by Betty Neels
"I am serious," he told her.
"Yes, I know that. You don't know anything about me."
"I know all that is necessary; the rest I can learn later, can I not? But you are what I would hope to find in a wife, Araminta."
She said honestly, "Yes, maybe, but you don't love me, do you?"
"No, but I like to be with you. You are restful, and reasonable too; I believe that you could cope with being a medical man's wife very well-the late meals, the sudden calls away from home, the hours I like to spend in my study. All I ask of you is that, I think, for the time being at least, there need be no talk of love. Liking can grow into affection, and that is important in marriage."
Araminta saw no point in contradicting him. Love, she considered, was what mattered in marriage-if you loved someone you put up with anything, just to be with him.
"I do not expect you to give me your answer now, only when you are ready. You may wish to talk it over with your father."
She shook her head. "No. I think not. You see, they would like to have me stay at home and keep house and look after things. When I have made up my mind, I'll tell him and Alice."
He nodded. "We will go to the agency and I will arrange for you to be replaced. Whether you decide to marry me or not, I cannot allow you to stay there with those unpleasant people."
"But I-' she began, to be interrupted gently.
"No, Araminta, I must insist on it. Should you decide not to marry me, then I will see to it that you have more suitable work-away from home, if you prefer."
She asked curiously, "How will you do that?"'I know very many people, and there are many possibilities for you." He smiled gently.
"But I hope very much that you will consent to marry me."
He signalled for the bill, and they went out into the station and then to the car. "First the agency, and then I will take you home." And, at her questioning look, "No, I won't come in and meet your father, not until I have your answer."
At the agency Araminta had to admit that the professor had impressive powers of persuasion. He had the austere owner agreeing to everything he said within ten minutes, he extracted the week's money from her, assured her that if ever he needed her assistance in finding an employee he would certainly call upon her, and ushered Araminta out of the bare little office, ignoring the sly glances she cast at them both. Araminta hadn't noticed; she had too much to think about.
He drove her home then, got out to open her door, and then got in the car again. She poked her head through the open window, inches from his face. "Thank you for my lovely lunch, and thank you for proposing to me. Shall I write and let you know?"
He put a hand over hers where it clutched the window. "How long will it take you to make up your mind?"
She thought for a minute. "If I think about it for the rest of today and all tomorrow…"
"May I come and see you tomorrow evening"? Whatever the answer is, we can have a meal together and discuss your future."
"Very well, but I don't want to tell Father and Alice until it's settled."
"I understand."
She withdrew her head and watched him drive away.
There was no one at home; a note lay on the kitchen table asking her to do the shopping for the weekend. It was in Alice's handwriting but her father had added a PS: "Sorry there's no money-but get everything put on account."
There was no need for that; she bought what was necessary and wondered about the following week. If she married the professor, how would they manage at home? Alice would have to get a job, and what could she do? And even if she didn't marry him, she had no work for the following week. Would she br marrying him to escape from home and all its petty worries, or because she really wanted to he his wife?
She made a pot of tea then and thought about it. It was a pity there was no one to advise her. She thought with longing of her mother, a woman of strong character, who had passed on her good sense and plain face to Araminta, kept a guiding hand on the purse-strings and taken care that her husband didn't spoil Alice. There wasn't anyone… Yes, there was. She went to church on Sundays and the vicar of St John's was elderly, gentle and, she thought, wise. Her mind made up to go and see him the next day, she got on with preparing the supper; her father and Alice would be hungry when they got home.
Beyond remarking that she had been late coming home, they asked no questions; they only asked if she had done the shopping, fell to discussing the film Alice had been to see, and then switched on the television until it was time for bed.
In the morning Araminta took herself off to church and, after the service, lingered until she could speak to the Reverend Mr. Thorn.
"If you could spare ten minutes?" she asked him. "I need some advice."
He led the way back into the church and they sat in one of the pews, and, conscious that he would be expected home for his dinner very shortly, she laid her problem before him in as few words as possible.
When she had finished, he asked simply, "Do you love this man, Araminta?"
"No, but I like him very much. I like being with him, I'm easy with him and there are things we both like-I mean serious things. He's a serious man. I don't think he has asked me to marry him without thinking a great deal about it first." She thought for a bit. "I should like to marry him and I think we would be happy, even though we don't love each other. Is that possible?"
"Oh, yes, mutual trust and respect and liking, would develop in time into true affection. You are concerned for your father and sister?"
She nodded. "They aren't very good with money-since Mother died I've looked after them and the house."
"Perhaps it would be a good thing if they were to take that responsibility upon themselves. Once they have got over the shock of fending for the two of them, it might open up an entirely new way of life." He sat silently for a while and then said, "I think you should marry this man. It is natural that he should want a wife and he has chosen you, and from the sound of him he seems a man who would not take decisions lightly." They both got up and he took her hand. "If and when you make up your mind, remember that you must keep to it steadfastly, Araminta." He smiled. "Now go home and dish up the lunch and let me know…"
"Yes, I will, and thank you, Mr. Thorn-you didn't mind?"
