Under his tuition she had become conversant with every shade of his businesses, riding or walking side by side with him when he visited the factories or sitting with him in his Newcastle office.Victoria had rarely accompanied them on any journey because, as her father had laughingly put it, she was more bother than she was worth, for she was always afraid to get her dress soiled. No; Victoria stayed at home and busied herself, as she termed it, with housekeeping. And it showed itself, for it was undeniable that she had a taste for furnishings and how things should be arranged; and she loved dressing up. Whenever she changed her costume in the afternoon Bridget's father would laughingly tease her by saying she was aping the gentry, or preparing herself to run somebody's mansion.'It's a lovely place.''What's a lovely place?''Grove House, of course, Lionel's home.'
75'Oh, yes, yes. But to my mind it wants a lot doing to it. It's been neglected and will C0st a fortune to put it into good order.''You can turn the hall and drawing-room into one huge room. Lionel showed me.
You wouldn't believe it, that panelling folds back, just like a concertina.''Does it now? When did this display happen?''Well, I told you, when I visited last week, when he came and picked me up. And you being your stubborn and charming self stated flatly that you had no time to waste.''I said that to you, not to him.''I know . , . you wouldn't say it to him. Yet'-she pulled a long face-'you would, if the mood was on you, wouldn't you, dear?''Yes, dear, yes'-Bridget's head bobbed'I would say it if the mood was on me. Pour me out another glass of that beer; and then I don't know what you're going to do till sup>er time but I have work to do. I'm going town to the office.''Oh! that office. I'd like to set fire to it at times.
Why do you want to go there now, I laven't seen you all day.'
76I've got a special letter to write; Joe's going to be married and he wants a house.''My! My! Joe Skinner again, your pet protege. What are you going to give him as a wedding present, the factory?''Could do. Could do. I'll have to think about it.'As Bridget made for the door Victoria ran to her and, catching her arm, said, 'You will accept the invitation, I mean, to the ball? I can't go on my own.
You know I can't.'Bridget looked into the soft gaze of this girl who was very dear to her, and she sighed now as she said, 'All right, all right.''And you'll get a new gown?''No, I won't get any new gown.' She pulled open the door, with Victoria still hanging on to her arm, tugging at her and saying, 'You will get a new gown. If you won't go into town I'll order half a dozen or so to be sent up for you to choose from.''You dare!''I dare, because on the last . . . well-' She shook her head and the small ringlets hanging down in front of her ears bobbed on her cheeks as she now cried, 'I'm ashamed for you. Four occasions during the last year
77you've worn that same old grey thing. I'lltear it up. I will. It makes you look like a - • •Bridget was smiling now, and she, too, bobbed her head as she said, 'Yes, I know, a line of pipe water.''Well, it's a good description, in that grey thing anyway.'Bridget was now walking out of the corridor on to the balcony, saying, 'It's good material; it's Italian brocade.''I don't care if it's Chinese tapestry from the Ming, Bing, or Bang period.'Once again they fell about together, making it necessary for Bridget to grab the balustrade of the stairs, and with tears of laughter in her eyes and in a throaty voice, she exclaimed, 'If Miss Rice were here she would say, "Vases, Ming period, Victoria. Vases not vaises." 'As they descended the stairs, Victoria said, 'And I would have piped up, "And couldn't there have been tapestries also, Miss Rice?" ' bringing the expected response from Bridget, resuming the deep tone again,
' "Sit down, miss. Sit down." 'They were in the hall when Victoria, now 78really shaking with laughter, said, 'And you remember
75'Oh, yes, yes. But to my mind it wants a lot doing to it. It's been neglected and will C0st a fortune to put it into good order.''You can turn the hall and drawing-room into one huge room. Lionel showed me.
You wouldn't believe it, that panelling folds back, just like a concertina.''Does it now? When did this display happen?''Well, I told you, when I visited last week, when he came and picked me up. And you being your stubborn and charming self stated flatly that you had no time to waste.''I said that to you, not to him.''I know . , . you wouldn't say it to him. Yet'-she pulled a long face-'you would, if the mood was on you, wouldn't you, dear?''Yes, dear, yes'-Bridget's head bobbed'I would say it if the mood was on me. Pour me out another glass of that beer; and then I don't know what you're going to do till sup>er time but I have work to do. I'm going town to the office.''Oh! that office. I'd like to set fire to it at times.
Why do you want to go there now, I laven't seen you all day.'
76I've got a special letter to write; Joe's going to be married and he wants a house.''My! My! Joe Skinner again, your pet protege. What are you going to give him as a wedding present, the factory?''Could do. Could do. I'll have to think about it.'As Bridget made for the door Victoria ran to her and, catching her arm, said, 'You will accept the invitation, I mean, to the ball? I can't go on my own.
You know I can't.'Bridget looked into the soft gaze of this girl who was very dear to her, and she sighed now as she said, 'All right, all right.''And you'll get a new gown?''No, I won't get any new gown.' She pulled open the door, with Victoria still hanging on to her arm, tugging at her and saying, 'You will get a new gown. If you won't go into town I'll order half a dozen or so to be sent up for you to choose from.''You dare!''I dare, because on the last . . . well-' She shook her head and the small ringlets hanging down in front of her ears bobbed on her cheeks as she now cried, 'I'm ashamed for you. Four occasions during the last year
77you've worn that same old grey thing. I'lltear it up. I will. It makes you look like a - • •Bridget was smiling now, and she, too, bobbed her head as she said, 'Yes, I know, a line of pipe water.''Well, it's a good description, in that grey thing anyway.'Bridget was now walking out of the corridor on to the balcony, saying, 'It's good material; it's Italian brocade.''I don't care if it's Chinese tapestry from the Ming, Bing, or Bang period.'Once again they fell about together, making it necessary for Bridget to grab the balustrade of the stairs, and with tears of laughter in her eyes and in a throaty voice, she exclaimed, 'If Miss Rice were here she would say, "Vases, Ming period, Victoria. Vases not vaises." 'As they descended the stairs, Victoria said, 'And I would have piped up, "And couldn't there have been tapestries also, Miss Rice?" ' bringing the expected response from Bridget, resuming the deep tone again,
' "Sit down, miss. Sit down." 'They were in the hall when Victoria, now 78really shaking with laughter, said, 'And you remember
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