Read Online The Partnership by Phyllis Bentley - Free Book Online

said, and he was sure it would be nice for Louise, who was so much alone. Eric, it appeared, rather to his relatives’ surprise, was equally enthusiastic about this project, though of course much less well informed on radio matters than his brother. Charles accepted the present with boyish eagerness; he bought a book on the subject and made gallant efforts to understand the mysterious terms which tripped so glibly from Wilfred’s lips as he stood in the study amid coils of wire and batteries, screw-drivers and ear-phones. For a reason never definitely stated but well understood by all concerned, the wireless was to be constructed from first to last on the premises of number seven, and it came to seem natural that Wilfred and Lydia should occupy the study, while Eric ranged the house for tools or stood in the garden with Annice, picking out likely spots for the erection of the aerial. Annice took a keen interest in the wireless, and understood it remarkably well; so that it seemed only fair to make an extension which would enable her to enjoy it in the kitchen. This part of the task was entrusted to Eric, and Lydia was a trifle shocked, on coming into the kitchen one night, to see him bending over Annice, adjusting the ear-phones on her head, while the girl herself, who was in her usual seat beside the goldfish, looked over hisshoulder into the distance with her inscrutable smile.
    â€œWell, Eric!” said Lydia with a slight asperity in her light tones, “I should think you would manage that better if Annice took it off.”
    Eric, confused, muttered something intended for assent, and began to fumble with the connecting bands, which had become entangled in Annice’s hair.
    â€œLet
me
do it,” said Annice in a tone of good-natured contempt, raising her hands to her hair. “He doesn’t know anything about it, miss,” she added on a note of raillery, smiling at Lydia as she removed the apparatus.
    â€œI do!” protested Eric, colouring. “It’s caught in your hair, that’s all.”
    He seemed really annoyed and inclined to be sullen. Annice, on the contrary, laughed, and handed him the ear-phones with a sparkle in her eyes.
    â€œWell, we’ll have supper now, Annice,” said Lydia, dismissing the incident.
    â€œYes, Miss Lydia,” replied Annice dutifully, in her calm tones. She took up her cap from the table beside her and settled it with one swift movement on her smooth head; then, rising, went to the dresser and began to take out glasses and silver, setting them down on the tray with a careless thump which drew an exclamation of remonstrance from Lydia. Annice gave a repentant smile and hitched one apron-string higher on her shoulder. “Is Mr. Wilfred and Mr. Eric stayingto supper, Miss Lydia?” she demanded firmly, an affectionate mockery in her tone, Lydia, colouring, but not displeased, replied that they were.
    Lydia then returned through the open doors to Wilfred, who had no doubt heard what had passed in the kitchen, and astonished her by asking abruptly if a certain blue hat she used to wear were still hers, or whether she had given it to Annice. She told him it was Annice’s, whereat his face darkened.
    â€œWhy did you want to know, Wilfred?” asked Lydia, disturbed.
    Wilfred replied with unwonted curtness that he thought he had seen the hat in the park the other night.
    â€œOh yes,” said Lydia, relieved. “We sent her out to hear the band.”
    Wilfred grunted non-committally, and his face did not clear.
    â€œI suppose she had a good character?” he began again after a few minutes. “At her last place, I mean.”
    Lydia’s face burned.
    â€œOf course,” she replied with assumed indignation; not, however, looking him in the face.
    â€œThat’s all right then,” said Wilfred hastily.
    â€œWhy did you ask?” demanded Lydia with a show of boldness. As he did not reply, she suggested