"That's why I'm here."
CHAPTER SIX
"WHY are you so late?" Alice wanted to know crossly. "It's a good thing it's steak and kidney pudding, for I've no intention of cooking the dinner. It's something I hate doing."
Their father, coming into the kitchen added, "It would have been kind to have warned us that you would be so late, my dear."
It seemed hardly the moment to tell them her news.
She decided that it was some kind of sign that neither her father nor Alice intended to go out that afternoon. They would be at home when the professor came, and she was thankful for that, she would never convince them that she was going to get married without some evidence. She got the tea a little earlier than usual and wondered when he would come. She was a sensible girl, but her nerves were positively jangling.
They didn't have to jangle for long, though; just after six o'clock the Rolls stopped before the house and the professor gave the doorknocker a resounding thump.
"The door, Araminta," called Alice from her seat in front of the television. Her father, immersed in the Sunday papers, didn't look up.
Araminta went to open the door and the professor stood on the doorstep, looking down at her, wondering in his calm way if he was making the biggest mistake of his life. On the whole, he thought not; Araminta's ordinary face was lifted to his and held an expression which reassured him. She had beautiful eyes, he reflected, and a gentle mouth. He smiled then. "Am I too early?"
She stood aside to let him come in. "No. Do you want to know now?"
He smiled at her. "Yes, please."
"You haven't changed your mind?" She was quite serious. "I mean, it's quite all right if you have-no harm done."
"No, I hav
en't changed my mind, Araminta." He bent and kissed her cheek. "Shall we tell your father?"
She nodded. "He'll be annoyed…"
He appeared unmoved at the idea. "We will go back home presently and lay our plans." He took her hand and went with her into the sitting-room.
Less than an hour later, sitting beside Jason in the car, Araminta relived the rather unpleasant half-hour with her father and Alice. They had stared in surprise as she and Jason had entered the room, and Alice had jumped to her feet. "What a lovely surprise," she had cried. "I always hoped we'd meet again. Have you got another job for Araminta? Is that why you're here?"
Araminta had said quickly, "Father, this is Professor Lister-my father, Jason." She had seen Alice's look of surprise and her quick frown, and clutched his hand harder. It had been given a reassuring squeeze before the professor had shaken hands with her father.
"Araminta and I have a surprise for you, sir. We are to be married shortly."
Her father had been too surprised to speak for a moment; it was Alice who had said, "Marry Araminta? But that's ridiculous-I mean, she doesn't know how to dress decently, she's not even pretty, you'll be ashamed of her…"
She had stopped then because the look on the professor's face had frightened her. He had spoken very quietly. "I'm sure you don't mean that, Alice." He had turned to her father. "I'm faking Araminta back with me now so that we can discuss the wedding. I have arranged for her to leave Mrs. Taylor. I am sure you will be delighted at our news."
Araminta had felt sorry for her father: he had looked as though he had been hit on the head and wasn't sure what was happening. He had said slowly, "We shall have to manage as best as we can without you, Araminta," a remark which had made her feel guilty, as he had intended.
But the professor had said briskly, "I'm sure Alice will become as good a housewife as Araminta."
Then he had suggested that Araminta should go and get her coat. She had no idea what had been said while she was upstairs, but she had a nasty feeling that when she got back that evening she would be met with reproaches and perhaps worse. But that was still hours away; she peeped at Jason and saw that he was smiling a little. She said, "I'm sorry Fathe i wasn't… That is, it was a great surprise to him."
He gave her a quick sidelong glance. "Yes, I could see that. Would you rather not go back home this evening, Araminta?"
"I expect when they've talked it over it will be all right, thank you."
His grunt reassured her in some way.
When they reached his house she wondered what he had told Buller, for Mrs. Buller came into the hall and she and Buller both wished hey happy and shook the professor's hand with delighted smiles. When Mrs. Buller had gone back to her kitchen and Buller had taken their coat and gone away too, Araminta asked, "How did they know?"
He took her arm and urged her into the drawing-room. "I told Buller that if we were here by eight o'clock he and Mrs. Buller could congratulate me and wish you well."
He sat her down, fended off the dogs, and sat in his chair opposite her, and after a few minutes Goldie and Neptune settled at his feet. It wasn't until Buller had come in with champagne in a silver bucket and gone soft-footed away that the professor said, "I have a very full week ahead of me-if you would agree, we might decide upon a date for our wedding this evening." He opened the champagne and handed her a glass. "To you, Araminta."
"To us both," said Araminta. "I'll marry you whenever you want me to, but I don't know anything about you-only that you are a surgeon and live here."
He laughed. "Supposing we get married first and take our time to get to know each other later? I don't want you to be at home for longer than is necessary. I'll get a special licence and we can be married as quickly as possible. Have you any preference? Your local vicar?"
"Yes, please. I asked his advice and he told me to marry you-he said that mutual liking and respect were important and a foundation for… for…"
"Affection," said the professor gently. "He's quite right. Good. I'll arrange everything and let you know. Your father and sister will come?"
