Magic In Vienna Part 9

"There are, of course, other ladies."A remark which depressed her. She said,"Yes, of course. You don't mind that we--discussed you? Eileen is very fond of you. . .""I'm flattered. And you, Cordelia?"She sat up straight. The? I--you said I didn't like you?""In the heat of the moment," he said gently,"I can't be all that bad? Can I? Supposing I were to give up working on my book for a time and stuff my head with rather less medical matters, would you like me then, and not disappear every time I open a door, and I'll be firm about not reading my letters at breakfast?"

She studied his face. Quite serious, it was, although she couldn't see his eyes under the drooping lids.

"Oh, yes, I'm sure I'd like you, but that doesn't really matter does it?"

He stood up."I think perhaps it matters a good deal. Shall we have lunch?" Heopened the door and as she went past him he asked casually: "You'regoing back to the hospital later on, I expect? I sent some flowers and I wonder if you'd mind going along to the Graben or the Kohlmarkt and getting an armful of books?"

They sat down opposite each other and made polite conversation while

she wondered what kind of a man he was. He had been warm and friendly in the study and now he was back in his reserved sh.e.l.l; polite and pleasant and obviously not minding if she were there at all. She remembered how he had kissed her and blushed at the thought, and blushed again when she looked up and found his eyes on her. She looked down at her plate as quickly as she could and missed his smile.

CHAPTER FIVE.

eileen made good progress, but then, as her uncle pointed out, there was no reason why she shouldn't. The operation had been straightforward, the wound a mere couple of inches and the child in the best of health. She was out of bed by the end of the second day, already a little bored despite the frequent telephone conversations she held, regardless of expense, with her parents and Lady Tres...o...b...

Her room resembled an expensive flower shop and as each visitor called to see her, they brought some trifle with them, so she was well on the way to becoming even more spoiled than ever. Cordelia, who had prided herself on instilling a little common humility into her, took things into her own hands after four days of Eileen's high flown tantrums. The child had been ill, but she had received every care and attention and now she was rapidly getting better. With luck she would be almost herself by the time her parents returned, which wouldn't be long now.

It had been a warm day and Eileen had been peevish and rude that morning; Cordelia, paying her usual evening visit took a quick, sympathetic look at her charge's cross face and said bracingly, "Frau Keppel called this afternoon and asked when you would be starting your German lessons again."

"But I'm only just recovering--I've been very ill."

She burst into angry tears, "I want to go back to Uncle's--he understands. You're hard hearted, Cordelia, I wish you'd go away and never come back."

"I'll do that if you really want me to. Shall I tell you something, love? You are bored. I know it'll be a few weeks before you can do all the usual things but there are heaps of other things--like your German lessons--they'll pa.s.s an hour very nicely. Besides, Frau Keppel told me that she needs the money. Your uncle pays her handsomely but only when she gives you a lesson. She lives with her very old mother and two cats and they depend on her."

Eileen had stopped crying.

"How do you know? Why should she tell you?"

"I expect I've got a listening kind of face.

"I must agree with that," said Dr Tres...o...b.. from behind her.

"Some people--women mostly, never listen, they either talk at the same time as I do or don't give me a chance to finish what I'm saying.

Cordelia is polite enough to wait until I've finished however bored she may be."

Eileen hunched a shoulder.

"Well, she hasn't got anything else to do now I'm ill and in pain." She declared dramatically.

The doctor leaned his length over the end of the bed and stared down his handsome nose at it's occupant.

"Wrong. You are neither ill nor in pain so don't try and pull the wool over my eyes, I'm too old for it, and you're wrong about Cordelia. She writes a letter each day to your mother and another one to your grandmother, with a blow by blow account of your progress. And when she's not doing that, she's trotting to and fro to sit with you, and last but by no means least, she sorts my letters in the morning, guards my privacy when casual visitors call and answers the 'phone if Thompson isn't around."

Which was all quite true, but he didn't mention that even when he was home they hardly met. Indeed breakfast was the only time she was sure of seeing him; she was beginning to get used to taking her meals in the little sitting room; either the doctor went out, very elegant in his dinner jacket, or shut himself in his study, presumably eating his dinner after she had gone to bed. He was polite, even vaguely friendly but there was no warmth in his manner. She didn't allow herself to think too much about that, aware that she would only make herself feel sad.

The doctor left presently and Eileen, presenting a sudden volte-face, conceded that German lessons weren't a bad idea and how about Cordelia bringing her needlework in the morning."

Cordelia got up to go.

"Splendid with luck you'll have it finished by the time your mother gets here and you'll be able to show off your German." She submitted to Eileen's throttling embrace, and said, "You'llgrow into a nice person, Eileen I shall dance at your wedding with real pleasure if you invite me, that is." / "You'll get married first, darling Cordelia, and have lots of children and I'll have them for bride's attendants..."

Cordelia laughed.

"Go on with you! Remember toeat your supper and sleep well. I'll see you in the morning."

She was half way down the long corridor leading to the entrance whenshe saw Dr Tres...o...b.., students surging behind him, a stout middle-agedsister beside him, emerge from a door ahead of her. He was listeningwith bent head to what she was telling him and Cordelia slowed herpace, not wanting to be seen. She wished that she was clever; a wardsister who understood all the brilliant things he was doubtlessdiscussing, making intelligent remarks to which he would listen,someone at whom he would actually look, someone he might even like. .. She stopped and let out a long sigh. Like wasn't what she meant;love was the word, she wanted him to love her more than anything in theworld, just as she loved him. And why hadn't she discovered it sooner,this she was at a loss to understand. And why did she have to discoverit now? Far better if she hadn't found out about it until she wa.s.safely back in England, miles away from him.

