by Betty Neels
She had phoned the professor's house before they left Tisbury, and Buller had assured her that there would be an early supper and their rooms would be ready for them. "Professor Lister will probably be late home, miss," he had told her, and she hoped that that would be the case. She suspected that after a hard day's work at the hospital he relished his quiet evenings. It would be nice if she could get the children to bed before he returned.
It was quite a short journey from Paddington to his house, and Buller was waiting for them. The children treated him as an old friend and went at once to the kitchen to see Mrs. Buller, leaving Araminta with the animals and the luggage. "Now just you leave everything, miss," said Buller kindly. "There'll be a tray of tea in the sitting-room at the back of the hall in five minutes, and I'll get the bags upstairs. The children are on the right at the top of the stairs, miss, and your room is on the opposite side, if you care to go up."
The stairs opened on to a square landing, with doors on either side and a passage leading to the back of the house. There was another smaller staircase too, but she didn't stop to look around her but opened the door Buller had pointed out and went in.
The room was fair-sized, light and airy and charmingly furnished, and there was a bathroom leading from it. She registered a strong desire to tumble on to the bed and go to sleep, but she took off her outdoor things, tidied her hair and did her face, and went downstairs again.
Buller was in the hall. "Jimmy came for Tibs and Mutt," he told her. "Tea is ready for you, miss."
She thanked him. "Do you suppose the professor will mind about the animals?" she asked.
"I think not, miss. We have two dogs-golden Labradors. They are at present being exercised by Maisie, the housemaid. They are mild-tempered animals, however, and I foresee no trouble."
He led the way to the small cosy room where he had set the tea-tray. There was a bright fire in the steel grate and comfortable chairs drawn up to it.
"I'll send the children to you, miss," said Buller.
They came presently, not over-friendly.
Araminta handed round tea and buttered toast, sandwiches and little cakes, and said in her sensible voice, "When we've had tea, perhaps you would unpack your things and put them away? I don't know what arrangements are to be made about Tibs and Mutt perhaps you've already seen to that?" She looked at Jimmy. "Your Uncle has two dogs, I believe."
"They'll be OK. They've met Mutt and Tibs when Uncle Jason has been down to see us."
"Oh, good, and we can take Mutt for a walk Hyde Park isn't far away, is it? And Tibs-will she settle down nicely?"
"She's my cat," said Gloria. "She sleeps on my bed." She sounded sulky. "Mrs. Buller says we may have our supper in the kitchen; Uncle won't be home for ages. I'll unpack in the morning."
"We'll go upstairs and unpack now," said Araminta, "otherwise you'll have to waste the morning doing it, when you might want to be doing something more interesting."
"You're awfully bossy," said Gloria. "I suppose you'll eat in the kitchen with Buller and Mrs. Buller and Maisie?"
"I dare say," said Araminta equably. "Never mind about me-let's get our things put away."
"Patty always saw to our things for us," grumbled Jimmy, tumbling shirts into the elegant little tallboy in his room.
Araminta turned to look at him from the pile of socks she was sorting out. "Did she?" She sounded surprised. "But you're almost grownup, Jimmy."
He muttered a reply, and she went to see how Gloria was getting on.
She was on the bed, leafing through a magazine, clothes strewn around on the chairs and the floor. She looked up as Araminta went in.
"I can't be bothered to put everything away Patty always does it."
"Well, Patty's not here, and since I'm not your nanny I think you had better tidy things up, for no one else is going to do it for you."
"I don't think I'm going to like you," said Gloria.
"That's a pity, but it's only for a few days, and if I make you unhappy I'm sure your uncle will try and get someone else from the agency. You see, there wasn't time for him to pick and choose-he had to take the only person free, and that was me."
"Haven't you got a home?"
"Oh, yes, and a father and sister."
"Why do you go out to work, then?"
Araminta said bracingly, "Let's not talk about me. I'm not a bit interesting."
She sat down on one of the little armchairs by the window and Gloria got off the bed and began to push things into cupboards and drawers.
