A Loyal Companion Read Online Free PDF Page A

dogs."
    Muffy had finished her pillow act and was now portraying a Staffordshire porcelain fireplace dog, batting Fitz aside to get the warmest spot on the hearth.
    "Fitz is the gentlest creature on earth," Sonia said, scratching behind the dog's ears in consolation. "He would never hurt anything."
    "But he sheds! I don't want any awful black dog hairs on my light-colored muslins."
    Sonia just looked over to the burgundy velvet chair where white hairs clung like threads on a cutting table. "That's why Fitz is not permitted on the furniture. Nor are the hounds, of course. And we'll just have to make sure Muffy is in another room when Father brings them in. Is there anything else we can do to make you more welcome?"
    Jennifer gave up, for now. "How do you stand it in the country, Sonia? What is there to do with all this time?"
    Sonia didn't know how to answer, since studying with Miss Merkle, running the house, looking after the tenants, helping at the Sunday school, and keeping Papa company seemed to leave no free time at all. She was hoping George's wife would take over some of the responsibilities, but didn't want to discuss housekeeping on Jennifer's first day. She tried to remember what Catherine liked to do. "We have a lovely pianoforte, and a good library, and the church is always needing new altar cloths." No response. "We go riding, of course, and walking, and visiting with the neighbors. They are so anxious to meet you, I'm sure the vicar's wife and the Minch sisters will be over for tea Sunday."
    "The… vicar's wife and the Minch sisters?" Jennifer threw herself on the bed. Sonia sank down on the rug between the cat and the dog, stroking both. She missed Jennifer's look of disgust.
    "Oh yes, they run the lending library. And the postal office." Jennifer moaned, and Sonia hurried on: "We have card parties and dinners, and informal dances sometimes when there is company for the hunt. And there are assemblies over in Seldenridge, the nearest town of any size"—Jennifer brightened—"once a month."
    "Oh." Jennifer stared up at the swagged canopy over her bed. "At least you have linendrapers and dressmakers, don't you?"
    Sonia busied herself retying Muffy's bow, barely whispering: "Just the Minch sisters."
    Jennifer shrieked.
    "But they get all the latest fashion journals from London, or Papa could have them sent with his newspapers, and… and there are lots of shops in Seldenridge. You could ride there anytime you want. George said you were a bruising rider. That's what first attracted him to you, he told us at the wedding."
    Jennifer sniffled. "The physician said I mustn't ride anymore!"
    "Then you can take the pony cart. Or maybe George will buy you a curricle of your own. Father says I am too young."
    "I don't know how to drive a cart," the bride wailed. "I never needed to know, in the city."
    Jennifer was sobbing now, and Sonia was patting her hand, pouring tea, ringing the bellpull. Fitz pushed the door open and left. "Oh dear. Don't cry, Jennifer. Please. I know, I'll teach you to drive. Then you won't need to call out half the stable staff every time you want to buy a new ribbon or go visiting. It'll be our surprise for George. What do you think of that?"
    Sonia was thinking that George was in for more than one surprise. She was also wondering where she was going to find time to teach her bubble-headed new sister-in-law how to handle the ribbons. Anyone who would name a cat Muffy…
    Jennifer sat up and clapped her hands. "How absolutely perfect! You shall teach me how to drive, and I shall teach you how to dress like a lady!"
    Oh dear.
     
     
    The new Mrs. Randolph—Mrs. George belowstairs and in the village—grew about as content as she grew competent at the reins. Coco, the old mare who was used to finding her own way home from the village while Miss Sonia drove with her nose in a book, seemed to have forgotten which foot went where. She did manage to find every rut and bump on the road to the village,