Rustication Read Online Free PDF Page B

blazing fire and Effie and Mrs Paytress were soon chattering away: the dreadful weather, the remoteness of the place, the flatness of the countryside, etc.
    Then she suddenly said: Come and see my pianoforte. The room should be warmed by now .
    She led us across the hall and into the drawing-room—a large room that formed a capital “L” giving a view of the garden.
    Even I could see that the pianoforte was a fine instrument. While Effie was admiring it, Mrs Paytress invited her to visit her one day soon and they would play duets. My sister expressed her delight at the prospect.
    Mrs Paytress turned to me and asked if I were as fond of music as my sister.
    I said I played the flute badly and that I mostly spent my time reading or, in fine weather, walking. I love the countryside and am fascinated by the history of buildings and the stories of the old people.
    She said: I wonder if you know an elderly gentleman in the district who is an enthusiastic antiquary. He is called “Mr Fourdrinier” .
    I said I did not and would be most interested to make his acquaintance.
    She and Effie talked about the ball and how Mrs Quance’s enmity had prevented us from attending. Mrs Paytress told us how she had unintentionally offended that fearsome individual with an innocent remark at a dinner-party given by the Earl of Thurchester. She added: He is the patron of the ball and Mrs Quance is on the committee because she and her husband know his lordship. Their elder daughter is believed to have an understanding with his nephew, Mr Davenant Burgoyne .
    I know of him , I said. He was at Cambridge a couple of years ago .
    (He gambled away a fortune, kept a brace of whores for the use of himself and his friends and when he went down left a string of small tradesmen with debts that drove them out of business.)
    Mrs Paytress said: He will open the ball and there is much speculation about which young lady he will choose to dance with .
    Remembering what Miss Bittlestone had told us, I said: Unless he has another accident .
    Mrs Paytress looked at me in surprise and said: He rarely goes out at night now .
    · · ·
    Now that I write it down, that strikes me as a strange remark. Why should Davenant Burgoyne fear another accident? And why avoid going out at night?
    · · ·
    I had lost the thread for a moment and then I heard Mrs Paytress say: I know that people wonder why I’ve come here. The reason is very simple . I have old associations with the sea and the marshes .
    Then she asked about our mother and suddenly exclaimed: Come to tea! Come with your mother on Wednesday .
    We accepted.
    Then something very rum. The door opened and a middle-aged female looking like a housekeeper came in. She had on spectacles with small oblong lenses. Looking straight at Mrs Paytress, she said: Will you come immediately, ma’am .
    With a quick “excuse me” her employer rose and hurried out. As she did so I thought I heard a weird moaning sound. But the door shut quickly behind the two women and there was silence. Effie and I stared at each other in astonishment. Then she stood up and hurried around the corner into the other part of the room, saying: Stand there and speak if Mrs Paytress or anyone else comes in .
    What shall I say?
    Anything, you dunce. I just need you to warn me that someone is there .
    I watched as she hurried over to the writing-desk and opened the drawers. She looked at the contents of each before pulling open the next. I saw her grasp something white—a piece of paper?
    What is it? I asked.
    She made no response.
    A minute later Mrs Paytress came back into the room with a distracted air. I said loudly: I hope nothing is amiss, Mrs Paytress .
    Effie emerged slowly from around the corner as if she had merely been looking at the garden. She glanced at a painting and asked: That’s lovely. Is the subject Gloucester Cathedral?
    Mrs Paytress said: No, it’s Salisbury . I lived there for some years when I was left by circumstances to fend