Celia's House Read Online Free Page B

take one if I may,” replied Humphrey, and he produced his knife and cut a newly opened bud, choosing it with care.
    â€œThat’s right,” said Johnson, nodding approval. “I don’t like to see folk tearing at roses. You’ve chosen a good one too.”
    Humphrey thought of all this as he shaved his left cheek. The rose was now on his dressing table, standing in a tumbler of water. He thought it would be nice to give it to Aunt Celia. It was her own, of course, but women liked these small attentions. This thought led him to Alice (who set a good deal of value on small attentions). Poor Alice , thought Humphrey. Poor Alice, shut up in that poky house with the three children and only one inexperienced servant girl to help her! How he wished he could have her brought to Dunnian on a magic carpet! He thought of Alice longingly, of her fair soft skin and gentle blue eyes. She was not very clever, perhaps, but who wanted a clever wife—not Humphrey. Humphrey was used to being with men, to hearing loud, virile voices and seeing strong, rugged faces. Alice was the most delightful change and rest. She was a “womanly woman,” soft and pretty and (to Humphrey) mysterious. He had always wanted to give her things but had never been able to afford anything worthwhile. Alice did not seem to mind. She had been most awfully good about it (thought Humphrey); she had accepted trivial gifts rapturously and done her best to economize. It was wonderful to think that the days of pinching and scraping, of cheap lodgings and hideous furnished houses were nearly over. Not that Humphrey was in a hurry for Aunt Celia to depart—no, quite honestly, he was not—but obviously Aunt Celia could not live forever.
    Alice would love this place. The children would adore it. They would grow strong and fit in the lovely air with plenty of milk and cream and rich golden butter from the farm. They would be perfectly happy and he would be happy thinking of them…and he would come back here for his leave to a real home, to a safe harbor. This place would give him roots, and Humphrey wanted roots for himself and his family. He wanted roots all the more because his life was nomadic, because he had never known what it was to have a real settled home. He was so excited by these thoughts that he felt quite giddy and he was obliged to lay down his razor until he could command his emotions.
    I must write to Alice, he thought. Nobody else must know, but I must tell Alice. I’ll write tomorrow when it’s settled, but I mustn’t build on it too much until the will is signed…supposing Aunt Celia were to die in the night! Nonsense, of course, she won’t. Why would she?
    There was no reason why she would (unless, of course, from the joy of beholding her great-nephew) and Humphrey banished the thought, but he was immediately assailed by another that was almost as alarming. What would happen if another Celia failed to appear? What provision would be made for the contingency? Fortunately, Alice liked babies and produced them without much trouble, but you could not tell for certain. Humphrey considered the matter. He had two daughters already—it seemed a pity that neither of them would do.
    Humphrey was tying his black tie by this time and he smiled at his reflection in the mirror; the whole thing was so absurd! He smiled and then he frowned. Mark ought to have Dunnian, of course. Mark was the right person to have it: his son, not a young daughter still unborn.
    Already Humphrey was beginning to get used to the idea of possessing Dunnian and to cavil at the terms of possession.

Chapter Four
Family Affairs
    Humphrey went down to the drawing room in good time and found his hostess sitting by the fire, rested and refreshed. She smiled at him and said, “I always have a fire in the evening.”
    â€œIt looks nice,” he remarked, coming forward and holding out his hands to the blaze. Aunt Celia looked