by Betty Neels
Indeed, lately I have found myself doing and thinking a number of
strange things--I expect it's something to do with my stars.
' "Stars?
' He nodded.
"You're a West Country woman--do you not remember: "A star looks down
at me and says: Here am I and you.
Stand, each in our degree.
What do you mean to do?
'" "Thomas Hardy," she said mechanically. "I didn't think you were
like that." Her pansy eyes searched his face and she made no attempt
to explain what she meant, but he understood, for he said gently: "But
you do not know me, Beth." "No. Do you know what you mean to do?"
"Oh, yes, but it needed a star to point the way, as it were--a man gets
a little set in his ways, you know." She was going to have to go over
this conversation very carefully later on; it could mean something or
nothing at all, but it seemed suddenly very important that she should
know which it was. She would have liked to have asked him a great deal
more, but she guessed that he wanted to talk to Dirk, and if he was
leaving after dinner, there wasn't much time.
"I haven't thanked you yet," she said, 'and I should like to do that.
I--we were so glad to see you--you'll never know.
' "Shan't I?
I was rather hoping you would tell me about that.
' But he made no attempt to delay her as she reached the door.
She was busy after that, getting Alberdina ready for bed and then
seeing to the children's supper.
There was no sign of Dirk and she made no attempt to find him; the less
said about his interview with his uncle the better.
He turned up when the meal was half finished, and ate silently amidst
his sisters' and brother's chatter, and when the dressing138 A STAR
LOOKS DOWN gowned Alberdina and Hubert had gone to say good night to
their mother and Marineka was getting ready for bed, Beth ventured to
ask: "Your uncle wasn't cross.
Dirk?
' She was quite shocked at the look he gave her; childish rage she
could understand, but this was something more; dislike, contempt.
.
.
"Why should you want to know?
So that you can feel pleased with yourself?
' She gaped at him.
"Dirk, what a funny thing to say!
Why should I be pleased?
And after our dreadful fright this afternoon.
.
.
' She had said the wrong thing, for he told her in a furious voice that
he hadn't been in the least frightened.
He hunched his shoulders in a manner which reminded her forcibly of
William in his younger days when he had been caught out in some
naughtiness, and asked if he might leave the table.
"I shall go to bed," he informed her, and wished her a cold good
night.
Beth piled the plates on to a tray, ready for Mrs Burge to carry
away.
"Good night, Dirk," she said cheerfully.
"We'll go riding tomorrow.
' He didn't answer, and his mouth was set in such a stubborn line that
she hardly expected one.
She saw all the children into their beds presently and bade them good
night, then went along to her room to change her dress.
The green one, she decided, and brushed her hair until it gleamed like
copper and did her face with special care.
A great waste of time, actually, because when she went into the
sitting-room the profess or was on the point of going.
Mevrouw Thor becke was lying on one of the sofas and they were speaking
Dutch, although they switched at once to English as he wished his
sister good-bye, gave her a brotherly peck on her cheek, then took a
businesslike leave of Beth.
She was conscious of disappointment as she heard the door close behind
him, and this turned to peevishness when her companion, over their
dinner, told her that he had decided to leave a few hours earlier so
that he could call on friends on his way.
Friends, thought Beth, crossly, he had been riding with a friend,
hadn't he--another girl, most likely, someone he couldn't bear to tear
himself away from.
She frowned so fiercely at her soup that Mevrouw Thor becke asked her
if she didn't like it.
After that she didn't think about him any more but laid herself out to
be a pleasant companion; she was beginning to think too much about the
man.
The week went by, too fast.
No one had said anything to her, but the agreed time had been two weeks
and Saturday would be the last day; on Friday evening Beth packed her
case and when she had put the children to bed, went down to join their
mother for dinner.
Something would surely be said during the meal, and if it wasn't she
would give a little prompting; Mevrouw Thor becke was chamnir-nnir-ig
and she liked her, but she had, Beth guessecfc^ecS, been looked after
and cherished all her life al-fe :; probably the profess or had made
all her decisions for her before she got married, and he 3neir husband
doubtless did the same.
