Kingdom Lost Read Online Free PDF Page B

there was a book—I love it, but it makes me cry so I can’t read it—only I do! It’s called Rupert of Hentzau , and it has pictures in it by a man called Charles Dana Gibson—Edward said he was a famous artist. And the lady in it—” she stopped, tossed her head, and repeated with emphasis, “And the woman in it has got clothes like my aunt Helena in the photograph, all up here”—she put her hands to her throat—“and all down here”—a barefoot described a semi-circle—“and all in here”—her hands went to her waist—“very small and very tight. And my mother’s dresses in the box you brought on to the ship for me, they’re just the same. And Edward said that women’s fashions were always changing. And, please, can you tell me whether I shall have to be all tight and covered up, and my hair stuck up on the top of my head?” Her voice had become very earnest.
    â€œGirls don’t cover ’emselves up much. They don’t wear much more than you do.”
    â€œMy things are all made out of the sheets that were on the Avronia . There were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of sheets. Edward said they would last us both for clothes till we were quite old.”
    â€œOh, Lord! Did Edward teach you to sew?”
    â€œHe tried to. He said he’d darned stockings. I really found out how to do it myself. He said I’d better keep my mother’s clothes in case a ship came. Can you draw me a picture, so that I can make a dress?”
    â€œNo, I can’t.”
    She sighed impatiently.
    â€œDo you think Barclay could?”
    â€œLook here—you oughtn’t to call him Barclay like that.”
    â€œBut you do.”
    â€œThat doesn’t matter. Girls don’t call men by their surnames.”
    â€œWhy don’t they?”
    â€œThey don’t—it’s not done.”
    Valentine sighed again.
    â€œHe feels like Barclay and he looks like Barclay, and I don’t know his Christian name.”
    â€œYou ought to call him Mr. Barclay.”
    â€œWell, I won’t,” said Valentine sweetly. “What were you so angry with him about?”
    â€œNever mind.”
    â€œWhy do you stay with him if you don’t like him?”
    â€œI stay because I can’t get away. I don’t hate him badly enough to jump overboard. As soon as we get home though—I’d rather starve than go on with him.”
    â€œI wouldn’t. Why would you starve? Haven’t you got any money?”
    â€œNot a bean—till I get another job.”
    â€œI wonder if I shall have any,” said Valentine in an interested voice.
    Austin moved a little; the movement took him farther away from her. After a moment of indecision, he spoke:
    â€œBarclay says you’ll have a great deal of money.”
    Miss Ryven received the news with calm.
    â€œOh, then I can give you half.”
    Her casual tone roused his temper.
    â€œDon’t talk rot! People can’t give each other money like that.”
    â€œBut I’d like to.”
    There are disadvantages in dealing with pristine ignorance.
    â€œIt doesn’t in the least matter whether you’d like to or not. A man can’t take money he hasn’t earned. Besides, a man can’t anyhow take money from a girl—it’s the sort of thing that simply isn’t done.”
    Valentine leaned over the rail. Deep in the black water a fitful phosphorescence gleamed.
    â€œYou do say that a lot!” she said.

CHAPTER V
    The yacht put in at Honolulu and stayed there for two bewildering days. Barclay sent Austin ashore on a double errand; he was to dispatch a long cable to Mrs. Ryven, and he was to buy Valentine some shoes and stockings to land in.
    â€œYou won’t like ’em, kid—but you’ve got to have ’em.”
    Valentine gazed at his feet.
    â€œWill they be like yours?” Her tone was