"I'm tired," she grumbled, but she sounded more friendly now. "We had to get up ever so early."
"Well, I expect supper won't be too long. Then you can come to bed with a book-your uncle's not here, so you don't need to stay up unless you want to."
"Oh." She glanced sideways at Araminta. "Don't you mind Tibs sleeping on my bed?"
"Mind? Why should I mind? I like cats-dogs too. How old is she?"
"Daddy gave her to me on my sixth birthday." "She's very pretty, and your constant companion, I dare say."
Gloria raked a comb through her hair. "I want my supper."
"Then let's go and see if it's ready."
"Jimmy and me, not you," said Gloria. "The kitchen staff eat later."
"We'd better get Jimmy," said Araminta mildly. She was used, after a year at the agency, to living in a kind of no man's land while she was at a job. She had minded at first, but now she accepted whatever status was offered her.
Supper was ready, and Buller led the children down to the basement kitchen and then came back to where Araminta stood uncertainly in the hall.
"The professor telephoned. He hopes you will dine with him if you are not too tired. In the meantime, once Jimmy and Gloria are in bed, perhaps you would care to sit in the drawingroom? There are the day's papers there and some magazines."
Araminta said bluntly, "Aren't I supposed to take my meals in the kitchen?"
Buller said in a shocked voice, "Certainly not, Miss. I have my instructions from the professor."
"Well, thank you. I'll sit in the room where we had tea, shall I, until the children are ready? Will Professor Lister be very late, do you think?"
"There's no telling, miss. But I should imagine within the next hour or so."
So she went and sat by the fire and thought about her day and contemplated the week ahead of her. Jimmy and Gloria were nice young people, she was sure, but, she suspected, spoilt. They were of an age to be rude and thoughtless-she could remember being both at their age-but as long as she could keep them occupied and happy, and at the same time out of their uncle's way unless he wished for their company, it shouldn't be too bad.
They joined her presently and, when she suggested that they might go to bed since they had had a long day, they demurred.
Araminta made no attempt to change their minds; instead she suggested that they might write letters to their mother. "It takes nearly a week by airmail to get to that part of the world," she told them, hoping that she was right. "Your mother would be glad to hear from you both before she returns."
" We' 1 phone her tomorrow," said Jimmy.
" Even better," said Araminta. "You have the number?"
He gave her a sulky look. "No, of course not. Uncle Jason will know."
"Then you must be sure and get it from him before he leaves in the morning."
She embarked on a tedious conversation about museums, some of which she suggested that they might go and see during the next few days. She was boring herself and, as she had intended, Jimmy and Gloria as well. It wasn't long before they declared that they would go to bed. Gloria scooped up Tibs, wished Araminta a sullen goodnight, and went upstairs, and Jimmy, after taking Mutt to the kitchen, followed her. Araminta glanced at the little carriage-clock on the mantelpiece. Almost nine o'clock and no sign of Professor Lister. Her insides rumbled emptily; she would have liked to go to bed too, but not on an empty stomach.
It was very quiet in the house. Buller had suggested
that she should sit in the drawing-room once the children were in bed, so she got up and went to the door. The hall was empty and softly lighted and she went a little way into it, wondering which door led to the drawing-room. When she had come to see the professor she had been shown into a room at the back of the house, but there were doors on either side as well. She went to the nearest, opened it, and poked her head round. The dining-room, the oval table laid for dinner, presumably, the silver and glass gleaming in the light of the wallsconces. She shut the door and crossed the hall to open the one opposite. The library, and a very handsome one too, and, although there was no one there, there was a bright fire burning, and a reading-lamp lighted on one of the small tables drawn up beside the comfortable chairs.
The professor's voice, soft in her ear, caused her to withdraw her head smartly. "Finding your way around, I hope, Miss Smith?"
She turned to face him, breathing rather hard. "You should never creep up on people," she advised him. "They might have weak hearts or something! Butler told me to sit in the drawing-room, if I would like that, but I haven't found it yet."
