Nothing Venture Read Online Free PDF

laughing.
    â€œWell, why not? I haven’t time to pick and choose. Since you overheard what we were saying, you know that. To be married on the sixteenth, I must put in for a licence today—but it is unfortunately necessary to give the lady’s name, so if you’re really offering to step into the breach, perhaps you’ll begin by giving me your name.”
    â€œNan Forsyth,” said Nan.
    He took his hand off the table and swung a chair round.
    â€œYou’d better sit down.”
    He came round, took the writing-chair, picked up a pen, and filled it.
    â€œDid you say Anne Forsyth?”
    Nan came forward. It was very difficult to let go of the window-sill. Her legs felt as if they belonged to someone else. She sat down a little stiffly. It was like being interviewed for a situation. She was being interviewed for the situation of Jervis Weare’s wife. It was like something in a dream. But there was Jervis, looking at her and repeating.
    â€œAnne Forsyth?”
    â€œNo—just Nan. I was christened Nan.”
    â€œNothing else?”
    â€œNo, nothing else.”
    He wrote “Nan Forsyth,” and without looking up asked her age.
    â€œTwenty-two.”
    â€œParents?”
    â€œDead.”
    â€œAny near relations?”
    â€œA sister.” She thought suddenly and warmly of Cynthia, and the dream shook a little.
    â€œOlder, or younger?”
    â€œYounger—” She paused, then added, “Nineteen.”
    Jervis had stopped writing. His pen dug holes in the paper. He didn’t want to know the answers to any of these questions. She had a well-bred voice. If she was in Page’s office, she was likely to be a respectable girl.… What did it matter to him what she was? She was the stone he was going to send smashing through Rosamund’s plan. What did it matter where the stone came from? He looked up, and met her steady eyes. He asked abruptly,
    â€œWhy are you doing this? For money?”
    There was only a moment’s hesitation before she said,
    â€œOf course. It’s a business arrangement.”
    â€œOh, entirely. That ought to be quite clear.”
    â€œYes,” said Nan. The hand that had held the window-sill went down and gripped the edge of her chair. She repeated her “Yes.” Then she said, “If it’s a business matter, do you mind discussing the details?”
    She got a curious look, and he laughed again.
    â€œMind? Why should I mind? And what details do you want to discuss?”
    Nan’s hand tightened on the chair.
    â€œI’m earning my living,” she said. “I’m doing it because I have to.”
    â€œYes?” said Jervis.
    â€œIf I do this, I shall lose my job.”
    â€œYou mean you’ll lose your job if you marry me.”
    â€œI don’t think Mr Page would keep me on.”
    Jervis laughed with a certain hard amusement.
    â€œI don’t suppose he would. But the law obliges me to support you, you know.”
    She never took her eyes from his face—serious, steady eyes.
    â€œThat’s not what I mean.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œIf it’s business, it ought to be done in a business way.”
    â€œI see—you want a settlement.”
    For the first time her colour rose. It flushed her pale cheeks and ebbed rapidly.
    â€œNo, I didn’t mean that.”
    â€œWill you say what you do mean?”
    Nan gripped the chair and thought hard about Cynthia. Impossible to leave Cynthia unprovided for.
    â€œI want something now.”
    He did not laugh this time, only looked at her with the hard amusement in his eyes.
    â€œWhat—cash on delivery? Is that it?”
    Nan didn’t speak.
    He thought suddenly that she had courage at any rate.
    â€œWell?” he said. “How much? Five hundred pounds?”
    Nan shook her head.
    â€œWhat—not enough?”
    She shook her head again, then spoke.
    â€œIt isn’t enough.