Read Online Still William by Richmal Crompton - Free Book Online

Robert’s blotter the week before. It began:
    O Marion
    So young and fair
    With silken hair . . .
    It must be Marion Dexter. She was fair and, well, more or less young, William supposed. William didn’t know about her hair being silken. It looked just like ordinary hair
to him. But you never knew with girls. He had kept the poem in order to use it as a weapon of offence against Robert when occasion demanded. But that episode belonged to his old evil past. In his
new life of self-denial and service he wanted to help Robert. The poem ended:
    I should be happy, I aver
    If thou my suit wouldst but prefer.
    That meant that Robert wanted to be engaged to her. Poor Robert! Perhaps he was too shy to ask her, or perhaps he’d asked her and she’d refused . . . well, it was
here that Robert needed some help . William, with a determined expression, set off down the road.
    III
    He knocked loudly at the door. By a lucky chance Marion Dexter came to the door herself.
    ‘Good afternoon,’ she said.
    ‘Good afternoon,’ said William in a business-like fashion. ‘Has Robert ever asked you to marry him?’
    ‘No. What a peculiar question to ask on the front doorstep. Do come in.’
    William followed her into the drawing-room. She shut the door. They both sat down. William’s face was set and frowning.
    ‘He’s deep in love with you,’ he said in a conspiratorial whisper.
    Marion’s eyes danced.
    ‘Did he send you to tell me?’
    William ignored the question.
    ‘He’s deep in love with you and wants you to marry him.’
    Marion dimpled.
    ‘Why can’t he ask me then?’
    ‘He’s shy,’ said William earnestly, ‘he’s always shy when he’s in love. He’s always awful shy with the people what he’s in love with. But he wants
most awful bad to marry you. Do marry him, please . Jus’ for kindness. I’m tryin’ to be kind. That’s why I’m here.’
    ‘I see,’ she said. ‘Are you sure he’s in love with me?’
    ‘Deep in love. Writin’ po’try an’ carryin’ on – not sleepin’ and not eatin’ an’ murmurin’ your name an’ puttin’ his hand
on his heart an’ carvin’ your initials all over the house an’ sendin’ you flowers an’ things,’ said William drawing freely on his imagination.
    ‘I’ve never had any flowers from him.’
    ‘No. They all get lost in the post,’ said William without turning a hair. ‘But he’s dyin’ slow of love for you. He’s gettin’ thinner an’ thinner.
’F you don’t be engaged to him soon he’ll be stone dead. He’ll die of love like what they do in tales an’ then you’ll probably get hung for murder.’
    ‘Good heavens!’ said Miss Dexter.
    ‘Well, I hope you won’t,’ said William kindly, ‘an’ I’ll do all I can to save you if you are but ’f you kill Robert with not gettin’
engaged to him prob’ly you will be.’
    ‘Does he know you’ve come to ask me?’ said Miss Dexter.
    ‘No. I want it to be a s’prise to him,’ said William.
    ‘It will be that,’ murmured Miss Dexter.
    ‘You will marry him, then?’ said William hopefully.
    ‘Certainly – if he wants me to.’
    ‘P’raps,’ said William after a slight pause, ‘you’d better write it in a letter ’cause he’d like as not, not b’lieve me.’
    With eyes dancing and lips quivering with suppressed laughter Miss Dexter sat down at her writing-table.
    D EAR R OBERT (she wrote),
    At William’s earnest request I promise to be engaged to you and to marry you whenever you like.
    Yours sincerely, M ARION D EXTER .     
    She handed it to William. William read it gravely and put it in his pocket.
    ‘Thanks ever so much,’ he said fervently.
    ‘Don’t mention it,’ said Miss Dexter demurely. ‘Quite a pleasure.’
    He walked down the road in a rosy glow of virtue. Well, he’d done something for Robert that ought to make Robert grateful to him for the rest of his life. He’d helped Robert
all right. He’d like to know what service was if it wasn’t