The Misses Mallett (The Bridge Dividing) Part 18

He held the arm now quite firmly and they faced each other. 'You'd better tell me the whole story.'

Her lips quivered. She wished he would loosen his grip and hoped he would go on holding her for ever. It was a moment of mingled ecstasy and sadness. 'Oh,' she almost wailed, 'can't I be unhappy if I want to?'

He gave a short laugh, saying, 'Poor little girl,' and stooping, kissed her on the mouth. She endured that kiss willingly for a moment and then, very lightly, struck him in the face.

-- 6

Afterwards there was some satisfaction in thinking that she had done the dramatic thing--what the pure-minded heroine always did to the villain; but at the time the action was spontaneous and unconsidered.

Henrietta was not really avenging an insult: she was simply expressing her annoyance at her pleasure in it. Being, when she chose, a clear- sighted young woman, she realized this, but she also knew that Francis Sales would find the obvious meaning in the blow. For herself, she sanely determined to blot that episode from her mind: it was maddening to think of it as an insult and dangerous to remember its delight, and she was able calmly to tell her aunts that Mr. Sales had seen her home.

'Then why didn't he come in?' Caroline asked with a grunt. 'Leaving you on the doorstep like a housemaid!'

'He only came as far as the bridge.'

'My dear child! What was he thinking of? Men are not what they were, or is it the women who are different? They haven't the charm! They haven't the old charm! My difficulty was always to get rid of the creatures. I'm disappointed in you, Henrietta.'

'But he's married,' Henrietta said gravely. 'I only needed him on the dark roads and I should think he wanted to go back to Mrs. Sales.'

'It would be the first time, then,' Caroline said.

'Why, isn't he fond of her?'

'Don't ask dangerous questions, child--and would you be fond of her yourself?'

'She's very pretty.'

'Now, Caroline, don't,' Sophia begged.

Caroline chuckled. 'Don't what?'

'Say what you were going to say.'

Caroline chuckled again. 'I can't help it. My tongue won't be tied.

I'm like all the Malletts--'

'But not before the child.'

'You're a prude, Sophia, and if Henrietta imagines that a man like Francis Sales, any man worth his salt--besides, Henrietta has knocked about the world. She is no more innocent than she looks.'

'She doesn't mean half she says,' Sophia whispered.

'And neither is Francis Sales,' Caroline persisted. 'Ridiculous! Dark roads, indeed! I don't think I care for your wandering about at night, Henrietta.'

'I won't do it again,' Henrietta said meekly.

'Sophia and I--' Caroline began one of her reminiscences, to which neither Sophia nor Henrietta listened. To the one, they were familiar in their exaggeration, and the other had her own thoughts, which were bewilderingly confused.

She had meant to stand between Francis Sales and Aunt Rose; later she had wished to help them, now she did not know whether she wanted to help or hinder. The thing was too much for her, but she wondered if Aunt Rose had ever experienced such a kiss. Meeting her a few minutes later on the stairs, with her slim hand on the polished rail, a beautiful satin-shod foot gleaming below the lace of her dress, she seemed a being too ethereal for a salute so earthly, and because she looked so lovely, because Christabel had been unjust, Henrietta forgot to feel unfriendly.

Rose said unexpectedly, 'Oh, Henrietta, I am glad you have come back.

You seem to have been away for a long time.'

'I went to the Battys' to tea and then to Sales Hall. I promised Mrs.

Sales. Do you mind?'

'Of course not; but I missed you.'

'Oh! Oh! I never thought of that.'

'I always miss you,' Rose said gravely. 'You have made a great difference to us all.'

Henrietta's mouth opened with astonishment. 'I had no idea. And I do nothing but enjoy myself.'

Rose laughed. 'That's what we want you to do. You must be as happy as you can.'

This, from Aunt Rose, was the most wonderful thing that had happened yet. Henrietta was overcome by astonishment and grat.i.tude. 'I had no idea. I never dreamt of your liking me. I thought you just put up with me.'

'You haven't given me much chance,' Rose said in a low voice, 'of doing anything else.'

It was true: Henrietta could not flourish when she thought herself unappreciated, but now she expanded like a flower blossoming in a night.

'Oh, if we could be friends! There's n.o.body to talk to except Charles Batty, and I hated, I simply hated being at Sales Hall to-night.' She tightened her lips and opened them to say, 'I shan't go there again. I said so. She is a terrible woman.'

'She has a great deal to bear.'

'Yes, and she counts on your remembering that,' Henrietta said acutely.

'What was the matter to-night?'

'Hints,' Henrietta whispered. 'Hints,' and she added nervously, 'about you.'

Rose made a slight movement. 'Don't tell me.'

'And the cat. I ran away. She was crying, but I didn't care. I ran all down the avenue on to the road. Mr. Sales had said he would take me home, but I didn't wait. It was much better under the sky. Then I heard footsteps, and it was Mr. Sales running after me.' She paused.

Two stairs above her, Aunt Rose stood, listening with attention. She was, as usual, all black and white; her neck, rising from the black lace, looked like a bowl of cream laid out of doors to cool in the night.

'He kissed me,' Henrietta said abruptly.

Rose did not move, and before she spoke Henrietta had time to wonder what had prompted her to that confession. She had not thought about it, the words had simply issued of themselves.

'Kissed you?'

'Yes,' Henrietta said, and suddenly she wanted to make it easier for Aunt Rose. 'I think he was sorry for me. I told him I was unhappy, but I couldn't tell him why, I couldn't say it was his wife. I think he meant it kindly.'

'I am sure he did,' Rose said with admirable self-possession. 'You look very young in that big hat, you are very young, and perhaps he guessed what you had been through. Don't think about it any more.'

'No.' Henrietta seemed to have no control over her tongue. 'But then, you see, I hit him.'