Маленькая хозяйка большого дома / The Little Lady Of The Big House

6

The next morning Graham learned the Big House. Over the billiard table, Graham learned that Dick Forrest never appeared for breakfast, that he worked in bed, had coffee at six, and only on unusual occasions appeared to his guests before the twelve-thirty lunch. As for Paula Forrest, she was a poor sleeper, a late riser, lived behind a door without a knob in a spacious wing, and only on infrequent occasion she appeared before twelve-thirty, and not very often.

Graham came to lunch with an eagerness to see Paula; and he knew definite disappointment when his hostess did not appear.

“A white night,” Dick Forrest said. “Do you know, we were married years before I ever saw her sleep. I knew she slept, but I never saw her. I’ve seen her for three days and nights without closing an eye.”

A new guest had arrived that morning, a Donald Ware[44], whom Graham met at lunch. Despite his youth, he was a well-known violinist.

“He loves Paula very much,” Ernestine told Graham as they passed out from the dining room.

Graham raised his eyebrows.

“Oh, but she doesn’t mind,” Ernestine laughed. “Every man that comes along does the same thing. She’s used to it.[45] She enjoys these people, and gets the best out of them. It’s lots of fun to Dick. You’ll be doing the same before you’re here a week. If you don’t, we’ll all be surprised mightily. And if you don’t, most likely you’ll hurt Dick’s feelings.”

“Oh, well, if so, I suppose I must,” Graham sighed. “If it’s the custom—well, it’s the custom, that’s all. But there are so many other nice girls around.”

Ernestine dropped her own eyes away, and flushed.

“Little Leo—the poet you remember last night,” she said. “He’s madly in love with Paula, too. And Terrence—the Irishman, you know—he’s mildly in love with her. They can’t help it[46], you see; and can you blame them?”

“She surely deserves it all,” Graham murmured, although hurt in that the epicurean anarchist who adores to be a loafer and a pensioner could even be in love with the Little Lady. “She is most deserving of all men’s admiration,” he continued smoothly. “From the little I’ve seen of her she’s quite remarkable and most charming.”

“She’s my half-sister[47],” Ernestine said, “But she’s so different. She’s different from any girl I ever knew—though she isn’t exactly a girl. She’s thirty-eight, you know—”

“Oh,” Graham whispered.

The pretty young blonde looked at him in surprise and bewilderment.

“Yes!” she cried. “You will find we are very frank here. Everybody knows Paula’s age. She tells it herself. I’m eighteen—so, there. And now, how old are you?”

“As old as Dick,” he replied promptly.

“And he’s forty,” she laughed triumphantly. “Are you going to swim? The water will be dreadfully cold.”

Graham shook his head. “I’m going to ride with Dick.”

“Oh,” she protested, “some of his eternal green manures, or hillside terracing, or watering.”

“But he said something about swimming at five.”

Her face brightened joyously.

“Then we’ll meet at the pool. Paula said at five, too.”

As they parted under a long arcade, where his way led to the tower room for a change into riding clothes, she stopped suddenly and called:

“Oh, Mr. Graham.”

He turned obediently.

“You really must not fall in love with Paula, you know.”

“I shall be very, very careful,” he said solemnly, although there was a twinkle in his eye as he concluded.

Nevertheless, as he went on to his room, he admitted to himself that the Paula Forrest charm had already reached him. He would prefer to ride with her than with his old friend Dick.

As he emerged from the house, he looked eagerly for his hostess. Only Dick was there, and the stableman[48]. Dick pointed out her horse.

“I don’t know her plans,” he said. “She hasn’t shown up yet, but at any rate[49] she’ll be swimming later. We’ll meet her then.”

Graham appreciated and enjoyed the ride. Then they went to the pool.