by Jean Plaidy
Carolan said: “Mamma! I have an idea. I am going into the shop; I want to tidy things a bit. It is very gloomy out there, and I am sure it is wrong to go all day without a single customer. It will be a surprise for my father.”
Kitty laughed.
“My darling, how difficult you find it to sit still, do you not! You are not like I was … even at your age; I was not nearly so restless. But if you would like to…”
“Do you think my father would be pleased?”
“Of course he would be pleased, dear man!”
Then I shall go. Leave the parlour door open and I can talk to you as I work.”
“Yes,” said Kitty, ‘leave the door open.”
Carolan stood in the dark interior of the shop, and wondered where to begin. Such a hotchpotch! And how typical of her father to show the most unattractive of his goods in the most prominent positions! Those old clothes hanging in the doorway; shabby things green with age! And the window chock-full of unwholesome looking garments, while in odd trays he had quite an assortment of pretty, though apparently cheap, jewellery. And if some of the old silver were polished up, what an attractive face the little shop could show the world!
First of all she would take the old coats from the doorway; then she would clear the window. Cheerfully she set to work, and in a short time she had a pile of unsavoury garments laid out on the floor. The window space was clear, but very dirty. She would dust it for today, and tomorrow she would get Millie to help her and they would get to work in earnest.
“Darling,” wailed Kitty, ‘such a dust is floating through!”
“It shows how badly it needed cleaning!” called Carolan excitedly.
There was a smear of dust on her nose; her eyes were brilliant. Now and then she would click her tongue indulgently, as some fresh example of her father’s carelessness came to light. She found a piece of black velvet and enjoyed herself, laying out the jewellery on it. The shop was going to be tasteful, as alluring as the shops she had passed on her way here. She tried to visualize her father’s pleasure when he saw the alterations.
She stood, her head on one side, surveying her handiwork. She frowned at the great bunch of old coats hanging against the wall just behind the counter. An eyesore! As soon as she touched them a moth flew out. She began to pull them down, but they were heavy and not easy to move. She had to get a chair to stand on and unhook them. And when she had them down, a door was disclosed; she tried it, but it was locked!
“Mammal’ she called.
“What door is this?”
“What door, my love?”
“A door here in the shop. There were a lot of coats hanging over it. It is locked!”
“A door …” mused Kitty.
“Oh, I remember. We never use it; we always keep it locked. At least I think your father uses it sometimes… I do not know.”
“Where does it lead to, Mamma?”
“I think to a basement room! I’m not sure.”
Carolan went to the door between the shop and the parlour. She surveyed her mother with exasperation.
“Mamma, do you mean to say you have never been through that door?”
“Why should I go through it?” asked Kitty.
“But surely, when you came to the house…”
Kitty yawned indolently.
“My darling, shut the door. The dust is worrying my throat, and my throat was never really strong. I often thought that, had it been, my mother would have had me trained to sing. She said my voice was exactly like Elizabeth Sheridan’s.” She smiled, flushed with the applause of an enthusiastic audience.
“But when you looked over the house,” persisted Carolan impatiently, ‘did you not open that door and see what was beyond it?”
“My dear,” said Kitty, “I was not as inquisitive as you. I do not worry myself where this leads, and what is beyond that. It is a mistake to worry about things that are of no importance.”
Carolan sat on the table.
“Mamma, tell me about how you came to the shop. Where did you get all this furniture? It is by no means new; did you pick it up through the business?”
“When we came to the shop…” began Kitty.
“Well, it was just as it is now, when we came to the shop; I do not remember it any different.”
“Ah.” said Carolan, swinging her legs.
“I can guess what happened; my father bought the place just as it was furniture and all. He must have had a windfall, if before you were so poor that you had nothing to eat!”
“Yes, that was it,” said Kitty.
Carolan took her mother’s face between her hands and kissed it. She was thinking of Darrell’s trying to explain his business affairs to this adorable, inconsequent creature.
Poor darling Mamma, and poor darling Father! she thought. She leaped off the table and went back to the shop.
She decided to heap all the clothes into a corner and consult her father about them when he came in; and as she was doing this the bell tinkled and a man walked in. A customer! she thought jubilantly. But almost immediately she recognized him as Jonathan Crew.
“Good afternoon!” he said.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Crew.”
His great dark eyes went all round the shop, from the window to the newly exposed door.
“You are very busy…”
“Indeed yes. And you? You are not working this afternoon?”
When he smiled, his skin seemed tighter than ever. He exposed a row of strong white teeth.
“Sometimes I am sent from my office on certain commissions. If I execute them with speed, why should I not have a half-hour to spend as I will! You are well, after your adventures of yesterday?”
“Very well, I thank you.”
“And making good use of your time, I can see.”
“Do you notice any difference in the shop? But I suppose you do not; it was dusk when you saw it, was it not?”
“I notice some alterations; I have always been told that I am an observant man.”
“And the change is for the better?”
“Very much for the better!”
Kitty called through the door: “Who it that, Carolan?”
“It is Mr. Crew come to inquire how I am after yesterday’s journey.”
