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

billowing white skirt to indicate what she meant by “ all this, ” and leaned her cheek sideways to touch the coolness of the rosebuds. “ I think, ” she went on, “ that it is just because it is a change that I liked it so much. I shouldn ’ t like to lead that sort of life all the time. ”
    “ No? ” asked Patrick. “ Why not? ”
    “ So useless, ” said Ingrid.
    He smiled at her.
    “ You look beautiful and useless and decorative yourself just now, ” he said. “ Yet some would say you had your uses — as you are. ”
    He is trying the famous charm on me, thought Ingrid.
    “ I like people to be useful, ” she said, “ to do a useful job in the world. ”
    “ And which are the jobs that you call useful? Do I do a useful job? ”
    “ But of course. ”
    “ I breathe relief. And Arnold and Laurence, of course? ”
    “ Without doubt. And Miss Everton — all the people here. And revue artists, who lift people ’ s morale, and comedians, who make people laugh, and painters and writers, who make relaxation enjoyable, as well as the dustmen and grocers and bus drivers ... The people I can ’ t stand are the ones who spend their time between the hairdresser, the dressmaker, the cinema and restaurant, and golf and motoring, and I ’ ve seen a lot of them tonight. ”
    “ There aren ’ t nearly as many of them as there used to be. You ’ re very severe, aren ’ t you? ”
    “No, I don’t think so.”
    “ For a young person who lives in a glass house. ”
    “ What do you mean? ”
    “ People in glass houses shouldn ’ t throw stones. ”
    “ Don ’ t you think I am doing a job? ”
    “ At the moment, yes; and very well, I am sure. But keeping a small establishment temporarily doesn ’ t really give you the right to scoff at others. ”
    She stared at him. Did he not know what her job was? Was it of so little interest to anybody in her circle that it had not even been mentioned ? She was a little hurt that it should be so, and it was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if he did not consider radiography to be a useful job. Then a little demon of obstinacy kept her quiet. Let him find it out for himself.
    “ How do you know ,” she asked, “ that I am not a pillar of somebody ’ s existence? ”
    “ You are a pillar of Sylvia ’ s at the moment. But you have been here some weeks already, and you talk of looking forward to the spring in this blessed and peaceful place. If you were a pillar of somebody else ’ s existence, he (or she) would have collapsed by now. ”
    “ Oh, you are clever, aren ’ t you? ”
    “ No, but I think you are intolerant. ”
    “ And you, of course, are the champion of tolerance. Do you think, then, that I s hould tolerate uselessness ? ”
    “ I think you should be careful of sitting in judgment. On the old assumption that it takes all sorts to make a world. ”
    “ I can understand your championing the people at the Orindeans ’ tonight, but I shall still keep my own opinions. ”
    “ Of course you will — you are being obstinate. ”
    “ Well, well, ” said Ingrid , “ I am — let me see — intolerant, obstinate, and living in a glass house. ”
    “ And childish, ” he said, smiling at her.
    “ Childish too! Then I can ’ t flatter myself that I am suitable company for a person of Mr. Edgeworth ’ s calibre. Why don ’ t you go back to the dance? ”
    He looked at her for a few seconds in silence, looked at her sparkling brown eyes and dark hair, and the soft, white skin of her shoulders. He held out a hand for her wineglass, which she was twisting in her fingers, and put it on the tray with his own. Then he said :
    “ Why don ’ t you like me, Ingrid? ”
    The question surprised her by its directness. She flushed and looked into the fire.
    “ Have I said or done something — not this evening, but earlier — to offend you, to give rise to dislike? ”
    “ I don ’ t dislike you, ” she said, turning a little farther away from him,