by Betty Neels
They didn't wander far. She was very conscious of the professor's vast silent bulk beside her; if he had a private life-friends, girlfriend, a woman he loved-there had been no sign of them during the week; as far as she had seen, his days were wholly occupied by his work. Hc must have a private life, she thought. I dare say he's tucked it out of sight while we've been living in his house. She began to think about the kind of woman he might love. Beautiful, of course, exquisitely dressed, amusing and witty. knowing just how to soothe him when he got home from a busy day at the hospital…
She looked out of her window and saw that they were well away from London; the A303 wasn't far off. He wasn't wasting time.
She turned to see if everything was as it should be on the back seat and, since it was, settled back again.
"Comfortable?" asked the professor.
"Yes, thank you. Have you been up all night?"
He laughed a little. "Am I driving so badly? Not all night; I got home just after two o'clock."
"You would have time for a nap before you have to return."
"I'm flattered by your concern, Miss Smith, but I am quite rested."
Snubbed, thought Araminta, and looked out of the window again.
Halfway down the A303 he stopped at a Happy Eater, and everyone piled out except Tibs, asleep in her basket. The dogs on their leads were walked by Jimmy and his uncle while Araminta and Gloria went inside, in a hurry to get to the ladies', and then to find a table. They were joined shortly by Jimmy and the professor, who ordered coffee for all of them and a plate of buns. The coffee was hot and the children wolfed the buns as though they were starving, but no one wasted time in casual talk. In ten minutes they were back in the car and on their way. Tisbury wasn't far; Professor Lister took a left-hand turning into a side road and they were at once surrounded by rural Wiltshire. There was only one village on the way, Chilmark, then they were back running between high hedges and scattered farms. Araminta gave an appreciative sniff and thc professor observed, "Restful, isn't it? When wc arrive I shall leave you to open up the house, make the beds and so on. I'll take the children into the village-you'll need bread and milk and so on, won't you?"
"Yes, do you want a list? I can take a quick look in the fridge and the freezer."
"That would help. Do you feel up to cooking a meal?"
"Yes, of course."
They lapsed into silence, but this time it seemed to her that the silence was friendly.
The children were glad to be home. They rushed inside as soon as the professor had unlocked the door and then, at his placid request, carried the bags indoors and upstairs. That done, he said, "If you'll see to Tibs, Gloria, Jimmy can see to the dogs while Miss Smith and I make a list of the food we'll need. We'll go down to the village and do the shopping while she gets the place aired."
Whatever made me think that he was absentminded? reflected Araminta, busily writing a list of the food to be bought.
Once they were out of the house, leaving her with Tibs for company, she set about opening the windows, looking into the cupboards and peering into drawers. The linen cupboard was nicely filled; she took the hcdlinen off the beds and filled the washing machine. The beds could be made up later. She laid the table for lunch, peeled the potatoes she found in the garden shed, and traisped round with a duster-not ideal, but all she had time for.
They came back laden. "Sausages," said the professor, emptying plastic bags all over the uihle, "spring greens, carrots and turnips. Apples, oranges and lettuces. Jimmy has the rrst and Gloria went to the baker's. We'll go into the garden while you get the lunch-do you want a hand?"
"No, thanks." She glanced at the clock. "Half an hour?"
All the same he stowed away the butter, milk and cheese before he went into the garden, thc dogs trailing after him.
Araminta was a good cook: the sausages, grilled to a golden brown, lay on a mound of creamed potatoes, she had glazed the carrots with sugar and butter, and the spring greens, chopped fine, added a note of colour. Everything was eaten, as were the cheese and biscuits which followed. A pot of coffee washed everything down nicely and the professor sat back with a sigh.
"A delicious meal, Miss Smith," he observed. "We'll wash up while you do whatever you want to do. Gloria, don't forget to feed that cat of yours, and what about the dogs?"
Araminta left them to it, and sped upstairs to make beds, put out towels and tidy the rooms. There would be several loads of washing, but she could iron all day, if necessary, when thc children had gone back to school.