They had disappeared round a corner; she walked on again. Perhaps she was infatuated; after all, she had had precious little chance of meeting any young men during the last few years, perhaps it was the close proximity in which they lived... Not all that close, common sense told her and it wasn't infatuation, that wouldn't take into account his absent mindedness, his lack of enthusiasm at having her and Eileen in the apartment, his complete disregard of' her, never more marked than these last few days' when Eileen was in hospital.

There was no point, she thought sadly, in buying any more new clothes, far better for her to save her money as a safeguard against an uncertain future.

She gained the outside and found him waiting for her and when she protested that the walk home would do her good, he merely opened the car's door and told her to get in. She did so meekly but the meekness was short lived.

"Why did you stop just now?" He wanted to know, 'as though you had discovered something momentous?"

The? But you didn't see--you were miles away-- I. . .1 don't know whatyou're talking about, I dare- say I'd remembered something--forgottensomething..." She stopped, suddenly aware that she was talkingnonsense.

"Of course," his voice was very smooth.

"How do you find Eileen?"

"Very well--bored stiff too."

"I think we'd better have her back home in a couple of days time--her

st.i.tches will be out by then-- that's if you could cope? She'll have to take things easily for a week or two, but there's no reason why she shouldn't go out each day for a short walk-- supposing I hire a fiacre each day and you take a drive, and I must contrive to drive you out to the Vienna Woods before her parents get back."

"Will she be able to go back to England when her parents come?" It was a relief to be able to talk about something which was impersonal.

"Heavens yes. They're going straight to Scotland and there's no question of school for her for the moment, anyway."

"I see. She won't be going to see Lady Tres...o...b..?"

He said carelessly,

"Oh as to that, I daresay they'll spend a day or two with her." He stopped the car before the door.

"If you're not doing anything much this evening could you go through mypost? Get it sorted out if you will and put it on my desk; I'm goingout later on this evening and I'll go through it before I leave." Heleaned across and opened her door.

"You'll be going to see Eileen in the morning?"

She felt she should have added more than the bald "Yes' she offered but he didn't seem to notice.

"I'm not coming in I've an engagement, tell Thompson I'll be in to change later, will you?"

He nodded goodbye: "I'll see you at breakfast."

It was on the tip of her tongue to remark that he didn't see her at breakfast or anywhere else; she had become a useful appendage to his household, a nonent.i.ty to be forgotten the moment she left it. She ate her solitary dinner with no appet.i.te, carefully having dealt with a large pile of letters, and then she went to bed.

In the morning after breakfast she took a tram to the shops to get some embroidery silks for Eileen, and then she went to be with her in the hospital. It was teatime when she got back, served in the small sitting room by Thompson, who murmured that Mrs Thompson had taken it upon herself to make a nice Madeira Cake and hoped that Miss Gibson would enjoy a slice.

For some reason Cordelia felt tearful at this kindly act; at least the Thompsons had never resented her.

There was no point in changing her dress; she did her face and hair and

walked back to the hospital; at this hour of the late afternoon the trams were bulging with homegoers and the underground would be of no use to her. She found Eileen low spirited, but then she mostly was by the end of the day; however comfortably she was housed at the hospital, she felt shut in and was as well as that tired and peevish too.

Cordelia turned off the TV a ponderous speechmaker of no entertainment value, switched on some pleasant music on the radio and settled down to the task of cheering up her charge.

"How's the embroidery there's not much more to do is there? You'll get it finished if you keep at it. Has your uncle been to see you?""I'm to come home in two days. Mummy 'phoned they'll be here in tendays. Uncle Charles says I may go for rides each day.. ."

"Yes, he mentioned it."

"And the Vienna Woods he says he'll drive me there and have apicnic."So she wasn't to be included. How he must dislike her."You'll enjoy that."She hadn't meant to sound wistful but Eileen was a perceptive child.She asked,"Do you Cordelia? Are you lonely?"miss me, "Well, yes, of course I miss you you're good company, love."She didn't see the sudden look of mischief on her companion's face.Eileen said sweetly: "Well, I'll be back at Uncle Charles' house in a day or two, won't I. Cordelia, could

you come a bit earlier tomorrow? About half-past nine?""Yes, of course, dear. Does that fit in better with the routinehere?"

Eileen's smile was guileless.

"Yes, it does. You won't forget?"

Eileen was still in bed when Cordelia arrived at the hospital the next

morning; she wasn't alone, there was a young man with her, thick set, fair haired, blue eyed, a pleasant smile on his face.

Eileen's,

"Hullo, Cordelia, darling," was splendidly casual, as was her equally casual introduction of the young man.

"This is Dr Julius Salfinger, Cordelia. He comes to see me most days when Uncle Charles is too busy. I call him Julius and I expect you can call him that too."

She watched with a satisfied eye as they shook hands.

"Julius knows Vienna awfully well, he's lived here all his life. He says we ought to go to the Gala Rooms at the Hofburg Palace and see the imperial cutlery and silver and go to one of the real Viennese Restaurants for lunch." She sighed deeply, 'but of course there won't be time now, will there? I mean I won't be well enough. .."