He towered over her, looking concerned and at the same time impatient.
"My dear Miss Smith, my apologies-I trust no harm has been done to your heart or-er something. The drawing-room is over here." He led the way across the hall and opened another door, and she went past him and stood waiting.
"Please sit down. I dare say you're starving, but do have a glass of sherry before we dine."
"Thank you. There's another thing, Professor Lister. Butler gave me a message that I was to dine with you, but if I might put you right about that… I'm just someone from an agency, not your guest. Usually I have my meals in the kitchen with the staff."
"While you are in my house you will be so good its to take your meals with me and the children."
He sounded annoyed, and she murmured, "Very well, Professor," in a placatory voice which he ignored.
"They are here, I presume?"
"Yes, there were no difficulties. They are upstairs in their rooms, but I can't say they are asleep because I don't know."
"Difficult, were they?" he wanted to know. "Nice children, but spoilt. My sister got away on time? She's not much good at organising things."
"I believe that everything went well. There's just one thing-Jimmy has brought his dog with him and Gloria has her cat." She peeped at him to see how he was taking the news, but his face was impassive. "Your two dogs were out with the housemaid when we arrived, and she took them straight to the kitchen. I think they are still there, and so is Mutt-the Jack Russell."
"Yes, Buller told me when I phoned. You like dogs?"
"Yes, I do."
"Good-they can join us then. They appear to have absorbed Jimmy's dog. They are very good-natured beasts."
He glanced up as Buller came in. "Dinner, Buller? Good-and let Goldie and Neptune out, will you?"
They were crossing the hall when the dogs came padding to meet them. They gave muffled barks as he greeted them, and they went to Araminta, looking up at her with liquid brown eyes, ready to be friends. She crouched down, the better to greet them, while their master stood patiently. She looked up, smiling, and saw the look on his face-Impatience ? Indifference? She wasn't sure which of the two, but she got to her feet at once, feeling vaguely foolish. He must find her and the children a tiresome hindrance in his busy life.
"You must wish me at Jericho," she said, and instantly wished the words unsaid.
"My dear young lady, on the contrary. Much as I have an affection for my nephew and niece, the thought of overseeing their daily activities fills me with alarm. You are more than welcome in my house."
He was smiling and his voice was kind, but she had the feeling that he was thinking about something else.
She was hungry and the food was delicious. Mrs. Buller must be a cordon bleu cook: the parsnip soup with just a hint of garlic, the roast pheasant, followed by a treacle tart which melted in the mouth, were witnesses to that. Araminta, quite famished by now, did full justice to the lot, but when the professor suggested that they might have their coffee at the table, she excused herself on the grounds of tiredness. She bade him a cheerful goodnight and wished that she hadn't seen the quick look of relief on his face; she was aware that she had hardly added to his evening's enjoyment.
CHAPTER TWO
ARAMINTA slept soundly. She was far too sensible to lie awake and speculate about the following day. No doubt it would have its problems, more easily faced after a good might's sleep. Waking up to find a cheerful young woman with a tea-tray and the information that breakfast was in half an hour was a splendid start to it.
The knowledge that their uncle was at home and expecting to see them at breakfast got Jimmy and Gloria out of bed, dressed and downstairs, without any coaxing on Araminta's part.
He was already at the breakfast-table and he looked up from reading his post to wish them good morning, but as Araminta came into the room behind them he got out of his chair, enquired politely if she had slept well, and invited her to take a seat at the table.
It was Gloria who asked, "Oh, is Araminta going to have her meals with us?"
He offered Araminta a dish of scrambled eggs. "Naturally Miss Smith will do so-why do you ask, Gloria?" His glance was frosty. "She has sole charge of both of you while you are here, and be good enough to remember that. I am delighted to have you here, but you will have to fit into my household. Mutt is in the garden with Goldie and Neptune. Jimmy, you will make yourself responsible for him, won't you? And you, Gloria, will do everything necessary for Tibs. She should be safe enough in the garden as long as you are with her. You will be going out this morning, I dare say?" He glanced at Araminta, who nodded. "Will you take all three dogs with you? The park is only a short walk away. I should be home about five o'clock. We might take the dogs in the car up to Hampstead Heath and give them a good run. Miss Smith will be glad of an hour to herself, I have no doubt."
