Read Online The Lorimer Line by Anne Melville - Free Book Online Page B

Claudine had arrived from France two months earlier, ready to take charge of Matthew when the new baby monopolized the attention of the nurse. Soon after her arrival she had been dispatched by Sophie to Brinsley House for a brief stay, together with her young charge. No reason had been given to Margaret, although perhaps her parents were better informed. But the visit had coincided with Sophie’s departure to stay with her own mother for two weeks. It had been Margaret’s amused deduction that William was not to be allowed to keep Claudine under his roof during his wife’s absence.
    Privately, Margaret did not consider that William was ever likely to allow any young woman to divert him from the task of making money, but she could sympathize with Sophie’s attitude. There was an expansive and undeferential warmth about Claudine’s behaviour, warmth of a kind not usually found amongst domestic staff. She was a country girl, not qualified to be a governess in any way that Margaret could see, except that of having French as her native language. But she was healthy and good-natured and her experience in caring for her own five younger brothers and sisters had enabled her to win Matthew’s heart at once. The schoolroom to which he was now promoted was a far happier place than the nursery over which Nurse Grant had always tyrannized.
    Claudine greeted Margaret politely and spoke to Ralph in a way which made it clear that they had conversed earlier in the afternoon. To Margaret’s still greater surpise, Ralph answered the question in halting French. She asked him about this later, when the carriage had returned to fetch her and they were both on their way back to Brinsley House.
    â€™Claudine is to teach Matthew French,’ said Ralph. ‘They are to speak it together all the time when they are alone. I asked her to help me with the language as well.’
    â€˜But surely you don’t attend the French classes at Clifton?’ said Margaret. Even as she asked the question she guessed the answer. French was taught only to those boys who lacked the ability to be successful in Latin and Greek. If Ralph had been moved from the Classical to the Modern Side, he would have reason enough to look anxious. John Junius had no great regard for the virtues of dead languages, but he expected that in any selection which took place within the school his son should always be chosen for the upper part, whether it related to work or sport.
    Her suspicions were right. Ralph was silent for a moment and then burst into a sulky tirade.
    â€˜They told me in May that I must spend less time playing cricket and more on Greek verse,’ he said. ‘But suppose the Cheltenham match had been lost because I was out of practice. The masters would have been the first to complain that I wasn’t showing the proper school spirit. And it was unfair to make me change so late. Now I’m behind everyone who started French earlier, so I shall do badly on the Modern Side as well.’
    â€˜Never mind,’ said Margaret soothingly. ‘This is your last year at school. It was a marvellous century you scored against Cheltenham and Oxford surely would rather have a first-class cricketer than a mediocre scholar.’
    â€˜I may not be allowed to go to Oxford. William wasn’t.’
    â€˜Papa wished William to go into his business as early as possible. Your talents are different. He will be proud to see you captain the university at cricket one day.’
    â€˜You think I’m to be a gentleman, do you?’ Still resentful, Ralph tried to laugh. ‘Well, I see I’m fit for nothing else. So I must chatter to servants and hope that a boy of four doesn’t prove more apt to learn than myself.’
    It was not easy for Margaret to sympathize with him. She had for some years been well taught in the schoolroom of Brinsley House. Because William was ten years older than his younger brother, a time had