by Betty Neels
He said in a warm voice, "I'll come to your wedding, Araminta. I'll give you away, if you would like that." He fished in his pocket. "I daresay you would like a new dress."
He put some notes on the table. "It's the best I can do."
"Father-how kind of you. I'd love a dress to wear, and I had hoped that you would come to our wedding. Thank you very much. I hope you haven't had to borrow-"
He said hastily, "No, no. A small overdraft which I can settle next month. Where is Alice?"
"She went out about an hour ago, but she'll be back for supper." Araminta came round the table and kissed her father's cheek. "Father, it is most kind of you and I'm so grateful."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Must make an effort. Is the fire lighted in the sitting-room? I'll run through the paper while you're getting supper."
He went and sat down in his chair and picked up the paper, but he didn't read it. He felt smug and pleased with himself, as though it were his money he had given to Araminta and not Professor Lister's-sent to him by special messenger, together with a courteous letter requesting his presence at his daughter's wedding. It had been more than the hundred pounds he had given to her, but Alice had just as much right to it as Araminta. It should have been his pretty Alice who was marrying a well-to-do man; what had Araminta ever done to deserve such an assured future?
He was immersed in the news when the phone rang.
Araminta lifted the receiver, and the professor's voice wished her good evening, said he would be with her in half an hour and that they would go back to his house for dinner. His goodbye was brief.
Araminta put the cottage pie in the oven and went to tell her father. "Supper will be ready in about half an hour. I expect Alice will be hack by then."
Her father lowered his newspaper. "I suppose we must expect this until you leave us. We'll manage, I dare say-I've had a hard day's work…"
"But Alice hasn't," said Araminta with a snap, and then contritely, "Sorry, I didn't mean that, but it would make things much easier if she would tackle the housekeeping."
Her father didn't answer, and she went to her room and got into her suit, did her face and her hair, and was waiting when the Rolls came to a quiet halt before the door.
She answered the professor's thump at once and said, "Hello," then, "Would you like to come in?"
She was surprised when he smiled and said, "Yes," but she led him into the sitting-room and sat quietly while the two men exchanged small talk. It was as Jason got up to go that he observed, "You will be giving Araminta away, of course, Mr. Smith?"
"Of course. It is too early to fix a date, I suppose?"
"We will let you know as soon as it is arranged." He put a hand on Araminta's arm. "Shall we go, my dear? We have a good deal to discuss still."
He swept her out of the house and into the car, where Goldie and Neptune were mounting guard from the back seat. "I shall have the licence in a few days," Jason told her as he eased the car into the evening traffic. "I'm rather heavily booked for the next few weeks-would you mind very much if we marry at a moment's notice? You will come back with me to our home but you may not see much of me for a few days. We could wait, of course, but I want you out of your father's house as soon as possible. What have they been saying to you to make you cry?"
"I haven't…' she began, and started again; if they were to have a good marriage, telling lies wouldn't be a good start. "I thought it didn't show. Father and Alice are upset because I won't be there…"
"To work and clean and cook for the pair of them. I do not mean to be unjust, Araminta, but they are rapidly turning you into a doormat. You deserve better than that. I don't promise you an exciting life, but I shall do my best to make you happy."
"Yes, I know. Father said that we're not in the same class and he's right, you know."
"If you're going to talk like that, I shall beat you," said the professor placidly, so that she laughed, suddenly at ease and happy.
Over Mrs. Buller's delicious dinner-orange and tomato soup, then cassoulet of duckling followed by syllabub-Araminta told Jason of the unexpected gift her father had given her. "Now I can buy a dress," she told him happily, "and he said he would give me away, although last night he said he wouldn't come to the wedding."
"Now that is good news indeed," agreed the professor, suitably surprised, while he wondered silently how much of the money he had sent Mr. Smith had been held back from Araminta. Just as soon as he could, he would arrange for her to go shopping and buy anything and everything she wanted.
