Evening star., 1935-06-12
CHAPTER XIV.
BAD NEWS

II
he mightn't believe me! And
4 she'd ind some way Of wrig-
Cling out of 1t. After ali, I
can't prove what I saw; it's going 70
be my word against hers"
And IL it came to that, she felt
certain, her father would choose 70
believe Daphne Sumers. ID
Shed only say that I'd made II
all up. she thought despairingly.
Anyway, can it be right to tell tales?
Is it ever right to do wrong?
81 impossible to know! She might
only succeed IN hurting her father
without doing any good. Perhaps the
best way would be to go direct to !
Daphne herself and tell her that she
had been found out?
It was still early when Alison got
of the bus at Knightsbridge. In any
case. her father would not be at
home before o'clock. She would
finish of her shopping, she decided,
try and make up her mind what sne
must do then.
But she was still uncertain as to
what was right when at last she got
home.
alone with him, pouring out his emma
tea, poking the big logs on the nre 70
make them blaze, as she had done
hundreds of times before, she 1ouno
1t harder than ever to make up her
mind.
She could not listen properly to
his description of his day, his luncn
with Daphne and two old friends,
some gossip he had brought home
from the club, the latest political scan
dal; she assented at random, trying
to make up her mind to plunge.
"Father-" she drew deep breath
and got as far as that, but Robert,
still chuckling over his last joke as
he lit a cigar, broke in before she
could finish.
by the way, did Daphne tell you
about our new plan?"
Alison pulled herself together with
o jerk. :,
mo. As a matter of fact, missed
her this afternoon"
Was he going to ask her why? For
q second she held her breath.
"Oh? You haven't seen her, then?"
mo"
"oh, we settled everything at lunch"
Robert was pleased to be able to
break the news himself he had rather
q childish love of being the first, and
he did not notice Alison's expression
Of relief.
she and I were talking things
over" he went on cheerfully, "and we
both feel that there's no real reason
why we should wait whole six weeks
to get married. I was waiting be-
cause your aunt wouldn't be back
from India to look after you, but
Daphne says that she would much
rather that you came with u.s."
"On your honeymoon?" All Ali
sons anxious thoughts were scattered
by this bombShell. She stared at her
father blankly.
Yes" He laughed rather shyly.
"We're not young couple. my dear,
to be romantic about that. She says
you'd enjoy 1t. Daphne thinks it'd
be great fun having you with her
while I'm playing with my botanical
collection. You see. we've decided to
go to Spain now, the Southern Pyre-
nees, instead of Madeira, and you d
love that"
It think I'd feel horribly in the
way" Alison could not keep the sheer
dismay out Of her voice
"Nonsensel How could you be IN
the way? We both want you" He
patted her shoulder.
Father, please-honestly, I'd rather
mott" II came out with rush. "1'd
much rather stay in the house alone,
II Aunt Emily isn't back in time!"
II thought you'd be pleased" Rob-
ert looked upset and very hurt.
IL think it's sweet Of you both to
want me" She got that out with an
EFFORT. -
I'VE do, want you. Surely that's
enough?" There was a note Of an
noyance in his voice now.
But I'd rather stay here" In her
despair. Alison plunged. "1-T want
to talk to you about that. You see,
I've been thinking things out. and
think want to take up some work"
Work? What on earth for? My
dear child, don't be so silly!" He
was quite heated. There's no earthly
reason to work. You know perfectly
well what I think of all this modern
nonsense about girls earning their
own iving"
X.
Alison strove to be patient. "I just
want something to do"
His annoyance faded suddenly into
laughter.
Something to do. You'll have
plenty. Why, DaphneS planning to
give dance to bring you out as soon
as we get back, and you'll be much too
busy playing round and amusing
yourself to worry about work"
But don't want to dance and
Amuse myself"
Don't want to come out and be
presented? What rubbish You'll
love 1t. All girls do. Dancing and
spending money and having new
frocks and stuff-what little goose
you are!"
Was there no way of making him |
understand? thought Alison helplessly. |
few months ago he would have |
listened to her views, have taken |
them seriously. but now Daphne had
taught him to think of his daughter |
as Q child still, to be treated as q fool! |
She made one last desperate plea.
Let me try it-just for a little |
while. anyway. The three weeks you're
away and sec"
See what?" His anger burst sud- |
denly. MY dear, you're being very
stupid! It's. not like you Ali this |
nonsense about work! Daphne and |
want you to come with US, and |
that's enough. It's extraordinarily |
sweet Of her to want you, and I don't |
think you're behaving any too we'll |
I'm afraid it's simply that you're
NJ he 70 ~