might get local work and contribute to the household expenses. But she did not speak of this as she felt Cook and Edith were entitled to the unshared glory of their generosity.
âSounds as if we are starting a guest house,â said Drew, when the maids had gone to get tea. âWith the guests paying for the privilege of running it.â
After tea, Merry returned to say she had changed her mind about leaving school. âBetty thinks I might get given a scholarship by Weary Willy â thatâs our head mistress, Jane; her real nameâs Vera Willy. She gave one to a girl who lost both parents in an accident. And she had it for years; Iâd only need mine till Iâm fifteen. Itâll save trouble with the law if I donât leave at once, and I can write and ask managers to see me in the Christmas play.â
ââBut will they come when you do call for them?ââ Drew quoted.
âThey might, in my pathetic circumstances. So if someone would give Weary Willy a hintââ
âDonât look at me,â said Clare. âIâm still terrified of her.â Merry turned to Drew. â You tackle her. Youâre always a success with old ladles.â
âBut sheâs barely middle-aged â much too young for me. No, Merry, really.â
Jane said: âCould I talk to her?â
Merry beamed. âOh, would you, Jane? Sheâd be terribly impressed by you, especially if you went in your car. Could you go tomorrow? The term starts on Monday.â
âOught I to telephone for an appointment?â
Merry thought not. âShe might ask what you wanted and itâd be easier for her to refuse by telephone. You just pop in on her. I do think youâre kind. Oh, Clare, before I forget, Bettyâs mother says that if Cook and Edith need a jobââ
âTheyâve got one,â said Clare.
Merry, on hearing the details, was ecstatic. âHow adorable of them! It makes me want to cry. Only itâs terribly funny too.â She stifled giggles. âI mean, itâs like some Victorian childrenâs book, all robins and snow â except that theyâre being paid by the hour and raking in lovely money. I must go and hug them.â
âAnd bring them back for the six oâclock News,â said Clare. But the News contained no reference to Rupert Carrington, nor did it when they listened again after dinner.
âPoor Fatherâs just a has-been already,â said Drew. âWell, letâs see if Richard brings any news about the forgotten man.â
He drove off to meet Richardâs train.
Jane, wondering why Drewâs flippancies did not jar on her, decided that the deep, almost caressing quality of his voice took the edge off them. And there was a basic gentleness in him which neutralized any suspicion of unkindness. Nor did she find Merryâs continual high spirits unsympathetic. These two were her favourites. Clare interested her far less. As for Richard⦠Really, it was unfair to think him depressing simply because he was taking the family trouble seriously. And if she did not feel she knew him as well as she knew the others, that might mean he was all the more worth while knowing.
He arrived back from London looking pale and tired, and had little to tell. The solicitor he had gone to see had not been helpful.
âHe said he only dealt with our family affairs, thank God. It seems the solicitor who copes with Fatherâs business has vanished just as Father has. The only advice I could get was to carry on as best we can and see what happens.â
âDid you go to your fatherâs office?â Jane asked.
âYes, and found it closed. I didnât go to his flat because itâs an expensive service flat and he may have left money owing. Really, the less we know about his affairs, the better. We must live from day to day â and get jobs as soon as we can. Which reminds
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