They went into the drawing-room for their coffee and sat by the fire talking like old friends, and when there was a phone call from the hospital asking him to go there urgently, she made no demur but agreed to be driven back by Buller.
"I do hope you won't have to stay up half the night," she told him, "and do take care how you go, won't you?"
He dropped a kiss on her cheek and went away. Really, he had chosen well, he reflected. Araminta would fit into his life very well-the kind of wife he had wished for, reflecting his moods, a quiet and intelligent companion. He smiled; it was most agreeable to be told to take care, and for someone to mind if he was kept out of his bed for half the night.
Buller drove Araminta back presently and waited until she entered the silent house. He had asked her if she drove a car as they went through the city. "The professor will see that you have lessons, miss. You could manage this Rover easily, even here in London. It would be handy if you could drive yourself, him being away so much."
She had agreed pleasantly; she liked Buller and his wife. It was a contented household, run on oiled wheels. For a moment she wondered what she was going to do with her days. Of course, learning to drive would keep her busy for several weeks, and there were the dogs to walk, and in the evenings there would be Jason…
The supper dishes had been left by the sink. She took off her jacket, tied an apron round her small waist, and turned on the taps. While she washed up, she thought about how she would spend her hundred pounds.
She spent every penny of it the following day, leaving home soon after breakfast while Alice was still strolling around in the kitchen in her dressing-gown, and for the next few hours she went slowly along Oxford Street, comparing prices, deciding what she could afford. She saw quickly enough that a hundred pounds wasn't going to go far; an elegant little suit with a boxy jacket and a pleated skirt left her with thirty pounds, which she laid out on a pretty blouse and plain court shoes-cheap, but a good imitation of more expensive footwear. Since she had some money over from the job at Mrs. Taylor's, she browsed through the undies department of a large store and bought a modicum of lacy trifles, feeling guilty since the money could have been spent on meals for the rest of the week. She was walking down Oxford Street, feeling pleased with her purchases, when she stopped to look in a hat-shoe window. Her suit was a dark green and burgundy plaid with a little velvet collar, and the hat in one corner of the window was exactly the right colour of burgundy. Moreover, it way marked half-price. Araminta bought it; it sat charmingly on her neat head-not a white tulle wedding veil, but the next best thing…
She bore her purchases home and found Alice lying on the sofa.
"You're back," said Alice in a wispy voice. " I feel rotten-you'll have to get the supper. I'd like a cup of tea and some lunch…"
Araminta put down her parcels and went to look at her sister. She looked the same as usual, only rather more cross. "It's a bit late for lunch," she pointed out. "I'm going to make myself a cup of tea. I haven't had lunch either I'll make toast."
She went up to her room with her purchases and stowed them away in the bottom of the wardrobe; tonight, when she went to bed, she would try everything on. Now she went down to the kitchen, made tea and a plate of buttered toast and took the tray into the sitting-room.
"I'll have it here," said Alice peevishly.
"Why not?" agreed Araminta cheerfully, as she poured tea for herself and began on the toast.
Alice
watched her for a few moments. "What about me?" she asked.
"I've made enough toast for both of us," said Araminta. "Alice, dear, I think you must stop pretending that you're not strong, that you can't get a job like everyone else. I'm sure you'd enjoy it once you got started. Think of the money!"
Alice got off the sofa and started on the toast. "Why should I, when Father lets me buy what I want? It's all very well for you to talk. You'll live like a lady while I'm stuck here…"
"If you had a job you'd meet people."
Alice took the last piece of toast and poured her tea. "You're such a prig. You'll see, he'll go fed up with you in no time at all-you're plain and dull and your clothes are awful. I shall laugh myself sick." She burst into easy tears. "You always took such care of me, I never had to do anything."
"That was because I thought you were ill. But you're as well as I am, love, and you surely don't want to sit about for the rest cat your life?"
Alice tossed her head. "I don't-I've plenty of friends-we have a grand time." She went back to the sofa and lolled back on it. "I hope there's something decent for supper."