“Come in!” cried Kitty.
“Come in. Me Crew.”
Carolan led him into the parlour.
Kitty, sitting upright in her chair, extended her hand; she was like a queen graciously receiving an honoured subject.
“It is indeed kind of you, Mr. Crew.”
He bowed courteously over Kitty’s hand.
“I was anxious to know how your daughter was today. Ma’am. London gave her a rough welcome, I fear.”
“Not all London amused Kitty.
“And she has you to thank for that, sir!”
“It was the greatest pleasure to be of some small service.”
Carolan’s eyes strayed back to the shop.
There are one or two things I must dear up before my father returns. If you will excuse me, Mr. Crew… You talk to Mr. Crew, Mamma, while I finish.”
Kitty pouted. Was this the way to treat a gentleman caller! Carolan must learn better. There was a smudge of dirt across her nose, and her pretty hair looked most inelegant.
“Run to your room, darling.” said Kitty severely.
“Wash, and change your dress. I will entertain Mr. Crew while you do so.”
“No, no!” insisted Mr. Crew.
“I see I make a nuisance of myself. Miss Carolan is a young lady who, having started a job, win wish to complete it. I admire her for it; moreover I will help.”
“There is no need.” said Carolan. There is little to do now.”
“Nevertheless, I insist on helping!” And help he did; he worked very hard, stacking the old clothes together in a corner of the room.
This kind of shop interests me greatly.” he said.
“You never know what you will find!”
/> When they had finished. Carolan said: “I long to see my father’s face when he comes in.”
“He will be astonished, I am sure. How long do you stay, Miss Carolan ?”
“I am not certain. Two months, or possibly less.” Two months can be a long time. And your idea is to turn this shop, before you leave, into what it was surely meant to be?” That is my idea.”
“I sincerely hope that you will achieve it.” There is my mother calling; let us go to her.”
Kitty, the mother, a little shocked at the unconventional behaviour of her daughter, but smiling indulgently because she was such a child, said: “Now, Carolan, go to your room and wash your hands and face at once. To please me… go. I insist!”
When Carolan returned Mr. Crew was talking of London; and how vividly he talked! Carolan was ready to listen as eagerly as her mother. He told of the pleasure gardens, the coffee and chocolate houses, the play. He had seen Mr. Sheridan’s School for Scandal years back; he had seen the great Mrs. Siddons herself. He often caught glimpses of the Prince and Princess of Wales; and when he was a mere boy he had once seen the Prince with Mrs. Perdita Robinson; that was in the days when the Prince was young and handsome and had not put on weight so distressingly, before he had married Maria Fitzherbert. And yes, Mr. Crew confessed he had set eyes on the fair Maria too. He seemed to know everything and have been everywhere. Kitty loved such talk and drank it in eagerly. She told Mr. Crew that someone had said she was remarkably like Sarah Siddons, though for the life of her she could not see where! Mr. Crew put his head on one side and made a play of studying her critically. Yes, he said, there was a resemblance, but he thought it was chiefly in the expression.
“My little daughter is all agog to see the Town,” said Kitty.
“I trust, Ma’am,” answered Jonathan Crew, ‘that some day I may be allowed to show her a little of London__to show you both of course.”
“That is most kind. My poor husband is such a busy man; he is here and there on business, and there is little time for pleasure.”
“But perhaps,” said Carolan, “Mr. Crew is also a busy man.”
“I have some leisure,” he answered.
“And it is gracious indeed to offer to spend a little of it on us,” said Kitty.
“It is you who are gracious.”
“Flatterer!” laughed Kitty.
Oh, Mamma! thought Carolan. Don’t! He is not a bit like that. Can you not see?
But Kitty did not see; she gazed at the visitor admiringly, and fluttered her long golden lashes. Carolan was uncomfortable, over-silent and a little gauche.
Kitty thought: I am still attractive then! Here is a young man who calls to see my daughter and finds me more interesting. Does not a woman become more attractive as she grows older -providing of course she is not too old? What she gains in flesh she loses in gaucherie. For all we know, this man may be a great gentleman a rich merchant perhaps even a lord! How I wish I had put on the black velvet! Black is becoming to a fair skin. But perhaps this blue is more enchanting … Therese used to say blue was my colour.
“I must go,” said Mr. Crew.
“But I trust you will allow me to come again.”
He bowed over Kitty’s hand, and Carolan went to the door with him.
“I hope to see more of the interesting things in your interesting shop,” he said.
“Please come whenever you want to. My father has lots and lots of things tucked away, I’m sure. I vow he most likely keeps the best locked away in the basement.”
“I think that very likely. You are going to be his guide and counsellor-that much I see, Miss Carolan. Then I may call again?”
“Please do!”
Thank you! Thank you! Goodbye.”
Kitty was smiling when Carolan returned to the parlour.
“My dear, an admirer so soon!”
“Not an admirer at all. Mamma.”
“La! child. You are but a baby.”
To my mind,” said Carolan, ‘he admired you more than he admired me.”
“Nonsense!” said Kitty, smiling to herself.
“I am an old woman, though I do admit I was very, very young when you were born, Carolan.”