When she got back to the kitchen everything had been tidily put away and she found the three of them in the hall by the open door.
"There you are," said Professor Lister. "I'm going back now-I'll phone you this evening and, if you need help or advice, don't hesitate to ring me. I'll do my best to come down."
He nodded to her, said goodbye to Jimmy and Gloria, got into his car with the dogs and went away. The three of them stood watching the car disappearing down the drive and into the lane, and even when it was out of sight they still stood there.
It was Araminta who said briskly, "I expect you've heaps of things you want to do, but first wil1 you let me have all your washing? I dare say there are some things you'll need for school on Monday."
"Patty usually…' began Gloria, and thought better of it. "All right, but then I want to go and see Jean down at the Rectory."
"Why not?" agreed Araminta cheerfully. "But please both be here for tea. Half-past four. We can discuss supper then."
She was surprised that they didn't demur, but fetched their washing, put Mutt on his lead, and went off together-which gave her time to check the cupboards again, pick some flowers from the garden and unpack her own things; all the while, Professor Lister was never far from her thoughts.
CHAPTER THREE
Ariminta went to bed that night thankful that the day had gone so well. The children had returned for their tea and afterwards had helped her wash up, albeit grudgingly. They were still unfriendly but at least they did what she asked them to do with only a modicum of grumbling. The professor had telephoned as he had promised, a brief conversation undertaken against a background of voices-women's voices as well as men's. Probably he was relaxing with his friends; she pictured him in his lovely house, entertaining them. A mistake, of course. He was in Theatre Sister's office, drinking coffee after operating…
At breakfast the next morning Jimmy said reluctantly, "Uncle Jason said we were to take you to church with us."
"Why, thank you, Jimmy, I shall be glad to go. The morning service?"
"Yes-who's going to cook our dinner?"
"I shall. It can cook in the oven while we are away. What do you do with Mutt?"
"Shut him in the house; he doesn't mind as long as Tibs is there too."
So they went to church, and when they got back the steak and kidney pie she had made from the contents of the freezer the night before was nicely cooked. She left it warm in the oven while the potatoes and the greens cooked. They had brought a carton of ice-cream back with them on the previous day; she scooped it out into three dishes, embellished it with some chocolate sauce she had found, and put it back in the freezer. Everything was ready by the time the children had fed Mutt and Tibs.
They both ate everything she put before them, although they didn't say if they liked it, and once they had finished they told her that they were going over to a friend's house. "We'll probably stay for tea," said Gloria airily.
"Why not? But please tell me where you are going, in case I should want you rather urgently." And at their blank stares she added gently, "Your mother might telephone, or your uncle, and do give me a ring if you're staying I'or tea, will you? Do you want to take Mutt?"
"Of course, and I wish you wouldn't make a fuss," said Jimmy rudely.
"Well, of course I could wash my hands of the pair of you," observed Araminta cheerfully, "but your uncle asked me to be here until someone gets back and I said that I would. We'll al
l have to make the best of it, won't we?" She began to gather up the plates. "Write it on the pad over there, will you, and please put the phone number. Tea at half-past four, if you decide to come home."
She was prepared for them to ignore her request, and it was an agreeable surprise when Gloria phoned to say that they were staying for tea and would be home in time for supper. It gave her a chance to sit down for a bit with a pot of tea and a plate of scones while she jotted down menus for the week ahead.
It was while she was getting the supper that she realised that there was a problem she hadn't thought of-Mrs. Gault had driven the children to their schools each day and either she or Patty had fetched them back. There was a car in the garage but that wouldn't be of much use since she couldn't drive. There would be a school bus, of course, but probably that served the comprehensive school and the other state schools in Salisbury. Gloria was at a private girls' school a few miles from Tisbury, and Jimmy at a minor public school lying in the other direction. Not far in a car, but they could be at the North Pole if there was no transport. She sat and wrestled with the problem for some time, and reluctantly decided to wait until the children came back to see if between them they could think of a way out of their dilemma.
