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“Fleur gave me the prints and the rug, and Aunt Em stumped up the bureau. I took the other things over.”
“Where do you sleep?”
“On that couch—quite comfy. I’ve got a little bath-dressing-room next door, with a geyser, and a what-d’ye-call-it, and a cupboard for clothes.”
“Mother told me to ask what you wanted.”
“I could do with our old Primus stove, some blankets and a few knives and forks and spoons, and a small tea-set, if there’s one to spare, and any spare books.”
“Right!” said Di
“Bodily fine, mentally rather worried. I told you he was over.”
“Does he know of this place?”
“Not so far. You and Fleur and Aunt Em—oh! and Tony Croom—are the only people who know of it. My official address is Mount Street. But he’s bound to find out if he wants to.”
“You saw him?”
“Yes, and told him I wasn’t coming back; and I’m not, Di
“No, thank you, I had it on the train.” She was sitting on one of the taken-over chairs, in a bottle-green suit that went beautifully with her beech-leaf-coloured hair.
“How jolly you look, sitting there!” said Clare, curling up on the sofa. “Gasper?”
Di
“Tony Croom, you said?”
“He helped me distemper these walls; in fact, he practically did them, while I did the bathroom—these are better.”
Di
“Quite neat. Mother and Father are nervous, darling.”
“They would be.”
“Naturally, don’t you think?”
Clare’s brows drew down. Di
“I can’t help it, Di
“I suppose he can’t stay long, without giving up his job?”
“Probably not. But I’m not going to bother. What will be will.”
“How quickly could a divorce be got? I mean against him?”
Clare shook her head, and a dark curl fell over her forehead, reminding Di
“To have him watched would be pretty revolting. And I’m not going into court to describe being brutalised. It’s only my word against his. Men are safe enough.”
Di
“I could kill him!” she said.
Clare laughed.
“He wasn’t so bad in many ways. Only I simply won’t go back. If you’ve once been ski
Di
“Tell me,” she said, at last, “how you stand with Tony Croom.”
“He’s on probation. So long as he behaves I like to see him.”
“If,” said Di
Clare laughed again.
“Quite enough for men of the world, I should think; I believe juries can never withstand being called that. But you see, Di
“Is he in love with you?”
Their eyes, brown and blue, met.
“Yes.”
“Are you in love with him?”
“I like him—quite a lot. Beyond that I’ve no feeling at present.”
“Don’t you think that while Jerry is here—?”
“No. I think I’m safer while he’s here than when he goes. If I don’t go back with him he’ll probably have me watched. That’s one thing about him—he does what he says he’ll do.”
“I wonder if that’s an advantage. Come out and have some di
Clare stretched herself.
“Can’t, darling. I’m dining with Tony in a little grubby restaurant suited to our joint means. This living on next to nothing is rather fun.”
Di
“These are good, my dear. Fleur has very jolly things.”
“D’you mind if I change?” said Clare, and vanished into the bathroom.
Left alone with her sister’s problem, Di
‘Imagine trying to sell antiques here!’ she thought. She saw a man come round the corner close by and stop, looking at the numbers. He moved along the opposite side, then came back and stood still just in front of No. 2. She noted the assurance and strength in that trim over-coated figure.
‘Good heavens!’ she thought: ‘Jerry!’ She dropped the curtain and crossed quickly to the bathroom door. As she opened it she heard the desolate tinkling of the sheep-bell installed by the antique dealer.
Clare was standing in her underthings under the single bulb, examining her lips with a hand-glass. Di
“Clare,” she said, “it’s HIM!”
Clare turned. The gleam of her pale arms, the shimmer of her silk garments, the startled light in her dark eyes, made her even to her sister something of a vision.
“Jerry?”
Di
“Well, I won’t see him.” She looked at the watch on her wrist. “And I’m due at seven. Damn!”
Di
“Shall I go? He must have seen the light.”
“Could you take him away with you, Di
“I can try.”
“Then do, darling. It’d be ever so sweet of you. I wonder how he’s found out. Hell! It’s going to be a persecution.”
Di
He raised his hat, and they stood looking at each other.
“Di
“Yes; but she can’t see anyone.”
“You mean she WON’T see ME?”
“If you like to put it that way.”
He stood looking intently at her with his daring eyes.
“Another day will do. Which way are you going?”
“To Mount Street.”
“I’ll come with you, if I may.”
“Do.”
She moved along at his side, thinking: ‘Be careful!’ For in his company she did not feel towards him quite as in his absence. As everybody said, Jerry Corven had charm!
“Clare’s been giving me bad marks, I suppose?”
“We won’t discuss it, please; whatever she feels, I do too.”
“Naturally. Your loyalty’s proverbial. But consider, Di
Di
“You’re sure, I suppose? It seems queer when one looks at you both.”