She gave him a troubled look. "Perhaps they won't. Perhaps it might be better if we just got married just the two of us." She added, in a matter-of-fact voice which hid unease, " I haven't anything suitable to wear-I hope you won't mind?"
"You will still be Araminta even in a potato sack. You always look very nice." He watched her as he spoke, aware that he might hurt her the last thing he wanted to do. He sensed that she would refuse to take money from him until she was his wife, but he was aware that wedding clothes were important to a woman ; after all, he had two sisters who had married with all the pomp expected of them. He would have to think of something. "I don't think it matters, do you?" he asked. "We shall be just the two of us…"
"As long as you don't mind."
Over dinner they discussed the wedding with the impersonal interest of two people talking about a ceremony between mutual acquaintances. It was to be as soon as the professor could get the licence and arrange time in which to get married. "I know it should be the bride who decides the day, but I shall have to rearrange my work so that I am free. I should like to see you as much as possible-may I ring you each day so that we can meet? You will be at home?" He saw her hesitate, and added quickly, "You are thinking of taking another job-please don't. For one thing, this licence may take less time than I anticipate."
"All right, I won't. Do you have a lot of friends? They might not like me."
He smiled a little. "When we are married you shall go shopping and buy some spectacular outfits and burst upon them in a blaze of high fashion. You will be a great success with my friends, Araminta."
He began to talk about his sisters and then his work; casual remarks, some of which she stored away to think about later. As they sat by the fire presently, drinking coffee from paper-thin cups, she reflected that she must be out of her mind; how in heaven's name had she ever agreed to marry this rather remote man about whom she knew almost nothing? She could, of course, change her mind, and she knew without any doubt that he would accept her decision calmly. Only of course she had no intention of doing that; she had given her word. Besides, she liked him. She looked across at him and found his eyes upon her, and blushed, for all the world as if she had spoken her thoughts out loud.
She blurted out, "I hope I'll be able to fit into your life, Jason."
"I have no doubt of it. You may even find i't rather dull. I suspect that you will be visited by my colleagues' wives and invited to join various committees and meet to gossip over coffee. Will you like that?"
"If that's what your wife is expected to do, then I'll like it."
"I've a cottage in north Essex-we'll go there for the weekend and take the dogs. You like the country?"
"Yes-oh yes, I do. Is there a garden?"
"Quite a large one. There's a nice old man who comes from the village and keeps it in trim when I'm not there. His daughter keeps the place clean and cooks, though I daresay we could manage the meals between us."
"It sounds heavenly." She saw the time and said, "I think I'd better go home. It's been a lovely evening. I'm still not sure if I'm dreaming."
He drove her home then, getting out of the car and waiting until she had gone inside before driving away. She had asked him hesitatingly if he would like to go in with her, but except for it glimmer of light in the hall there was no sign of life. They had agreed that, since it was almost midnight, her father and sister would already be in bed. "I'll come tomorrow evening," he assured her. "Your father will be home then."
Neither her father nor Alice was in bed; they were waiting for her in the sitting-room.
"I have been very disturbed by your news, Araminta," began her father. "This Professor Lister-who is he? How long have you known him? Will he be able to offer you the kind of life to which you are accustomed?"
Araminta sat down. Her father was talking like someone in a Victorian novel again. She said in her sensible way, "No, it won't be
at all the same, Father. He has a very nice home, and I shan't have to go out to work or do the washing-up or the ironing. I have known him for some time now; we saw a lot of each other while I was at Tisbury." Which wasn't quite true, but it might allay any fears her father might have. She thought it unlikely that he had any fears about her anyway.
"You're sly," said Alice in a furious voice. "going behind our backs, leaving us in the lurch. How are we going to manage, I'd like to know?"
"Well, there'll only be two instead of three for a start, and if you get a job you'll manage very well. After all, Father has quite a good salary. A part-time job will give you as much money as I earned; you can spend it on clothes and whatever you want; there'll be ample housekeeping then."
"Don't think I'm coming to your wedding, Alice raged. "You've nothing to wear anyway-I suppose it'll be some hole-and-corner affair."
"No," said Araminta, "just very quiet. Jason doesn't have much leisure."
Her father shook his head. "Well, you're old enough to know your own mind, Araminta. I only hope you're not making a big mistake."
Araminta got up. "Don't either of you want me to be happy?" she asked.
"Why should you have all the luck?" Alice asked angrily. "You needn't come crawling home when he sees what a mistake he's made."
"And you, Father?"
Mr. Smith shook his head. "Naturally I hope that you will be happy, my dear, but I doubt it. You're out of his class, for a start. He'll probably he ashamed of you among all his lofty friends."
Araminta, accustomed to looking on the bright side of things, nevertheless cried herself to sleep. But, beyond a slightly pink nose, in the morning there was no sign of that. She cooked breakfast as usual, replied suitably to her father's comments about the weather and the busy day he had ahead of him, and wished him goodbye in her normal quiet fashion. He had barely answered her and she supposed that, while she was still at home and not working, he would present the same injured expression on his face. It was therefore a great surprise to her when he came home at his usual time and came into the kitchen where she was getting their supper.