Hire a car? she wondered. But would Professor Lister agree to that? Perhaps she could phone him and ask his advice.
She had no need to do so, for he phoned within the next half-hour.
Her, "Hello," was breathless with relief.
He said at once, "Problems? You sound quietly desperate."
"I am." She explained with commendable brevity.
"I should have thought of that. Leave it with me. My sister has several friends in the village. I believe the doctor's sons go to Jimmy's school-he can give him a lift and drop Gloria of on his way. I'm sure that he will help. I'll ring you back, so don't worry." He rang off with a quick goodbye and she went back to her cooking. It was all very well to tell her not to worry, but she wouldn't feel easy until he phoned again.
Which he did, shortly before the children came home. "Mrs. Sloane-Dr Sloane's wife will collect Jimmy and Gloria at eight o'clock and bring them back after school."
Araminta thanked him. "I'm sorry I had to bother you."
He said coolly, "It was merely a question of picking up the telephone, Miss Smith." His goodbye sounded like an afterthought.
As they sat down to supper presently, Jimmy said, "We shan't be able to go to school . Mother always took us in the car-or Patty. I don't suppose you can drive a car."
"No, I can't. Mrs. Sloane is calling for you both each day and will give you a lift back in the afternoon. Your uncle has arranged it." She smiled at him. "Eight o'clock at the gate, so we'd better have everything ready before you go to bed. Do you take anything with you? Lunch or a snack?"
Gloria said prissily, "We don't go to state schools, Araminta."
A remark Araminta let pass. "What about Mutt and Tibs? Will you let me know if they have to be fed and when-and does Mutt go for a walk during the day?"
"If you take him on his lead, and he has a biscuit at lunchtime."
"Tibs has a meal then too," said Gloria. "Of course, you don't belong here so she might run away-then it'll be your fault."
Araminta reminded herself silently that this was a job and she was being paid for it. She said equably, "Oh, I like cats, but if you don't like to leave her in my care perhaps we could find a good cattery where she would be safe."
Jimmy frowned at his sister. "Tibs will be OK-you're being a bit silly."
"And rude." added Araminta mildly.
They weren't an easy pair to handle; they loitered over their breakfast, had a last-minute hunt for school-books, and their rooms, when she went upstairs to make the beds, were in a state of chaos. "Patty must be an angel," observed Araminta to Tibs, who was comfortably snoozing on Gloria's bed. At least she had the house to herself while she vacuumed and dusted, hung the washing on the line at the bottom of the garden and gave the kitchen a good clean. Jimmy had said something about a Mrs. Pretty, who came twice a week, but Perhaps Mrs. Gault had told her not to come while she was away. Araminta, armed with a shopping-basket and the household purse and with Mutt on his lead, took herself off to the village to buy lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes. The children wanted baked beans for their supper; she intended to add bubble-and-squeak and a small salad. As for their demands for Coca-Cola, she had different ideas. Without conceit she knew that her home-made lemonade was perfection itself. She added lemons to her basket at the village stores and replied suitably to the proprietor's questions. Mr. Moody was stout and bald and goodnatured, and he liked a chat.
"A bit of a carry-on up at Mrs. Gault's, eh? Poor lady, and then that Patty going off at a moment's notice-not that she could help that, poor soul." He eyed Araminta. "You' in a young woman with your hands full, I've no doubt. Need their dad, do Jimmy and Gloria. Not but what Professor Lister don't do his best, and him a busy man. Coming down this weekend, no doubt?"
"I don't know; I expect that will depend on whether he can get away or not."
Araminta smiled and Mr. Moody decided that, plain though she might be, she had a lovely smile.
"Well, just you let me know if there is aught I can do," he told her, "and that'll be two pounds and sixty-three pence." He handed over the change. "Half a mo'-that Mutt usually has a bit of biscuit…"
"There's a Mrs. Pretty," began Araminta, "but the children weren't sure if Mrs. Gault had told her she would be away."