It was lik ;>IHk-ely that she took it for granted that the matter i--r
of Beth's departure would be taken care oftool^" by someone, and that
the necessary arranges^ age--ments would be made without bothering her
i^ei" TheyY3"e>-s/ were beginning on Mrs Burge's excellent watercress
soup when they heard the gentle ae swish of the Citroen's tyres, and a
minute or so later the profess or's step in the halllfaaal:].
Mew vs^rouw Thor becke looked pleased.
"That is nice," she observed.
"Alexander did no-ono .
t think that he would get here until tomorr -rI-rr--ow, now he will be
able to see how well t-I the children have progressed with their rwi ri
ding.
' She a e lifted her face for his kiss as he joined them a axnd Beth
answered his greeting with a relieveo3^e.
d smile; now perhaps she would hear something definite about going
back.
If she stayed b d just long enough to put the children througH Ag i
their paces on Sugar and Beauty, she would = b
catch the early afternoon train toot to Yeovil; she could be at St
Elmer's by the evov-vening and back at the flat in time to get the
suQusuipper.
The prospect didn't appeal; she didn't ^ 1~ t -want to go back.
She was contemplating the idea sourly in her rnind's eye when the
profess or's voice disturbed her unhappy train of thought.
"Mar tina has spoken to you about going back?
' he wanted to know.
"Well, no not yet.
I thought, that is, I expected that we might talk about it this
evening.
I have packed.
' She faltered to a halt because of the surprise on his face.
"We did say two weeks," she pointed out.
He sat back to allow Mrs Burge to remove his soup plate.
"So we did.
Tell me, Beth, are you so anxious to return to your hospital duties?
' "No, I'm not," she was quite certain about it.
"It's been absolutely super here, but I have to go back and that's
that.
' Sadness at le
aving compounded of a mixture of the old house, the
children, their mother.
Sugar and Beauty, and last but by no means least, the profess or,
almost choked her.
"You have told the children that you are going?
' He was carving the saddle of lamb with negligent skill and wasn't
looking at her.
"No, as a matter of fact, I haven't.
I thought I'd tell them after they had had their riding lesson in the
morning.
If I caught the train to Yeovil directly after lunch they wouldn't have
time to to think about it.
' "Never mind the train.
Mar tina wants you to go to Holland with her and the children for
charming and she liked her, but she had, Beth guessed, been looked
after and cherished all her life; probably the profess or had made all
her decisions for her before she got married, and her husband doubtless
did the same.
It was likely that she took it for granted that the matter of Beth's
departure would be taken care of by someone, and that the necessary
arrangements would be made without bothering her.
They were beginning on Mrs Burge's excellent watercress soup when they
heard the gentle swish of the Citroen's tyres, and a minute or so later
the profess or's step in the hall.
Mevrouw Thor becke looked pleased.
"That is nice," she observed.
"Alexander did not think that he would get here until tomorrow, now he
will be able to see how well the children have progressed with their
riding.
' She lifted her face for his kiss as he joined them and Beth answered
his greeting with a relieved smile; now perhaps she would hear
something definite about going back.
If she stayed just long enough to put the children through their paces
on Sugar and Beauty, she would still be able to catch the early
afternoon train to Yeovil; she could be at St Elmer's by the evening
and back at the flat in time to get the supper.
The prospect didn't appeal; she didn't want to go back.
She was contemplating the idea sourly in her mind's eye when the
profess or's voice disturbed her unhappy train of thought.
"Mar tina has spoken to you about going back?
' he wanted to know.
"Well, no not yet.
I thought, that is, I expected that we might talk about it this
evening.
I have packed.
' She faltered to a halt because of the surprise on his face.
"We did say two weeks," she pointed out.
He sat back to allow Mrs Burge to remove his soup plate.
"So we did.
Tell me, Beth, are you so anxious to return to your hospital duties?
' "No, I'm not," she was quite certain about it.
