(1941) Up at the Villa Read Online Free PDF

doesn't last for ever . Why shouldn't I have as good a time as I can
while I have the chance?’
    `It would be hard to find a greater contrast to Edgar.’
    `I agree. It may be that I'd be easier to live with. I
should certainly be more fun.’
    `You forget that Edgar wishes to marry me. You are
suggesting a much more temporary arrangement.’
    `What makes you think that?’
    `Well, for one thing, you happen to be married already.’
    `That's where you're mistaken. I was divorced a couple of
months ago.’
    `You kept very quiet about it’
    `Naturally. Women have funny
ideas about marriage. It makes things easier all round if there's never any
question of that. We all know where we are then.’
    `I see your point,' smiled Mary.
    `Why should you divulge this guilty secret to me? With the idea that if I behaved myself and gave satisfaction you
might in due course reward me with a wedding ring?’
    `Darling, I'm quite intelligent enough to know you're no
fool.’
    `You need not call me darling.’
    `Damn it all, I'm in process of making you a proposal of
marriage.’
    `Are you? Why?’
    `I don't think it's a bad idea. Do you?’
    `Rotten. What on earth put it in your head?’
    `It just occurred to me. You see, when you told me about
your husband I suddenly realized that I was terribly fond of you. That's
different from being in love, you know, but I'm in love too. I feel a great
tenderness towards you.’
    `I'd rather you didn't say things like that. You are a devil, you seem to know instinctively what to say to melt a
woman.’
    `I couldn't say them if I didn't feel them.’
    `Oh, shut up. It's lucky for you that I have a cool head
and a sense of humour. Let's go back to Florence. I'll drop you at your hotel.’
    `Does that mean the answer is no?’
    `It does.’
    `Why?’
    `I'm sure it'll surprise you; I'm not in the least in
love with you.’
    `It doesn't surprise me. I knew it; but you would be if
you gave yourself half a chance!’
    `Modest fellow, aren't you? But I don't want to give
myself half a chance!’
    `Are you determined to marry Edgar Swift?’
    `Now I am, yes. Thank you for letting me talk to you. It was hard having no one I could talk to.
You've helped me to make up my mind.’
    `I'm damned if I see how.’
    `Women don't reason in the same way that
men do. All you've said, all I've said, the recollection of the life
with my husband, the misery, the mortification - well, against that Edgar
stands like a great rock; he's so strong and so staunch. I know I can rely on
him; he'd never let me down, because he couldn't. He offers me security. I have
so great an affection for him at this moment that it's
almost love’
    `It's rather a narrow road,' said Rowley; `would you like
me to turn the car for you?’
    `I'm perfectly capable of turning my own car, thank you,'
she answered. His remark had given her a moment's irritation, not because it
reflected on her driving, but because for some reason it made what she had just
said seem a trifle high-flown. He chuckled.
    `There's a ditch on one side and a ditch on the other. I
shall be vexed if you pitch me into either one or the other.’
    `Hold your bloody tongue,' she said. He lit a cigarette
and watched her as she advanced, turned the wheel with an effort of all her
strength, stopped the engine and started it again, put the clutch in reverse
and gingerly backed, grew very hot, and eventually got the car round and set
off on the homeward journey. They drove in silence till they reached the hotel.
It was late now and the door was shut. Rowley made no attempt to get out.
    `Here we are,' said Mary.
    `I know.’
    He sat silent for a moment or two staring straight in
front of him. She gave him a questioning look and with a smile he turned to her.
    `You're a fool, Mary, my dear. Oh, I know, you've turned
me down. That's all right. Though I dare say I'd have made a better husband
than you think. But you're a fool to marry a man twenty-five years