The Black Benedicts Read Online Free

smile at the spectacle of the tousle-headed child with the magnificent eyes gazing at her rather imploringly from the foot of her own bed Her dressing-gown and her pink feather-trimmed slippers—actually small mules from which her delicate heels protruded—looked as if they were intended for the small daughter of a film star, and certainly this new charge of hers was a quite extraordinary beauty. “ Now that you ’ ve seen me w hat do you think of me? ”
    “ I like you, ” came the reply at once. “ I knew I would because Mrs. Allardyce saw you in the tea-leaves about two days ago and she said you were going to be perfectly all right, and not a bit like Miss Peppercorn, who sucked bulls-eyes and wore little hard round felt hats. You don ’ t wear felt halts, do you? ”
    “ Not hard round ones, ” Mallory replied, adopting the conspiratorial attitude and speaking in a whisper. “ And who, ” she asked, “ is—or, rather, are—Mrs. Allardyce and Mi s s Peppercorn? ”
    Slim eyebrows upraised themselves in surprise. “ Why, Mrs. Allardyce is the cook of course and Miss Peppercorn used to be my governess—oh, a long time ago. Mrs. Allardyce is psychic, ” impressively.
    “ Is she indeed? ” Mallory murmured.
    “ She gets warnings, you know, and that sort of thing. ”
    “ And you ’ re going to get a nice chill if you don ’ t put something round you, ” Mallory declared rather anxiously, leaning forward to adjust the eiderdown so that it covered the lower half of her unexpected visitor. “ Of course, if I ’ d known you were going to pay me this visit I ’ d have been better prepared to receive you. And as it is I think I ’ d better put on the fire, ” preparing to get out of bed.
    “ Oh, no, don ’ t do that, ” Serena begged, catching at her arm to detain her. “ I ’ m quite warm, really, and very comfortable where I am. Unless, of course, you ’ d rather I came in with you ... ? And Linda as well if you haven ’ t any fearfully strong objections? She doesn ’ t smell at all, only a kind of dachshundish smell which all dachshunds have, and I keep her very well brushed, and spray her sometimes with perfume. Uncle Raife brought me a huge bottle of wonderful French scent from Paris the last time he went there, and I ’ ve used it practically all on Belinda. ”
    Mallory felt there was no objection she could possibly raise after such a testimonial as this in connection with Belinda ’ s personal hygiene—although she did think it was rather an odd present for an uncle to bring a small niece—within a matter of seconds after that they were all three nicely tucked in at the correct end of Mallory ’ s bed, and Belinda ’ s nose was hanging mournfully over the top of the lavender-scented sheet, while her still somewhat worried golden eyes looked upwards a little doubtfully at Mallory.
    “ And what do you think Darcy would say if she could see you now? ” Mallory inquired, wondering whether she ought to insist on Serena returning to her own bed immediately.
    “ Darcy would be furious. ”
    “ Well, then, I think you ’ d better go. ”
    B ut Serena ignored the suggestion.
    “ Un cl e Raife wouldn ’ t mind. Uncle Raife lets me do most of the things I want to do. ”
    “ H ’ m! ” commented Mallory. “ That isn ’ t particularly good for you, you know. ”
    “ Isn ’ t it? ” Serena glanced at her with interest. “ That ’ s a pretty nightie you ’ re wearing, ” she remarked. “ I love nice cl othes, don ’ t you? Uncle Raife says that if you ’ ve got good looks you should be dressed accordingly. Un cl e Raife looks like a pirate, but I always think pirates are terribly fascinating, especially when they don ’ t actually behave like pirates. ”
    “ Well, I suppose that is an advantage, ” Mallory admitted, endeavouring to sound as serious as possible.
    Serena glanced at her again as if she suspected a twinkle in her eyes.
    “ There ’ s a portrait in the