‘My husband —’ began Beatrice. The young man waited. ‘My husband was one of your sort: he ran after trouble, and when he’d found it — he couldn’t carry it off — and left it — to me.’
Mr. Allport looked at her very sympathetically.
‘You don’t mean it!’ he exclaimed softly. ‘Surely he didn’t —?’
Beatrice nodded, and turned aside her face.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I know what it is to bear that kind of thing — and it’s no light thing, I can assure you.’
There was a suspicion of tears in her voice.
‘And when was this, then — that he —?’ asked Mr. Allport, almost with reverence.
‘Only last year,’ replied Beatrice.
Mr. Allport made a sound expressing astonishment and dismay. Little by little Beatrice told him so much: ‘Her husband had got entangled with another woman. She herself had put up with it for a long time. At last she had brought matters to a crisis, declaring what she should do. He had killed himself — hanged himself — and left her penniless. Her people, who were very wealthy, had done for her as much as she would allow them. She and Frank and Vera had done the rest. She did not mind for herself; it was for Frank and Vera, who should be now enjoying their careless youth, that her heart was heavy.’
There was silence for a while. Mr. Allport murmured his sympathy, and sat overwhelmed with respect for this little woman who was unbroken by tragedy. The bell rang in the kitchen. Vera entered.
‘Oh, what a nice smell! Sitting in the dark, Mother?’
‘I was just trying to cheer up Mr. Allport; he is very despondent.’
‘Pray do not overlook me,’ said Mr. Allport, rising and bowing.
‘Well! I did not see you! Fancy your sitting in the twilight chatting with the mater. You must have been an unscrupulous bore, maman.’
‘On the contrary,’ replied Mr. Allport, ‘Mrs. MacNair has been so good as to bear with me making a fool of myself.’
‘In what way?’ asked Vera sharply.
‘Mr. Allport is so despondent. I think he must be in love,’ said Beatrice playfully.
‘Unfortunately, I am not — or at least I am not yet aware of it,’ said Mr. Allport, bowing slightly to Vera.
She advanced and stood in the bay of the window, her skirt touching the young man’s knees. She was tall and graceful. With her hands clasped behind her back she stood looking up at the moon, now white upon the richly darkening sky.
‘Don’t look at the moon, Miss MacNair, it’s all rind,’ said Mr Allport in melancholy mockery. ‘Somebody’s bitten all the meat out of our slice of moon, and left us nothing but peel.’
‘It certainly does look like a piece of melon-shell — one portion,’ replied Vera.
‘Never mind, Miss MacNair,’ he said, ‘Whoever got the slice found it raw, I think.’
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ she said. ‘But isn’t it a beautiful evening? I will just go and see if I can catch the primroses opening.’
‘What primroses?’ he exclaimed.
‘Evening primroses — there are some.’
‘Are there?’ he said in surprise. Vera smiled to herself.
‘Yes, come and look,’ she said.
The young man rose with alacrity.
Mr Holiday came into the dining-room whilst they were down the garden.
‘What, nobody in!’ they heard him exclaim.
‘There is Holiday,’ murmured Mr Allport resentfully.
Vera did not answer. Holiday came to the open window, attracted by the fragrance.
‘Ho! that’s where you are!’ he cried in his nasal tenor, which annoyed Vera’s trained ear. She wished she had not been wearing a white dress to betray herself.
‘What have you got?’ he asked.
‘Nothing in particular,’ replied Mr Allport.
Mr Holiday sniggered.
‘Oh, well, if it’s nothing particular and private —’ said Mr Holiday, and with that he leaped over the window-sill and went to join them.
‘Curst fool!’ muttered Mr Allport. ‘I beg your pardon,’ he added swiftly to Vera.
‘Have you ever noticed, Mr Holiday,’ asked Vera, as if very friendly, ‘how awfully tantalizing these flowers are? They won’t open while you’re looking.’
‘No,’ sniggered he, I don’t blame ’em. Why should they give themselves away any more than you do? You won’t open while you’re watched.’ He nudged Allport facetiously with his elbow.
After supper, which was late and badly served, the young men were in poor spirits. Mr MacWhirter retired to read. Mr Holiday sat picking his teeth; Mr. Allport begged Vera to play the piano.
‘Oh, the piano is not my instrument; mine was the violin, but I do not play now,’ she replied.
‘But you will begin again,’ pleaded Mr. Allport.
‘No, never!’ she said decisively. Allport looked at her closely. The family tragedy had something to do with her decision, he was sure. He watched her interestedly.
‘Mother used to play —’ she began.
‘Vera!’ said Beatrice reproachfully.
‘Let us have a song,’ suggested Mr. Holiday.
‘Mr. Holiday wishes to sing, Mother,’ said Vera, going to the music-rack.
‘Nay — I— it’s not me,’ Holiday began.
‘“The Village Blacksmith”,’ said Vera, pulling out the piece. Holiday advanced. Vera glanced at her mother.
‘But I have not touched the piano for — for years, I am sure,’ protested Beatrice.
‘You can play beautifully,’ said Vera.
Beatrice accompanied the song. Holiday sang atrociously. Allport glared at him. Vera remained very calm.
At the end Beatrice was overcome by the touch of the piano. She went out abruptly.
‘Mother has suddenly remembered that tomorrow’s jellies are not made,’ laughed Vera.
Allport looked at her, and was sad.
When Beatrice returned, Holiday insisted she should play again. She would have found it more difficult to refuse than to comply.
Vera retired early, soon to be followed by Allport and Holiday. At half past ten Mr. MacWhirter came in with his ancient volume. Beatrice was studying a cookery-book.
‘You, too, at the midnight lamp!’ exclaimed MacWhirter politely.
‘Ah, I am only looking for a pudding for tomorrow,’ Beatrice replied.
‘We shall feel hopelessly in debt if you look after us so well,’ smiled the young man ironically.
‘I must look after you,’ said Beatrice.
‘You do — wonderfully. I feel that we owe you large debts of gratitude.’ The meals were generally late, and something was always wrong.
‘Because I scan a list of puddings?’ smiled Beatrice uneasily.
‘For the puddings themselves, and all your good things. The piano, for instance. That was very nice indeed.’ He bowed to her.
‘Did it