"It's been absolutely super here, but I have to go back and that's
that.
' Sadness at leaving compounded of a mixture of the old house, the
children, their mother.
Sugar and Beauty, and last but by no means least, the profess or,
almost choked her.
"You have told the children that you are going?
' He was carving the saddle of lamb with negligent skill and wasn't
looking at her.
"No, as a matter of fact, I haven't.
I thought I'd tell them after they had had their riding lesson in the
morning.
If I caught the train to Yeovil directly after lunch they wouldn't have
time to to think about it.
' "Never mind the train.
Mar tina wants you to go to Holland with her and the children for a
week or two more.
' He gave his sister a tolerant smile.
"But it seems she hadn't got around to saying anything about it to
you.
She has a way of leaving everything to arrange itself at the last
minute, knowing that someone or other will make sure that it does.
' Mevrouw Thor becke laughed apologetically.
"Alexander is right, Beth.
That is exactly what I do, and I am ashamed that I haven't asked you
sooner, but most truly I would wish you to come with us--just for a
little while.
I do not know how I shall manage without you--in another week or so I
shall be quite able to cope with the children, even without a
nanny--besides, my husband will be home very shortly.
' A charming smile lit her face.
"Please, Beth!
' Beth made no attempt to hide her delight; indeed, it would not have
entered her head to do so, although she felt bound to point out one or
two obstacles to the plan.
"But they're expecting me back," she pointed out, 'and there's
William.
.
.
' The profess or laid down his knife and fork.
"There will be no objection to you being loaned to Mar tina for another
few weeks," he stated positively, 'and as for William, this arrangement
he now has--could it not be continued for a little longer?
Look, I'll tell you what I'll do; run you back to St Elmer's when I go
on Sunday; you can spend a couple of days at your flat and I'll pick
you up on our way over to Holland.
' It was all so easy it would have been churlish to refuse, although
Beth suspected that the ease had been well planned beforehand.
It must have given him a good deal of trouble, although less trouble
perhaps than finding someone else to help Mevrouw Thor becke until she
was on her feet once more.
"Well," she said at last, 'if nobody minds me going and you really want
me, I'd like to come very much--until you can find someone else.
' The profess or resumed his dinner with the air of a man who had
pulled off a trickey deal to his own advantage, and Mevrouw Thor becke,
beaming with satisfaction, plunged at once into details of their
impending journey.
Several times during the evening Beth detected a look of almost smug
satisfaction upon the profess or's handsome face, which somehow
disturbed her; had she been too easy to persuade?
she wondered.
Very likely he was in the habit of using his wealth and influence--and
his undoubted charm--in getting what he wished for; she had been far
too quick to jump at his offer.
But when they parted at bedtime, and he thanked her in his kind way,
she forgot her disquiet.
He was a dear, she reflected as she went upstairs, and always so calm
and good-natured.
She wondered what he would be like if ever he lost his temper, for she
felt sure that beneath that calm he was capable of a fine rage.
She dismissed the thought, for she was unlikely to witness such an
occasion, and with rather more difficulty dismissed her thoughts of the
profess or too.
CHAPTER SEVEN beth was awakened the next morning by a gentle tapping
on her door.
It was far too soon to get up, and supposing it to be one of the
children she called: "Come in," and started from her bed, only to jump
back in again at the profess or's: "T'll do no such thing--think of my
reputation.
I'm taking Prince out, would you like to keep me company on Kitty?
' She was already out of bed again.
"Give me ten minutes," she begged him, and f
ell to tearing into her
clothes.
He was standing by the open door when she got downstairs, looking out
into the early morning.
He had his back to her so that she had the time to notice his well cut
jodhpurs, highly polished riding boots and polo-necked sweater; they
made her cast a surreptitious glance at her own workaday person and
reminded her that she had bothered with neither make-up nor a proper
hair-do; indeed, her hair, though brushed, hung in a plait down her
back, fastened haphazardly with an elastic band.
But the profess or didn't appear to notice these shortcomings, only