It was an hour or so later when Darrell came into the shop. Carolan waited in the parlour, listening for his exclamation of surprise and delight. She peeped through the parlour doorway at him. He was staring about bin as though he scarcely recognized the place.
She ran out to him.
“Do you not think it a great improvement?” she asked demurely.
“Why …” he stammered.
“What… what has happened?”
She slipped her arm through his.
“You had so many pretty things tucked away, and you showed all the most unattractive of your stock. Now, Father, that is not the way to manage a shop!”
He was silent for a long time; she tried to see his face, but he had a gift of drawing the mask so firmly down that it was impossible to see behind it.
“Father… Father .. , you are not pleased then? You think I am an interfering, stupid creature ? You are not pleased ? ‘ He turned to her then. He took her hand from his arm and kissed it tenderly.
“You are a sweet daughter for a man to have, Carolan.”
Then you are pleased!”
“We will have a talk. I can see you have the makings of a business woman! ‘ He went to the shop door and locked it.
“But, Father…” she began.
There will be no more customers today,” he said.
“I think you are very tired.”
He smiled his slow sweet smile.
“A drink and a rest would be very welcome, I admit.”
They went through into the parlour.
“Ah!” said Kitty. There you are, my love. And have you done good business? And would you like a drink? We have had a visitor today… Carolan and I. He is quite a presentable young man, that. Carolan, a drink for me too; I declare my throat is as “A visitor?” said Barrett slowly.
“Mr. Crew,” said Carolan.
“He just came to inquire how I was after yesterday’s excitement.”
Kitty smiled slyly, and Carolan felt she wanted to escape from her sad father and slyly smiling mother.
Darrell twirled his ale round and round in the tankard.
“Carolan,” he said, as though choosing his words carefully.
‘business is complicated. Odd as it may seem to you, those old clothes are more important to the business of the shop itself than the jewellery. But my main business is not done in the shop; I do not sell much over the counter. This is how I do my business my chief business, you understand I meet a man who wants something; I try to get it for nun. Do you understand? It is not a matter of showing goods in a shop window. This is not so much a shop as a storeroom. That door you have discovered; I would rather have it covered. Listen, Carolan, I will tell you something. This is a very poor neighbourhood in which we live; it is a dangerous neighbourhood. Beyond that door is a flight of stairs which leads down to a basement room; and in this room I keep my more valuable stock. You understand? A man may come into the shop to ask the price of a secondhand coat, but he may be a burglar spying out the land. I would rather people did not know of that door. That is why I have kept it covered with those old clothes.”
“I see.” said Carolan humbly, ‘that I have been rather foolish. Oh, Father, why do you not tell me that I am an ignorant girl from the country who, because she knows so little, thinks she knows much!”
He put his hands over hers.
“You are sweet,” he said, ‘and I love your solicitude. But this business is too involved for you to understand in a few weeks. While you are here I want you and your mother to enjoy yourselves. I am going to plan some excursions for you. Do not worry yourself about dull commerce!”
“I am sorry. Father.”
“Bless you,” he said.
“God bless you and keep you out of harm all the days of your life!”
A week passed, and it was a full one for Carolan. When her father went out on business she insisted on looking after the shop; it was now as she had first seen it, the old clothes huddled in the doorway, the door to the storage basement concealed by musty coats. Carolan did not think of altering it now. She understood that her father was no ordinary shopkeeper; he was known in the coffee and chocolate houses of the town as an enterprising merchant. If a rich man wanted an ornament for his wife, sweetheart, mother or daughter, he would get into touch with Darrell, and Darrell would do his best to procure what was wanted. He told Carolan that he had started in this humble shop, and because he wished to save quickly that he might retire to the country at the earliest possible moment, lie did not see why he should take more expensive premises. He liked, too, to keep up the business of selling old clothes. The poor in the neighbourhood knew they could get what they wanted at a fair price from his shop.
“One day,” he said.
“I may take you along to the coffee house with me.” Then he added quickly, as though his pride and common sense were having a struggle from which common sense came out triumphant: “Not That would be foolish; though I should have liked to show them my daughter.”
She went through Kitty’s wardrobe with her. and helped to make alterations. They sat for hours together in the little par-lout while Kitty talked, chiefly of the day when they would retire to the country and she would have her. own house. She would not be house-proud like her Aunt Harriet; she would be no goddess of the still-room. No! But she would entertain, and there would be servants to wait on her and her guests, and a full larder always. Therese should come back and set about the task of resuscitating her beauty.
On one occasion Darrell hired a cabriolet and they all drove round London. Then they had a picnic on Hampstead Heath and took a trip to the Bald Faced Stag in Epping Forest. It was all delightful and full of interest the best way of making the days pass quickly while one waited for news of a lover.
“You are very good to me.” Carolan told Darrell.
“But is not all this very expensive?”
“It may be,” answered Darrell. ‘but a visit from a daughter can be a most special occasion. I shall tell you now, I am planning a visit to the playhouse, and then of course we must all go to Ranelagh … or do Vauxhall Gardens appeal to you more?”