Araminta went to the kitchen, disappointed that Alice hadn't wanted to see what she had bought. She was at the sink with the taps running when the telephone rang. She didn't hear it, nor did she hear Alice answering it.
"She's not here. I don't know where she isout for the evening, I dare say."
She had slammed down the phone before the professor could reply.
Jason had got home earlier than he had expected and, rather to his own surprise, the first thing he had done was to telephone Araminta. A quiet evening over dinner and then an hour's talk would be pleasant. He replaced the receiver unhurriedly. He didn't believe Alice; if Araminta had been going out, she would have left a message. He whistled to the dogs, shrugged on his coat and went out to his car.
"I'm going to fetch Miss Smith," he told Buller. " I dare say we'll be back within the hour."
The rush-hour wasn't quite over; it took him some time to reach her home, and it was already dusk when he got out of the car and hanged the knocker.
Araminta came to the door, her gentle mouth curling into a delighted smile. She said, "Hello, ,lason," and waited for him to speak.
"Get your coat," he told her. "We'll go back home for dinner-we still have a lot to say to each other, haven't we?" His smile was so kind that she felt the urge to burst into tears and bury her head on his shoulder.
"Come in," she invited. "I won't be a minute. I didn't expect you."
"Telephoned half an hour ago and was told you'd gone out, probably for the evening."
"Oh! Oh, dear. I was in the kitchen. I expect Alice…' She looked up at him worriedly. "So sorry…"
"Run and get your coat, my dear, and stop apologising for your sister."
"Yes… Well, would you like to go into the sitting-room?"
He shook his head. "Just fetch your coat; you can do whatever else you want to do when wc get back." He bent suddenly and kissed her, any she flew upstairs with the delightful feeling that perhaps she wasn't as dull and plain Alice had said. Coming down again, she poked her head round the sitting-room door. Alice had the television on and Araminta raised her calm voice above the noise "I'm going out, Alice. Supper's ready to cook.
She whisked herself out again before Alice had answered.
"She's a bit cross," she explained as they drove away. "I'm sure she didn't mean to mislead you."
To which remark Jason made no reply.
It was during dinner that he told her that he would have to go to Birmingham on the following day. "I shall spend the night there and if all goes well, get back some time during the next day. I'll ring you tomorrow evening around nine o'clock and let you know. Oh, and we may marry on Saturday. Will you see your Mr. Thorn tomorrow? It's very short notice, but I dare say he can fit us in. I'll come for you on Thursday evening and we'll go and see him together, shall we?"
"Yes, very well, Jason." She spoke in her usual sensible way, but her insides felt peculiar, as though she had taken a step that wasn't there; it was almost panic…
The professor, watching her without appearing to do so, said comfortably, "Now tell me what you've been doing with yourself all day."
It seemed a perfectly normal thing to do-to tell him about the suit she had found and the perfectly matching hat that so luckily was half-price.
"I look forward to seeing it," he told her. "Pack your things on Friday, will you? I'll collect them in the evening."
"I've not got very much," she told him seriously. "Two cases-they'll go in the boot?"
He assured her that they would.
The evening was as pleasant as the previous ones had been. It was surprising, she reflected, how completely at ease she felt with him; it way as though she had known him all her life. The thought of not seeing him on the following day made her feel quite sad, but at least she would have things to do-pack her things and go and see Mr. Thorn. Jason didn't try to delay her when she said after an hour or so that she would like to go home, but he drove her back, saw her into the house and drove off again.
She went to see Mr. Thorn the next morning. "A wise decision," he told her. "I believe that you will make the marriage a success, Araminta, and be a good wife. I should like to have met Professor Lister before you marry."
"Tomorrow evening," Araminta told him. "He's in Birmingham today and doesn't get back until tomorrow, but he'll come in the evening. May we come and see you then?"
"Of course. The ceremony is to be a quiet one?"
"Just us. Father says he will give me away. Could it be some time in the morning?"
"You are going away afterwards?"
