nothing I ’ d like more. ”
"Good. Make it next weekend and invite the whole bunch. ”
At five-thirty Lou said it was time Keith went home. He came into the room looking grubby and contented, and all five wandered out into the veranda. Martin had something he wanted to show Ross, and as the two men moved along the front of the house towards a shed which was hidden by climbers, Keith decided to follow them. Lou was left with the blonde Paula Craddock.
There was a silence, in which some insects buzzed farewell to the day while others began sharpening their wings in preparation for darkness.
Then Paula said, “ This guardianship of Keith Weston is a queer business—most unfair to both of you, really. It ignores the fact that a marriage partner would be most unlikely to want a ready-made child in the family. Keith should have been adopted by a childless couple. ”
“ I don ’ t agree. I was Dorothy ’ s nearest relative and we were closer than sisters. Mr. Gilmore was chosen because he ’ s a man and on the spot . ”
“ I ’ ve a feeling, ” said Paula Craddock, coolly and agreeably, “ that even if you were to marry at once Ross wouldn ’ t relinquish his responsibility. He was fond of the Westons. ”
“ I’ m glad to hear it . I loved them. ”
Dusk fell softly, but Lou stood there rigidly, keenly aware of this woman who had patently been pampered all her life. She had arrogance in every turn of her narrow, elegant head, an air of contempt in every studied line of her tall, willowy body.
The men appeared, and Keith was perched high on Ross Gilmore ’ s shoulder. Paula shrugged, and though her voice was low, for Lou ’ s ear only, sounded both gay and decisive.
“ Well, if Ross wants to keep the child I must back him up. But I ’ m not so fond of children that I ’ d care to be burdened with someone else ’ s brat. After Ross and I are married, Keith will go to boarding school! ”
Lou shivered, whether at the threat of losing Keith or at some more subtle inference from the other ’ s manner and words she could not have said.
Ross called, “ Be seeing you later, Paula. Thanks for the tea. ” And to Lou, “ Come along, I ’ m taking you two home. Say your pretty thanks to Martin. ”
Lou ’ s anger hurt her throat . She said goodbye and thank you to Martin and his sister, got into the front seat of the estate car and looked over at Keith, who had stretched himself along the seat behind them. The car moved off, and they drove into a sudden darkness which was gaily decked out with fireflies. But Lou ’ s feelings were too mixed to admit gaiety.
CHAPTER THREE
F or some minutes nothing at all was said between them. Keith was rolling on his seat and making small sounds which showed he was completely oblivious of everything but the sleepy game he was playing. A moth battered on the windscreen and fell, and something zoomed in one window and out of the other. Ross was driving fairly fast, but presently he slowed a little.
“ Did you have fun picking fruit with the D.C.? ” he asked mockingly.
“ Of course, ” she returned. “ You saw it yourself. ”
He nodded. “ For a while you lopped about ten years off Martin. Never occurred to me the D.C. might be vulnerable. ”
“ He ’ s not. He ’ s simply nice all through. ”
“ Bless you, ” he said with sarcasm. “ Are you really innocent or is there a scheme budding in that flower-like head of yours? You wouldn ’ t be wondering whether Martin Craddock might have a good father for Keith, would you? ”
“ I haven ’ t got round to it yet, ” she replied, “ but it ’ s a thought. ”
“ He ’ s nearly twice your age and rather set in his ways. Of course, you ’ d feel safe with old Martin. Not much adventure but not much risk, either. He ’ d cherish you both ...”
“ Oh, stop it! It ’ s beastly to amuse yourself at Martin Craddock ’ s expense. ”
Just slightly, his tone sharpened. “ I ’ m with
"Good. Make it next weekend and invite the whole bunch. ”
At five-thirty Lou said it was time Keith went home. He came into the room looking grubby and contented, and all five wandered out into the veranda. Martin had something he wanted to show Ross, and as the two men moved along the front of the house towards a shed which was hidden by climbers, Keith decided to follow them. Lou was left with the blonde Paula Craddock.
There was a silence, in which some insects buzzed farewell to the day while others began sharpening their wings in preparation for darkness.
Then Paula said, “ This guardianship of Keith Weston is a queer business—most unfair to both of you, really. It ignores the fact that a marriage partner would be most unlikely to want a ready-made child in the family. Keith should have been adopted by a childless couple. ”
“ I don ’ t agree. I was Dorothy ’ s nearest relative and we were closer than sisters. Mr. Gilmore was chosen because he ’ s a man and on the spot . ”
“ I ’ ve a feeling, ” said Paula Craddock, coolly and agreeably, “ that even if you were to marry at once Ross wouldn ’ t relinquish his responsibility. He was fond of the Westons. ”
“ I’ m glad to hear it . I loved them. ”
Dusk fell softly, but Lou stood there rigidly, keenly aware of this woman who had patently been pampered all her life. She had arrogance in every turn of her narrow, elegant head, an air of contempt in every studied line of her tall, willowy body.
The men appeared, and Keith was perched high on Ross Gilmore ’ s shoulder. Paula shrugged, and though her voice was low, for Lou ’ s ear only, sounded both gay and decisive.
“ Well, if Ross wants to keep the child I must back him up. But I ’ m not so fond of children that I ’ d care to be burdened with someone else ’ s brat. After Ross and I are married, Keith will go to boarding school! ”
Lou shivered, whether at the threat of losing Keith or at some more subtle inference from the other ’ s manner and words she could not have said.
Ross called, “ Be seeing you later, Paula. Thanks for the tea. ” And to Lou, “ Come along, I ’ m taking you two home. Say your pretty thanks to Martin. ”
Lou ’ s anger hurt her throat . She said goodbye and thank you to Martin and his sister, got into the front seat of the estate car and looked over at Keith, who had stretched himself along the seat behind them. The car moved off, and they drove into a sudden darkness which was gaily decked out with fireflies. But Lou ’ s feelings were too mixed to admit gaiety.
CHAPTER THREE
F or some minutes nothing at all was said between them. Keith was rolling on his seat and making small sounds which showed he was completely oblivious of everything but the sleepy game he was playing. A moth battered on the windscreen and fell, and something zoomed in one window and out of the other. Ross was driving fairly fast, but presently he slowed a little.
“ Did you have fun picking fruit with the D.C.? ” he asked mockingly.
“ Of course, ” she returned. “ You saw it yourself. ”
He nodded. “ For a while you lopped about ten years off Martin. Never occurred to me the D.C. might be vulnerable. ”
“ He ’ s not. He ’ s simply nice all through. ”
“ Bless you, ” he said with sarcasm. “ Are you really innocent or is there a scheme budding in that flower-like head of yours? You wouldn ’ t be wondering whether Martin Craddock might have a good father for Keith, would you? ”
“ I haven ’ t got round to it yet, ” she replied, “ but it ’ s a thought. ”
“ He ’ s nearly twice your age and rather set in his ways. Of course, you ’ d feel safe with old Martin. Not much adventure but not much risk, either. He ’ d cherish you both ...”
“ Oh, stop it! It ’ s beastly to amuse yourself at Martin Craddock ’ s expense. ”
Just slightly, his tone sharpened. “ I ’ m with
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