He gathered up his post. "I'll give myself a day off on Saturday," he told them. "Decide what you want to do and let me know."
The pair of them munched in silence after he had gone, then Jimmy said, "We're quite old enough to look after ourselves…"
"Well, of course you are," said Araminta briskly, "but perhaps as you are your uncle's guests it would be polite to do as he asks. When we've had breakfast I'll go and ask Mrs. Buller what time she serves lunch, while you two see to Mutt and Tibs."
They muttered an answer and she finished her breakfast without haste, talking cheerfully about this and that, ignoring their unfriendly faces, and presently went down to the kitchen, introduced herself to Mrs. Buller and sat down at the kitchen table at that lady's request so that they might discuss the days ahead.
"Professor Lister don't come 'ome for 'is lunch, miss, just now and then, like." Mrs. Buller beamed at her and Araminta beamed back at the cosy little woman. "Suppose we say one o' clock sharp and tea at four o'clock? Dinner's at half-past seven when "e's 'ome-leastways when 'e isn't called away. "E entertains off and on, you might say, got a lot of friends but no one in particular, if you get my meaning-not a ladies' man, more's the pity. "E'd make a fine husband. Likes "is books…' Mrs. Buller shook her grey head. "Now, as to lunch, "ow about a nice cheese snuffle? And the children will want chips and I'll do some baby carrots and a chocolate pudding…"
"That sounds lovely. I hope we aren't giving you a lot of extra trouble, Mrs. Buller."
"Bless you, miss, of course not."
"I'll let Buller know when we go out and where we are going, shall I?"
"Now that sounds like good sense, miss."
The morning went rather better than she had expected; the three of them went to the park with the dogs as she had suggested and, although Gloria and Jimmy made no effort to be friendly, at least they fell in with her carefully worded suggestions, couched in a friendly no-nonsense voice. They gave the dogs a good run and got back with just enough time to tidy themselves for lunc
h. Over the chocolate pudding Araminta broached her suggestion for the afternoon. "I don't know this part of London very well," she observed casually. "I wondered if we got on a bus and went somewhere another park, perhaps? We could look around and have a cup of tea, and then bus back in time for your uncle's return."
The idea went down well, but they weren't going to let her have it all her own way.
"I'd rather go to Richmond," said Jimmy.
"Why not? Would you like to take Mutt?"
He gave her a surprised look and she said calmly, "Well, he's small enough to be carried if he gets tired, isn't he? Perhaps Tibs ought to have a few minutes in the garden before we go. I'll go and tell Buller-I don't expect Goldie and Neptune will need to go out again until we get back."
The afternoon was a success; they sat overlooking the river, admired the Thames and the country beyond, and found a tea-room before getting a bus back. It had been an expensive outing, reflected Araminta, sitting on her bed counting the change in her purse, but worth every penny. Any minute now the professor would be home, and he would take the children and the dogs on the promised trip to Hampstead Heath…
When she went downstairs he was at home, sitting in his chair by the fire with his dogs at his feet. He got up as she went in, and she said quickly, "Oh, you're home," and blushed because it had been a silly thing to say. "The children will be down in a few minutes; they're tidying themselves for the evening."
"Sit down, Miss Smith. No difficulties?"
"None, thank you, Professor."
The children came then, and she sat quietly while they recounted their day to him. "But we're still going out with you, aren't we, Uncle?" asked Gloria.
"Of course. I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves. Go and get your coats; we'll go now." When they had gone he said, "Let me know how much you paid out on my behalf, Miss Smith," and when she murmured vaguely, he said, "Now if you please."
So she told him. "It's rather a lot of money, but they did enjoy their tea."