The Dark Stranger Read Online Free Page B

abrupt way of speaking.
    There was a distinct likeness between the cousins, Tina thought, not listening to the conversation, then Craig suddenly smiled at something Belle had said and his face had an unexpected charm.
    “ Tired ? ” he asked, conscious of her grave regard. “ Well, here ’ s Brownie with your supper. When you ’ ve finished she ’ ll show you where you ’ re to sleep. Now—I ’ ll introduce you to another cousin, Miss Maud Sennen, and after that you will call her Brownie like everyone else. ”
    A small elderly woman was carrying a laden tray across the room and Tina sprang to her feet and ran to take the tray from her.
    “ How do you do? ” she said shyly. “ It was so kind of you to get my supper. ”
    “ Leave the tray be, ” said Brownie severely . “ I ’ ll put it where I want it. ”
    She was well named, Tina thought, and a little alarming. She had the Pentreath dark skin, her eyes were brown and snapping and her small slightly bent body had the look of a gnome. She placed the tray on a table, selected the exact chair she wanted then told Tina she might sit down and eat .
    “ It ’ s all cold save for the soup but that ’ s no fault of mine. You should hav e come at the right time and sat down to a proper meal with us all, ” she said.
    “ Don ’ t take any notice of Brownie, ” Craig told her with a grin. “ She loves an excuse to put us in our places, don ’ t you, Brownie? ”
    Miss Maud Sennen gave him a disapproving look.
    “ It ’ s a pity you don ’ t listen to me, then, ” she said and sat down in a straight-backed chair. “ Well, Belle Linden, does it please you to come back to Tremawvan after all these years? ”
    “ It hasn ’ t changed, ” replied Belle easily. “ I wonder you haven ’ t made improvements, Craig. Oil lamps, for instance. Why don ’ t you have your own power plant? ”
    “ We ’ re used to lamps. Plants can go wrong and they cost money, ” he answered.
    “ But you could well afford it, ” said Belle demurely.
    He gave her a speculative, level look but it was Brownie who replied bluntly:
    “ Those that has money should spend it how they please. You ’ ll find there ’ s no unnecessary waste at Tremawvan, Belle. ”
    Tina ate her supper in silence, made a little uncomfortable by the cross-currents of the conversation. No one took any notice of her until Brownie remarked suddenly:
    “ Has this child no folks of her own ? ”
    “ Only me, ” said Belle equably. “ You don ’ t grudge her hospitality, do you, Brownie? ”
    “ The hospitality is Craig ’ s. I accept it myself, ” Brownie replied with unexpected dignity, and Tina, choking suddenly over a piece of chicken, said quickly:
    It was very kind of Mr. Pentreath to invite me as well as Belle, but I suppose there was no help for it. ”
    Craig had been watching her, observing the sensitive delicacy of her face while she ate and the fairness of her skin in the lamplight, a fairness that colored too easily.
    “ Mr. Pentreath sounds very formal for a new relation, ” he said with unexpected gentleness. “ We ’ ll have to think of something better. ”
    “ Behind your back you are referred to as rich Cousin Craig, ” said Belle, and instantly the hardness was back in his face and his shrewd eyes challenged hers.
    “ An admirable title, ” he said suavely. “ You shall call me Cousin Craig until you grow up, Tina, and I will address you as Clementina on special occasions. ”
    “ Oh, please, ” she said, her high forehead looking worried— not Clementina. “ It ’ s such a horrid name. ”
    “ Horrid? I think it ’ s charming, ” he told her gravely, then suddenly smiled. “ Brownie shall take you upstairs, now. It ’ s time we were all in bed. Good night. ”
    “ Good night—Cousin Craig, ” she said, rising obediently. She stooped to kiss her stepmother, but Belle turned away her face.
    “ I ’ ll come along and say good night later, ” she said.
    “