attractive aspect for me to draw. I flattened some tall weeds, spread my shawl and settled down with my pencil and sketchbook. I was rather hoping that Frank Lawrence might join me and amuse me with his lively conversation but he was nowhere to be seen.
For some time I was absorbed in my occupation, but then I realized that there were two people on the other side of the wall and they seemed to be arguing. I thought I ought to move but I was comfortably settled and it would take a few minutes to gather all my belongings together. Perhaps they would go away.
‘You’re making a perfect fool of yourself.’ It was Frank’s voice.
‘What right have you to criticize me?’ his aunt demanded furiously. ‘Neither Mr Tyler nor I are married. He would probably make a very good husband – rich, quite handsome, very easy-going and amiable. A good deal nicer than Thorpe, I can tell you.’
‘Don’t provoke me.’
‘I’ll provoke whoever I please. And for that matter, aren’t you rather overdoing your attentions to that dull Tyler girl? She has no money, no prospects and is obviously condemned to spinsterhood.’
‘She’s by no means dull and as you’ve scarcely spoken to her I don’t know how you can tell. She’s actually quite lively and amusing. I find her decidedly attractive and she’s a good fifteen years younger than you.’
‘Miss Tyler is thirty if she’s a day, and looks it. If I were to marry her brother, I’d soon get rid of her.’
‘I advise you not to continue your pursuit of him.’
‘Advise all you like. What can you possibly do about it?’
Then there was silence. One or the other – probably both – had stormed off in a temper. I found it a curious conversation and not because it contained some frank opinions of George and me but on account of the general tone, which was surprisingly intense and intimate for an exchange between aunt and nephew. It was more like a lovers’ quarrel. Something rather unsavoury there, I thought, and I was not at all happy about her possible intentions towards my brother. A flirtation seemed in danger of slipping over into something far more serious.
‘Ah, there you are!’ At first I felt a momentary annoyance at my solitude being interrupted and then I saw it was Colonel Hartley. I could not possibly be displeased with him.
‘I hope I’m not disturbing you.’
‘Of course not, I’ll be glad of your company. Did you happen to see Sophie?’
‘She’s wandering about with Rowland, which should please Lady Denby, though I’m not sure about you.’
‘He’s not good enough for her and she’s too young to know her own mind. I don’t want to see her take up with the first personable young man she encounters. I’m not sure if he’s a fortune-hunter.’
‘I think not, but I’m sure his mother is, to say nothing of her dear friend Mrs Thorpe. You don’t like her, do you?’
‘Not at all and I fear for my poor brother.’
‘She has her claws into him, I can see that, but he seems a willing victim.’
‘I wish I could do something about it but he wouldn’t listen to me. He can be very stubborn. It’s not the first time some unsuitable woman has made overtures, but on previousoccasions they weren’t living under the same roof and seeing him every day. Nor were they as beautiful as Mrs Thorpe.’
‘Not the sort of beauty that greatly appeals to me. I saw enough brunettes in Spain and there were times when I longed for light hair and an English complexion.’
He asked to see my sketches, made appreciative remarks and the conversation slipped into easier channels. I asked if I might add his portrait to my collection and he assented good-humouredly. ‘On condition that it’s my good side.’
‘Of course – if you will be kind enough to keep quite still for a few minutes.’
I sketched his right profile and showed him the result when I had finished.
‘You’ve made me too handsome,’ he observed.
I looked at my work critically.
For some time I was absorbed in my occupation, but then I realized that there were two people on the other side of the wall and they seemed to be arguing. I thought I ought to move but I was comfortably settled and it would take a few minutes to gather all my belongings together. Perhaps they would go away.
‘You’re making a perfect fool of yourself.’ It was Frank’s voice.
‘What right have you to criticize me?’ his aunt demanded furiously. ‘Neither Mr Tyler nor I are married. He would probably make a very good husband – rich, quite handsome, very easy-going and amiable. A good deal nicer than Thorpe, I can tell you.’
‘Don’t provoke me.’
‘I’ll provoke whoever I please. And for that matter, aren’t you rather overdoing your attentions to that dull Tyler girl? She has no money, no prospects and is obviously condemned to spinsterhood.’
‘She’s by no means dull and as you’ve scarcely spoken to her I don’t know how you can tell. She’s actually quite lively and amusing. I find her decidedly attractive and she’s a good fifteen years younger than you.’
‘Miss Tyler is thirty if she’s a day, and looks it. If I were to marry her brother, I’d soon get rid of her.’
‘I advise you not to continue your pursuit of him.’
‘Advise all you like. What can you possibly do about it?’
Then there was silence. One or the other – probably both – had stormed off in a temper. I found it a curious conversation and not because it contained some frank opinions of George and me but on account of the general tone, which was surprisingly intense and intimate for an exchange between aunt and nephew. It was more like a lovers’ quarrel. Something rather unsavoury there, I thought, and I was not at all happy about her possible intentions towards my brother. A flirtation seemed in danger of slipping over into something far more serious.
‘Ah, there you are!’ At first I felt a momentary annoyance at my solitude being interrupted and then I saw it was Colonel Hartley. I could not possibly be displeased with him.
‘I hope I’m not disturbing you.’
‘Of course not, I’ll be glad of your company. Did you happen to see Sophie?’
‘She’s wandering about with Rowland, which should please Lady Denby, though I’m not sure about you.’
‘He’s not good enough for her and she’s too young to know her own mind. I don’t want to see her take up with the first personable young man she encounters. I’m not sure if he’s a fortune-hunter.’
‘I think not, but I’m sure his mother is, to say nothing of her dear friend Mrs Thorpe. You don’t like her, do you?’
‘Not at all and I fear for my poor brother.’
‘She has her claws into him, I can see that, but he seems a willing victim.’
‘I wish I could do something about it but he wouldn’t listen to me. He can be very stubborn. It’s not the first time some unsuitable woman has made overtures, but on previousoccasions they weren’t living under the same roof and seeing him every day. Nor were they as beautiful as Mrs Thorpe.’
‘Not the sort of beauty that greatly appeals to me. I saw enough brunettes in Spain and there were times when I longed for light hair and an English complexion.’
He asked to see my sketches, made appreciative remarks and the conversation slipped into easier channels. I asked if I might add his portrait to my collection and he assented good-humouredly. ‘On condition that it’s my good side.’
‘Of course – if you will be kind enough to keep quite still for a few minutes.’
I sketched his right profile and showed him the result when I had finished.
‘You’ve made me too handsome,’ he observed.
I looked at my work critically.
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