"No. No, I don't think so. Jason's not free. I was thinking of Father-he wants to take Alice out for lunch. Could it be about half-past ten or eleven o'clock?"
"You will be having a family lunch?"
"No," she said soberly, "Alice isn't coming to the wedding. Just Jason's registrar and your wife we have to have two witnesses, don't we?"
"Shall we say half-past ten?" Mr. Thorn's voice was gentle. "Then, if the professor is free, you will have the rest of the day together."
She did the shopping next, since Alice had dressed and gone out early and declared that she didn't know when she would be back, then went home and tidied the house and, after a sandwich and coffee, went to her room and began to pack. She had nothing suitable for an eminent professor's wife to wear, she reflected. She hoped he wouldn't feel ashamed of her, and she supposed that he would give her some money to get the right kind of clothes. She hoped he would think of that, for she didn't think she could ask him. She might have to, she thought; he hadn't struck her as being very observant. She was, of course, quite mistaken.
It was quite early in the afternoon of the next day when the professor arrived. Alice was out again, and Araminta was on the point of washing her hair. She opened the door at his knock.
"You're back," she observed. "How nice. Did all go well? Come in, do. I was going to wash my hair…"
He smiled down at the pleased face. "We're going out first. Wedding-rings-I had almost forgotten." He bent and kissed her cheek. "Get a coat and we'll go now."
"I can't go like this." She looked down at her tweed skirt and woolly jumper. "Would you wait for five minutes? I'll be quick."
"Five minutes then." He strolled into the sitting-room and stood looking out of the window at the street. As soon as he could spare the time, he would take her to the cottage…
He took her to a Bond Street jeweller and waited patiently while she tried on various rings, choosing in the end a plain gold band, and when they were alone for a minute he said, "Will you give me a ring, Araminta? You can pay for it out of your allowance later on."
"Oh, yes, please. I thought of it, but I haven't any money. If you don't mind lending it to me…"
"Not in the least. I am, after all, going to endow you with all my worldly goods on Saturday."
So she chos
e a ring for him too, as plain as hers. As they left the shop, he said, "I have to go back to my consulting-rooms in an hour or so, but there's time for tea."
He took her to a small and elegant tea-room and gave her Earl Grey tea and delicious cream cakes, and watched her ordinary face glow with pleasure. He didn't care for tea-rooms himself, but it was rather like taking a child out for a treat and he felt unexpected pleasure from that.
He drove her back presently, waiting only until she had let herself into the house before driving away for his appointment. "I'll be here as near seven o'clock as I can manage, and we'll go home for dinner afterwards," he told her.
Alice was at home, in the sitting-room doing her nails. She looked up as Araminta went in.
"You're back-what's for supper?" And when Araminta told her, she said, "You'll see to it, won't you? I don't feel like cooking."
"I'll get everything ready, but I'm going to see Mr. Thorn at seven o'clock and I won't be back until later this evening."
"Then Father will have to take me out. I don't feel up to cooking."
Araminta, on her way out of the room, turned to ask, "Alice, are you going to find a job? If you did, you could afford to pay someone to do the housework once a week."
Alice shrugged her shoulders. "I might think about it, I suppose. It won't be any of your business anyway, will it?"
Araminta, in the kitchen making a fish pie, clashed the saucepans and their lids in an attempt to work off her ill-humour. It was fully dispelled at the sight of the professor, though. Pausing only to wish her father a pleasant good evening and warn Alice that the pie was in the oven, she skipped through the door and into the Rolls. It was surprising, she reflected, how quickly one could become accustomed to the good things in life.
Mr. Thorn liked the professor, she could see that at once. They sat in the comfortable shabby sitting-room at the Vicarage and drank the coffee his wife offered them, and the two men discussed the chances of England against Australia during the next tour. It surprised her that Jason knew so much about cricket. The actual arrangements about the wedding were disposed of in no time at all; indeed, while they were being discussed, the professor's manner was that of a man who was talking of someone else's marriage, not his own.