the feeling about not speaking to strangers right into the back of her mind.
The man spared an admiring thought from his preoccupation. This was a very pretty girl, and she was very young- seventeen-eighteen perhaps? He was in luck. He let a respectful admiration appear and said, ‘Her name is A