Read Online Sister of the Housemaster by Eleanor Farnes - Free Book Online

dance, to enjoy a festive evening, to be young and gay and carefree; and for both of them such an occasion was sufficiently a rarity to be doubly enjoyable.
    They were all waiting for Patrick. He was a little late, but as he had a long drive to reach them, they were prepared for that. He was to take Sylvia, since his car was larger than Arnold ’ s and would be more comfortable for her, and the other three would travel in Arnold ’ s more utilitarian car.
    At last he arrived. He came in swiftly, smiling , and at once he was the focus of attention. Almost, thought Ingrid, one could feel the others expanding under his charm. They all liked him, responded to him. Well, she thought, either you do or you don ’ t. Either you respond or it leaves you cold, and I ’ m afraid it simply leaves me cold. But she had to admit that the other two men, even Laurence who was so magnificently tall and broad, seemed less glamorous than they had, beside Patrick — Patrick with his shining gold head, his confident movements, his grey eyes that looked at one so keenly and disconcertingly. And her heart warmed to Laurence with a strange feeling of atonement. 
    “ I suppose you would like to get off at once? ” Patrick asked his sister.
    “ Oh, I think we have time for a drink, haven ’ t we, Sylvia? ” asked Arnold, who had the tray of drinks ready,
    “I think so, ” said Sylvia. “W e must give Patrick time to get his breath. ”
    She was dotingly proud of him. Surely, Pamela would be too. She was, in fact, proud of all three men who would escort her. She was used to Arnold, of course; every day she saw him around in his tweed clothes, with his bla ck gown fl apping behind him; or in his plain dark suit, and occasionally in evening clothes. She had forgotten how distinguished his r ather lined, good-looking face always was. At times like the present, it was brought home to her anew, and she could remember the days when she had been dotingly proud of Arnold. It was a necessity to her to be proud of her possessions — human or otherwise. Love without pride was unknown to her. Patrick, Arnold, Laurence. Yea, she thought with satisfaction, few people could have a handsomer escort.
    Laurence carried her out to Patrick ’ s car, and Patrick set off with her. Arnold took the driving seat of his own car, and Laurence sat with Ingrid at the back. He held her hand in his, and whispered to her that she was beautiful — a good beginning, thought Ingrid, to an evening of pleasure.
    The whole evening was certainly a new experience. Ingrid had never been a guest in so grand and luxurious an establishment. The ballroom was magnificent, lit by many crystal chandeliers. The conservatory, too, had been hung with festoons of colored lights. The buffets were incredible in their lavishness, and in the depths of imagination which had been plumbed to make them possible.
    “ Are they millionaires ? ” Ingrid asked Laurence, watching with him the kaleidoscope of beautiful dresses in the colorful scene.
    “ I don ’ t think so. Bruce is the only son — and his coming-of-age something very important. ”
    “ I suppose he inherits all this ? ”
    “ Yes. ”
    “ And Pamela nothing? ”
    “ I expect Pamela will be provided for. Your sister-in-law says she has already been left two fortunes — from maternal aunts or grandmothers or some such. Easy prey for fortune hunters. ”
    “ Not so easy, I should think, ” said Ingrid. “ I imagine Pamela knows her own mind. ”
    “ Her own mind at the moment seems to be engrossed with Patrick, ” said Laurence casually. “ I don ’ t think I should care to marry into the Orindeans — even with two fortunes added. My taste is for something much simpler. ”
    “ Shall we dance? ” asked Ingrid. “ Pity to waste this music. ”
    “ Do you know anybody here? ”
    “ Only the ones we came with. And you? ”
    “ The same. Well, that ’ s fine. We can dance together most of the evening. ”
    With a few