The Chinese Shawl Read Online Free Page B

does not amount to much more than a fairly extensive garden, was in a state of utter neglect. Miss Fane has transformed it. She has installed central heating and electric light in the house. She has never come down on your trustees for a single penny for repairs. She has made the property her first and very nearly her only interest. She is an invalid—since her accident she has never walked—and you can imagine what an interest like this has meant to her.”
    “But if she can’t walk—”
    “She has one of those self-propelling chairs. She spends a great deal of time in the garden.”
    Laura said, “I see—” She was bewildered and taken aback. She had the feeling that she was being unfairly pressed. She turned a clear gaze on Mr. Metcalfe’s face.
    “You mustn’t talk as if I would turn her out. I would never do that.”
    “Then you are prepared to consider the proposal?”
    “No—I don’t think so. I don’t want—to sell—”
    “Her offer is a very generous one. You have to consider that the rent she pays you amounts to three-quarters of your total income. She is not young, and she is an invalid. If she were to die, you would lose three hundred a year. You might let again, or you might not—that would depend largely on post-war conditions. You certainly could not hope for another tenant like Miss Fane.”
    Laura gave her head a little impatient shake. The money didn’t come into it—there were other things. She said quickly,
    “Why does she want to buy the Priory—after all these years?”
    Mr. Metcalfe had a smiling answer to that.
    “My dear Miss Laura, she has always wanted to buy it, but your father wouldn’t sell. He said he would never live there himself, but his son might be able to some day—anyhow he would leave the decision to him. That was shortly before you were born, and he had quite made up his mind that you were to be a boy. As long as he lived Miss Fane made him a periodical offer. After his death she was obliged to wait for your coming of age. She now repeats her offer— twelve thousand pounds for everything as it stands.”
    Laura put out a protesting hand.
    “It’s not the money, Mr. Metcalfe. I want to know why. She’s an invalid and she isn’t young, and I would never turn her out. It isn’t as if she had children to leave it to. Why does she want to buy the Priory?”
    “Oh, she wants to leave it to Miss Tanis Lyle,” said Mr. Metcalfe.
    chapter 5
    Laura came out on to the street and found Carey Desborough waiting for her. He had been walking up and down, and just as she emerged from the dark entrance he turned and came towards her. He had those few moments to adjust his recollections of Laura last night to Laura this morning. She was wearing a black coat over a bright green dress, and a black cap with a little shiny clasp at the side that looked like silver. He had not remembered that her colour was so bright except when she had blushed, and he wondered whether she was blushing now. He thought not. He thought that something had made her angry, and when he saw how brilliant her eyes were he was sure of it. He felt an irresponsible desire to tease her, to heap fuel on the fire, and see what happened, but she took the wind out of his sails by saying,
    “I’m in a most dreadful temper. I’m not fit to go out to lunch with anyone. I shall be perfectly horrid.”
    The lines round his eyes crinkled up as if he was going to smile.
    “Well, I’m warned. Have you got a very bad temper?”
    “It boils over. It’s boiling now. But it doesn’t generally last.”
    “Well, suppose we walk a bit and give it a chance.”
    Laura nodded.
    “It would be a good plan. I really am boiling. Mr. Metcalfe had a cooking fire besides all the rest of it, and there’s a nice cold wind.”
    “Did you say an ice-cold wind?”
    Laura eyed him severely.
    “You know I didn’t. I said it was nice and cold. Perhaps it will cool me down. If I had to go into a hot restaurant like this I