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“They say women are the equal of men now,” the girl went on, “but they aren’t, you know. There wasn’t a girl at my place that wasn’t scared of the boss. Where the money is, there’s the power. And all the magistrates and judges and clergy are he’s, and all the generals. They’ve got the whip, you see, and yet they can’t do nothin’ without us; and if I was Woman as a whole, I’d show ’em.”
Di
“Some rebel!—as the Americans would say!”
“Of course I’m a rebel,” said the girl, “after that.”
“Well, here we are at Mrs. Mont’s. I’ve got one or two things to see to, so I’ll leave you with her. I hope we shall meet again.” She held out her hand, the girl took it and said simply: “I’ve enjoyed it.”
“So have I. Good luck!”
Leaving her in the hall, Di
“Di
She turned with a start, to see Alan Tasburgh standing there with a broad grin on his face.
“I went to Oakley Street to ask for you and Jean; they told me you were at the Monts’. I was on my way there, and here you are, stupendous luck!”
“I was wondering,” said Di
“How queer! So was I!”
“D’you mean whether YOU were or whether I was?”
“As a matter of fact I look on us as one person.”
“Do you? Well, is one religious?”
“At a pinch.”
“Did you hear the news at Oakley Street?”
“No.”
“Captain Ferse is back there.”
“Cripes!”
“Precisely what everybody is saying! Did you see Diana?”
“No; only the maid—seemed a bit flustered. Is the poor chap still cracked?”
“No; but it’s awful for Diana.”
“She ought to be got away.”
“I’m going to stay there,” said Di
“I don’t like the idea of that.”
“I daresay not; but I’m going to.”
“Why? You don’t know her so very well.”
“I’m sick of scrimshanking.”
Young Tasburgh stared.
“I don’t understand.”
“The sheltered life has not come your way. I want to begin to earn my corn.”
“Then marry me.”
“Really, Alan, I never met anyone with so few ideas.”
“Better to have good ideas than many.”
Di
They went along in silence till young Tasburgh said gravely:
“What’s biting you, my very dear?”
“My own nature; it doesn’t seem able to make trouble enough for me.”
“I could do that for you perfectly.”
“I am serious, Alan.”
“That’s good. Until you are serious you will never marry me. But why do you want to be bitten?”
Di
“I won’t say what I was going to say.”
“Oh, do!”
“That’s easily cured. Become a mother in a town.”
“This is where they used to blush,” sighed Di
Young Tasburgh slipped his hand through her arm.
“If you can turn being the wife of a sailor into a joke, you will be the first.”
Di
“All right, Di
They moved on in silence; at the corner of Oakley Street she stopped.
“Now, Alan, don’t come any further.”
“I shall turn up at the Monts’ this evening and discover what’s happened to you. And if you want anything done—mind, anything—about Ferse, you’ve only to ‘phone me at the Club. Here’s the number.” He pencilled it on a card and handed it to her.
“Shall you be at Jean’s wedding tomorrow?”
“Sure thing! I give her away. I only wish—”
“Good-bye!” said Di
CHAPTER 21
She had parted from the young man lightly, but she stood on the doorstep with nerves taut as fiddlestrings. Never having come into contact with mental trouble, her thought of it was the more scaring. The same elderly maid admitted her. Mrs. Ferse was with Captain Ferse, and would Miss Cherrell come up to the drawing-room? Where Jean had been locked in Di
“Forgive me, my dear, I was going through papers. I’m trying my best to treat him as if nothing had happened.” Di
“But it can’t last, Di
“Let me come and stay. You can put it that it was arranged before.”
“But, Di
“He’ll see me, and that’ll accustom him. I expect it’s only the first few days. Shall I go off now and get my things?”
“If you ARE going to be an angel, do!”
“I’ll let Uncle Adrian know before I come back; he went down to the Home this morning.”
Diana crossed to the window and stood there with her back to Di
“I’ve made up my mind, Di
“Bless you!” said Di
Fleur said at lunch:
“It’s no good fashing yourself till something happens, Di
“I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure?”
“No, I’m not. I find it difficult enough to know what goes on inside myself.”