"Bless your heart, love, Mrs. Gault didn't need to tell her. Everyone knows everyone else's business here. She was in the shop this morning early, and mentioned that she'd bc going up as usual."
"Oh, good. When is that?"
"Tomorrow and Friday mornings-half-past eight till noon. Does the rough."
"Oh, good," said Araminta again, and wished him a cheerful good day.
There was plenty to do when she got back, more washing to hang out, ironing to do, a meal to get for herself and then tea to lay, ready for the children's return. She made a cake and some scones, and boiled the potatoes ready for the bubble-and-squeak and, after her own lunch, set about making the lemonade. It was an old recipe, involving the steeping of the lemons in boiling water and the sieving of the fruit and the careful adding of sugar and finally, when it was nicely cool, a few sprigs of mint.
The children came racing into the house, calling for Tibs and Mutt, flinging down hat and cap and coats and demanding tea.
Araminta had come into the hall to meet them. She said in a firm voice, "The kettle is boiling, and tea will be put on the table when you have picked your things off the floor and hung them up, changed your shoes and washed your hands."
They stared at her. "Patty always…' began Gloria, and thought better of it. She began to gather up her coat and hat, and after a moment Jimmy did the same. Under Araminta's eye they changed their shoes and washed their hands in the cloakroom and then went sulkily into the kitchen.
Araminta had taken pains with the tea; there were scones, split and buttered, strawberry jam, Marmite sandwiches and a fruitcake.
"You didn't make these, did you?" asked Jimmy, sitting down at the table.
"Yes. Now tell me, at what time do you have supper? After your homework and before bed?"
"We have supper when we feel like it," Gloria said.
"Ah, I see-you get your own? That's all right, then."
"Hold on," said Jimmy, "we can't cook-don't be stupid, Gloria."
Araminta allowed them to bicker for a few minutes. Then she said, "Homework after tea, then supper. That gives you time to do whatever you want before bed."
"You're a tyrant-no, a martinet," declared Gloria. "We always do what we want."
"So do I," said Araminta calmly. "Have another slice of cake?"
Much later that evening, when the professor phoned, she told him everything was fine. "Jimmy and Gloria will be sorry to have missed you…"
"It's late-I'm sorry. I'll ring earlie
r tomorrow."
"You have no news?" asked Araminta.
"None. I think you must be prepared to remain for at least ten days. Do you wish me to contact your father?"
"Thank you, but there is no need. I told Alice I'd be away for a week or longer."
He rang off then, after bidding her a civil goodnight.
Life settled down into a rather uneasy pattern; the children were no friendlier, but at least they did what she asked of them; she suspected that the telephone conversations with their uncle each evening had something to do with that. He was punctilious in his daily phone call but it was brief, and her report was just as brief. Sometimes, she reflected wistfully, he sounded as unfriendly as his young relations.
There was Mrs. Pretty to brighten things two days a week, a lady whose appearance had nothing to do with her name; she was a big bony woman, nudging sixty, with a craggy face and a disconcerting squint. She had a powerful voice, smoked like a chimney, and had an elaborate hair-do which was tinted an unsuitable chestnut with highlights. She had marched up to the house on Tuesday morning, announced who she was, declared that Araminta didn't look fit to cope with the Gault youngsters and said that she intended to turn out the kitchen, but not before she had had her usual cup of tea. "And I like it strong," she had added.
She was a treasure, going through the house like a whirlwind, cigarette dangling from her lip and, over the snack lunch she shared with Araminta, making her familiar with those who lived in the village. "Not a bad lot," she concluded, "and Mrs. Gault's well-liked, though them kids of hers need a firm hand. A good thing when their dad's back again. That Patty's a good sort, but she spoils them rotten. A pity that uncle of theirs can't have 'em for a while nice gent-bit absent-minded, likes to bury his 'andsome 'ead in a book, don't seem to notice the girls much-'as a way with 'im, though. I like him, do you, my lovely?"