Beyond The Blue Mountains - Plaidy Jean - Страница 54

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“My little daughter is all agog to see the Town,” said Kitty.

“I trust, Ma’am,” answered Jonathan Crew, ‘that some day I may be allowed to show her a little of London__to show you both of course.”

“That is most kind. My poor husband is such a busy man; he is here and there on business, and there is little time for pleasure.”

“But perhaps,” said Carolan, “Mr. Crew is also a busy man.”

“I have some leisure,” he answered.

“And it is gracious indeed to offer to spend a little of it on us,” said Kitty.

“It is you who are gracious.”

“Flatterer!” laughed Kitty.

Oh, Mamma! thought Carolan. Don’t! He is not a bit like that. Can you not see?

But Kitty did not see; she gazed at the visitor admiringly, and fluttered her long golden lashes. Carolan was uncomfortable, over-silent and a little gauche.

Kitty thought: I am still attractive then! Here is a young man who calls to see my daughter and finds me more interesting. Does not a woman become more attractive as she grows older -providing of course she is not too old? What she gains in flesh she loses in gaucherie. For all we know, this man may be a great gentleman a rich merchant perhaps even a lord! How I wish I had put on the black velvet! Black is becoming to a fair skin. But perhaps this blue is more enchanting … Therese used to say blue was my colour.

“I must go,” said Mr. Crew.

“But I trust you will allow me to come again.”

He bowed over Kitty’s hand, and Carolan went to the door with him.

“I hope to see more of the interesting things in your interesting shop,” he said.

“Please come whenever you want to. My father has lots and lots of things tucked away, I’m sure. I vow he most likely keeps the best locked away in the basement.”

“I think that very likely. You are going to be his guide and counsellor-that much I see, Miss Carolan. Then I may call again?”

“Please do!”

Thank you! Thank you! Goodbye.”

Kitty was smiling when Carolan returned to the parlour.

“My dear, an admirer so soon!”

“Not an admirer at all. Mamma.”

“La! child. You are but a baby.”

To my mind,” said Carolan, ‘he admired you more than he admired me.”

“Nonsense!” said Kitty, smiling to herself.

“I am an old woman, though I do admit I was very, very young when you were born, Carolan.”

It was an hour or so later when Darrell came into the shop. Carolan waited in the parlour, listening for his exclamation of surprise and delight. She peeped through the parlour doorway at him. He was staring about bin as though he scarcely recognized the place.

She ran out to him.

“Do you not think it a great improvement?” she asked demurely.

“Why …” he stammered.

“What… what has happened?”

She slipped her arm through his.

“You had so many pretty things tucked away, and you showed all the most unattractive of your stock. Now, Father, that is not the way to manage a shop!”

He was silent for a long time; she tried to see his face, but he had a gift of drawing the mask so firmly down that it was impossible to see behind it.

“Father… Father .. , you are not pleased then? You think I am an interfering, stupid creature ? You are not pleased ? ‘ He turned to her then. He took her hand from his arm and kissed it tenderly.

“You are a sweet daughter for a man to have, Carolan.”

Then you are pleased!”

“We will have a talk. I can see you have the makings of a business woman! ‘ He went to the shop door and locked it.

“But, Father…” she began.

There will be no more customers today,” he said.

“I think you are very tired.”

He smiled his slow sweet smile.

“A drink and a rest would be very welcome, I admit.”

They went through into the parlour.

“Ah!” said Kitty. There you are, my love. And have you done good business? And would you like a drink? We have had a visitor today… Carolan and I. He is quite a presentable young man, that. Carolan, a drink for me too; I declare my throat is as “A visitor?” said Barrett slowly.

“Mr. Crew,” said Carolan.

“He just came to inquire how I was after yesterday’s excitement.”

Kitty smiled slyly, and Carolan felt she wanted to escape from her sad father and slyly smiling mother.

Darrell twirled his ale round and round in the tankard.

“Carolan,” he said, as though choosing his words carefully.

‘business is complicated. Odd as it may seem to you, those old clothes are more important to the business of the shop itself than the jewellery. But my main business is not done in the shop; I do not sell much over the counter. This is how I do my business my chief business, you understand I meet a man who wants something; I try to get it for nun. Do you understand? It is not a matter of showing goods in a shop window. This is not so much a shop as a storeroom. That door you have discovered; I would rather have it covered. Listen, Carolan, I will tell you something. This is a very poor neighbourhood in which we live; it is a dangerous neighbourhood. Beyond that door is a flight of stairs which leads down to a basement room; and in this room I keep my more valuable stock. You understand? A man may come into the shop to ask the price of a secondhand coat, but he may be a burglar spying out the land. I would rather people did not know of that door. That is why I have kept it covered with those old clothes.”

“I see.” said Carolan humbly, ‘that I have been rather foolish. Oh, Father, why do you not tell me that I am an ignorant girl from the country who, because she knows so little, thinks she knows much!”

He put his hands over hers.

“You are sweet,” he said, ‘and I love your solicitude. But this business is too involved for you to understand in a few weeks. While you are here I want you and your mother to enjoy yourselves. I am going to plan some excursions for you. Do not worry yourself about dull commerce!”

“I am sorry. Father.”

“Bless you,” he said.

“God bless you and keep you out of harm all the days of your life!”

A week passed, and it was a full one for Carolan. When her father went out on business she insisted on looking after the shop; it was now as she had first seen it, the old clothes huddled in the doorway, the door to the storage basement concealed by musty coats. Carolan did not think of altering it now. She understood that her father was no ordinary shopkeeper; he was known in the coffee and chocolate houses of the town as an enterprising merchant. If a rich man wanted an ornament for his wife, sweetheart, mother or daughter, he would get into touch with Darrell, and Darrell would do his best to procure what was wanted. He told Carolan that he had started in this humble shop, and because he wished to save quickly that he might retire to the country at the earliest possible moment, lie did not see why he should take more expensive premises. He liked, too, to keep up the business of selling old clothes. The poor in the neighbourhood knew they could get what they wanted at a fair price from his shop.

“One day,” he said.

“I may take you along to the coffee house with me.” Then he added quickly, as though his pride and common sense were having a struggle from which common sense came out triumphant: “Not That would be foolish; though I should have liked to show them my daughter.”

She went through Kitty’s wardrobe with her. and helped to make alterations. They sat for hours together in the little par-lout while Kitty talked, chiefly of the day when they would retire to the country and she would have her. own house. She would not be house-proud like her Aunt Harriet; she would be no goddess of the still-room. No! But she would entertain, and there would be servants to wait on her and her guests, and a full larder always. Therese should come back and set about the task of resuscitating her beauty.

On one occasion Darrell hired a cabriolet and they all drove round London. Then they had a picnic on Hampstead Heath and took a trip to the Bald Faced Stag in Epping Forest. It was all delightful and full of interest the best way of making the days pass quickly while one waited for news of a lover.

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