scrape your head?'
'Not often now, father. I've grown used to it.'
'When we put you up here you were hardly five feet tall. An extra foot or so makes a difference. Something should be done. Perhaps we could raise it. Cut a piece of the wood out.'
There were shouts from downstairs.
'And what,' Jeremy asked, 'have you come to tell me?'
'Geoffrey Charles is back.'
"What! Here? When did he -'
'At Trenwith. They arrived last evening, it seems.'
'They?'
'Yes, he's brought his young Spanish bride.'
'Good God! After all this time! Wonderful! And what -'
'We left too early this morning to hear of it. Jane has just told us. She heard it from Em Lobb, who heard it from someone else, I forget who. They've gone into the house and are living there, it seems, a ll on their own, except for the tender care of Liza Harry.'
'They haven't been over here today while we were out?'
'No. I imagine it is a pretty mess at Trenwith and they want a day or two to sort things out.'
'But that's where we can help them!'
'Of course.'
'Papa, Papa,' came the husky young contralto of Isabella-Rose. 'Are you coming?' .
Ross looked at Jeremy and smiled. 'You see?'
'You mean - you're going over tonight?'
'Against my better judgement. I put it to your mother and to Clowance that for four people to come beating at your door at half an hour after nine o'clock at night, clamouring to be let in, is the sort of welcome that Geoffrey Charles no doubt could survive. But if his wife is of a nervous disposition it could well prejudice her against the family for ever. No use. They didn't heed me.'
'What did Mama say?'
'Never mind. The question is, do you wish to eat supper on your own, which would give pleasure to Jane, who will feel hurt if everything she has prepared has to stand and go cold for hours? Or do you feel that, having waited so long for Geoffrey Charles, even one day lost will make a difference?'
'I'm coming with you,' said Jeremy. 'But chiefly to see his Spanish girl.'
After Ross had left the room to precede him down the stairs Jeremy paused and picked up a silver stock-pin which had arrived by messenger a couple of days ago. Though it did not really suit his present attire he fancied it and thrust it into the lapel of his jacket.
Music Thomas had brought it. Inside the parcel was a small printed card which read: From Mrs Clement Pope, Place House, Trevaunance, Cornwall.
Chapter Five
I
The following week Ross and Demelza were supping with Dwight and Caroline Enys at Killewarren.
Ross said : 'You haven't seen them yet?'
'No,' said Dwight. 'Caroline was for calling, but I thought they were better to have a f ew days on their own to settl e down.'
'Settle down!' Demelza said. 'The house is in a rare jakes! We have been over every day - Jeremy and Clowance and I - doing our most. And Geoffrey Charles has hired three women from the village. And there are five men trying to mend the chimneys and repair the leaks in the roof. And the Harrys have been given a month's notice to leave. I thought poor Amadora would be overwhelmed.'
'A pretty name,' said Caroline. 'A pretty creature?' 'You must ask Ross,' said Demelza; 'he was much taken with her.'
'I have always liked little dark girls,' Ross said. 'You must know that.'
'I'm not little,' said Demelza.
'Well, you were when I first saw you.'
'Sorry if I have overgrown my strength.'
'Oh, I like tall dark girls as well,' said Ross. 'Also tall redheads with beautiful eyes.'
'After these little flippances,' said Caroline, 'perhaps you would consent to describe her to us.'
Ross grunted. 'She's small and dark — with a proud little face - half scared - prickly, half ready to fight - half wishing to be warm and loving.'
'That's three halves,' said Caroline. 'But I believe I take your meaning.'
Dwight said: 'And what of Morwenna and Drake, who had such a friendship with him?'
'They are coming next week. Geoffrey Charles wrote at once, but Drake had just received an order for a new
'Not often now, father. I've grown used to it.'
'When we put you up here you were hardly five feet tall. An extra foot or so makes a difference. Something should be done. Perhaps we could raise it. Cut a piece of the wood out.'
There were shouts from downstairs.
'And what,' Jeremy asked, 'have you come to tell me?'
'Geoffrey Charles is back.'
"What! Here? When did he -'
'At Trenwith. They arrived last evening, it seems.'
'They?'
'Yes, he's brought his young Spanish bride.'
'Good God! After all this time! Wonderful! And what -'
'We left too early this morning to hear of it. Jane has just told us. She heard it from Em Lobb, who heard it from someone else, I forget who. They've gone into the house and are living there, it seems, a ll on their own, except for the tender care of Liza Harry.'
'They haven't been over here today while we were out?'
'No. I imagine it is a pretty mess at Trenwith and they want a day or two to sort things out.'
'But that's where we can help them!'
'Of course.'
'Papa, Papa,' came the husky young contralto of Isabella-Rose. 'Are you coming?' .
Ross looked at Jeremy and smiled. 'You see?'
'You mean - you're going over tonight?'
'Against my better judgement. I put it to your mother and to Clowance that for four people to come beating at your door at half an hour after nine o'clock at night, clamouring to be let in, is the sort of welcome that Geoffrey Charles no doubt could survive. But if his wife is of a nervous disposition it could well prejudice her against the family for ever. No use. They didn't heed me.'
'What did Mama say?'
'Never mind. The question is, do you wish to eat supper on your own, which would give pleasure to Jane, who will feel hurt if everything she has prepared has to stand and go cold for hours? Or do you feel that, having waited so long for Geoffrey Charles, even one day lost will make a difference?'
'I'm coming with you,' said Jeremy. 'But chiefly to see his Spanish girl.'
After Ross had left the room to precede him down the stairs Jeremy paused and picked up a silver stock-pin which had arrived by messenger a couple of days ago. Though it did not really suit his present attire he fancied it and thrust it into the lapel of his jacket.
Music Thomas had brought it. Inside the parcel was a small printed card which read: From Mrs Clement Pope, Place House, Trevaunance, Cornwall.
Chapter Five
I
The following week Ross and Demelza were supping with Dwight and Caroline Enys at Killewarren.
Ross said : 'You haven't seen them yet?'
'No,' said Dwight. 'Caroline was for calling, but I thought they were better to have a f ew days on their own to settl e down.'
'Settle down!' Demelza said. 'The house is in a rare jakes! We have been over every day - Jeremy and Clowance and I - doing our most. And Geoffrey Charles has hired three women from the village. And there are five men trying to mend the chimneys and repair the leaks in the roof. And the Harrys have been given a month's notice to leave. I thought poor Amadora would be overwhelmed.'
'A pretty name,' said Caroline. 'A pretty creature?' 'You must ask Ross,' said Demelza; 'he was much taken with her.'
'I have always liked little dark girls,' Ross said. 'You must know that.'
'I'm not little,' said Demelza.
'Well, you were when I first saw you.'
'Sorry if I have overgrown my strength.'
'Oh, I like tall dark girls as well,' said Ross. 'Also tall redheads with beautiful eyes.'
'After these little flippances,' said Caroline, 'perhaps you would consent to describe her to us.'
Ross grunted. 'She's small and dark — with a proud little face - half scared - prickly, half ready to fight - half wishing to be warm and loving.'
'That's three halves,' said Caroline. 'But I believe I take your meaning.'
Dwight said: 'And what of Morwenna and Drake, who had such a friendship with him?'
'They are coming next week. Geoffrey Charles wrote at once, but Drake had just received an order for a new
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