Читать «Dumb Witness / Безмолвный свидетель. Книга для чтения на английском языке» онлайн - страница 5

Bella, when she arrived in England from Smyrna, had tried earnestly to copy Theresa’s elegance at an inferior price and cut.

Dr Tanios, who was a big bearded jolly looking man, was talking to Miss Arundell. His voice was warm and full—an attractive voice that charmed a listener almost against his or her will. Almost in spite of herself, it charmed Miss Arundell.

Miss Lawson was fidgeting a good deal. She jumped up and down, handing plates, fussing over the tea-table. Charles, whose manners were excellent, rose more than once to help her, but she expressed no gratitude.

When, after tea, the party went out to make a tour of the garden Charles murmured to his sister:

‘Lawson doesn’t like me. Odd, isn’t it?’

Theresa said, mockingly:

‘Very odd. So there is one person who can withstand your fatal fascination?’

Charles grinned—an engaging grin—and said:

‘Lucky it’s only Lawson…’

In the garden Miss Lawson walked with Mrs Tanios and asked her questions about the children. Bella Tanios’ rather drab face lighted up. She forgot to watch Theresa. She talked eagerly and animatedly. Mary had said such a quaint thing on the boat.

She found Minnie Lawson a most sympathetic listener.

Presently a fair-haired young man with a solemn face and pince-nez was shown into the garden from the house. He looked rather embarrassed. Miss Arundell greeted him politely.

Theresa said:

‘Hullo, Rex!’

She slipped an arm through his. They wandered away.

Charles made a face. He slipped away to have a word with the gardener, an ally of his from old days.

When Miss Arundell re-entered the house Charles was playing with Bob. The dog stood at the top of the stairs, his ball in his mouth, his tail gently wagging.

‘Come on, old man,’ said Charles.

Bob sank down on his haunches, nosed his ball slowly and slowly nearer the edge. As he finally bunted it over he sprang to his feet in great excitement. The ball bumped slowly down the stairs. Charles caught it and tossed it up to him. Bob caught it neatly in his mouth. The performance was repeated.

‘Regular game of his, this,’ said Charles.

Emily Arundell smiled.

‘He’ll go on for hours,’ she said.

She turned into the drawing-room and Charles followed her. Bob gave a disappointed bark.

Glancing through the window Charles said:

‘Look at Theresa and her young man. They are an odd couple!’

‘You think Theresa is really serious over this?’

‘Oh, she’s crazy about him!’ said Charles with confidence. ‘Odd taste, but there it is. I think it must be the way he looks at her as though she were a scientific specimen and not a live woman. That’s rather a novelty for Theresa. Pity the fellow’s so poor. Theresa’s got expensive tastes.’