less sure of her job, and might even be strongly apprehensive that her services would very shortly be dispensed with. And Dona Beatriz probably needed time to recover from the effects of her journey, and would make her appearance when there was less likelihood of a fastidious nature being slightly, if unavoidably, revolted.
For Lisa couldn’t help remembering that it was all over Dr. Fernandez’ expensive, light grey, superbly tailored suit that Gia had been violently sick, and she wondered whether he was holding that against her, Lisa. Although, as a doctor, that was one aspect of the matter that shouldn’t greatly trouble him.
When she saw him again, late in the afternoon, he was wearing fine black slacks, and a silk shirt open at the neck. He looked composed and fresh, as if he had enjoyed a good lunch in the company of Dona Beatriz, indulged in the usual brief siesta — although sometimes it is not so brief, when the weather is very warm — looked upon by most Spaniards as an essential part of their organized day, and ready to be a little less hostile than his whole attitude had proclaimed him to be that morning. Having satisfied himself that Gia’s temperature was normal, that she had enjoyed a good sleep, and was feeling hungry, he perched himself on the end of the bed and looked at Lisa. She even gathered that he was willing to listen to some sort of an explanation.
‘That young man who was with you when we arrived this morning.’ He produced his cigarette-case, and then remembered where he was and put it away again. ‘ Is he a particular friend of yours?’
Lisa, who was feeling stiff from much sitting, and had scarcely touched the tray that had been brought to her while the others were at lunch, returned his look vaguely.
‘Particular friend? No. No, of course not. He was only an occasional visitor at the Hamilton-Traceys. ’
‘The Hamilton-Traceys?’
‘My last employers. ’
‘Oh, yes!’ His indescribably lustrous black eyes were studying her, but with an expression so unrevealing that she could have no idea what he was thinking. ‘And this young man met you at the Hamilton-Traceys, and came here because he hoped to see you again?’
She looked first amazed, and then shocked. ‘See me? The governess! . . . Nursery-governess, I should say.’ She pushed her fair hair wearily back from her brow. ‘ If you knew Mrs.
Hamilton-Tracey you wouldn’t ask such a question as that! I don’t suppose I exchanged two words with Peter Hamilton-Tracey during the whole of the time I lived with the family, and even those two words were forgotten by him when he ran into me on the sands a few days ago. It is purely by accident that he is holidaying here. ’
‘I see. ’ But the black eyes seemed to hold such a cool tinge of doubt that they incensed her, and behind the doubt was that curious, blank wall of reserve that affected even the tones of his voice, so that at moments it had a strangely lifeless quality. ‘But you did run into him fairly regularly since?’
‘We have met in the early mornings. I suppose it’s not unnatural, under the circumstances. ’ ‘Compatriots, you mean?’ She thought his lip curled a little. ‘Well, perhaps not. . . . And you are very young. You probably
feel the need for
companionship. But if you’re already feeling homesick it’s hardly a good sign. Do you like it here?’
‘I love it. I told you I love San Cecilio.’
‘But this is not San Cecilio. This is rather an isolated spot. ’ ‘Nevertheless, I do love it. I think it’s beautiful. ’ He nodded so slightly that she didn’t know whether he agreed with her or not, and then he stood up and started pacing very quietly about the room. He picked up Gia’s beach-wrap which still lay across the back of a chair, and examined it idly; then he peered at the toe of one of the slippers that peeped from the end of the bed, and finally caught sight of the little volume of English poetry which was actually
For Lisa couldn’t help remembering that it was all over Dr. Fernandez’ expensive, light grey, superbly tailored suit that Gia had been violently sick, and she wondered whether he was holding that against her, Lisa. Although, as a doctor, that was one aspect of the matter that shouldn’t greatly trouble him.
When she saw him again, late in the afternoon, he was wearing fine black slacks, and a silk shirt open at the neck. He looked composed and fresh, as if he had enjoyed a good lunch in the company of Dona Beatriz, indulged in the usual brief siesta — although sometimes it is not so brief, when the weather is very warm — looked upon by most Spaniards as an essential part of their organized day, and ready to be a little less hostile than his whole attitude had proclaimed him to be that morning. Having satisfied himself that Gia’s temperature was normal, that she had enjoyed a good sleep, and was feeling hungry, he perched himself on the end of the bed and looked at Lisa. She even gathered that he was willing to listen to some sort of an explanation.
‘That young man who was with you when we arrived this morning.’ He produced his cigarette-case, and then remembered where he was and put it away again. ‘ Is he a particular friend of yours?’
Lisa, who was feeling stiff from much sitting, and had scarcely touched the tray that had been brought to her while the others were at lunch, returned his look vaguely.
‘Particular friend? No. No, of course not. He was only an occasional visitor at the Hamilton-Traceys. ’
‘The Hamilton-Traceys?’
‘My last employers. ’
‘Oh, yes!’ His indescribably lustrous black eyes were studying her, but with an expression so unrevealing that she could have no idea what he was thinking. ‘And this young man met you at the Hamilton-Traceys, and came here because he hoped to see you again?’
She looked first amazed, and then shocked. ‘See me? The governess! . . . Nursery-governess, I should say.’ She pushed her fair hair wearily back from her brow. ‘ If you knew Mrs.
Hamilton-Tracey you wouldn’t ask such a question as that! I don’t suppose I exchanged two words with Peter Hamilton-Tracey during the whole of the time I lived with the family, and even those two words were forgotten by him when he ran into me on the sands a few days ago. It is purely by accident that he is holidaying here. ’
‘I see. ’ But the black eyes seemed to hold such a cool tinge of doubt that they incensed her, and behind the doubt was that curious, blank wall of reserve that affected even the tones of his voice, so that at moments it had a strangely lifeless quality. ‘But you did run into him fairly regularly since?’
‘We have met in the early mornings. I suppose it’s not unnatural, under the circumstances. ’ ‘Compatriots, you mean?’ She thought his lip curled a little. ‘Well, perhaps not. . . . And you are very young. You probably
feel the need for
companionship. But if you’re already feeling homesick it’s hardly a good sign. Do you like it here?’
‘I love it. I told you I love San Cecilio.’
‘But this is not San Cecilio. This is rather an isolated spot. ’ ‘Nevertheless, I do love it. I think it’s beautiful. ’ He nodded so slightly that she didn’t know whether he agreed with her or not, and then he stood up and started pacing very quietly about the room. He picked up Gia’s beach-wrap which still lay across the back of a chair, and examined it idly; then he peered at the toe of one of the slippers that peeped from the end of the bed, and finally caught sight of the little volume of English poetry which was actually
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