Sister of the Housemaster Read Online Free PDF Page B

knew, as Ingrid did not, that these tea parties were infrequent. It was true that Pamela often came to see Sylvia, and Arnold realized that there were deeper implications in the visit than simple friendship. Pamela was a leader of County society. She came of an old family, which still retained part of its fortune, and whose country house was practically a castle. Certainly, with each passing year, the family kept a little less state, but Arnold, who realized just how much of a social climber his Sylvia was, knew that she was impressed and was flattered by that friendship. He also had a shrewd suspicion that Pamela came for Patrick ’ s sake. On the occasion of their few meetings, Pamela had obviously been a little dazzled, and Arnold thought that his wife was conniving at a match between the two. He could see that, from Sylvia ’ s point of view, it would be perfect. So few women would be good enough for Patrick, but Pamela, with her name and her money, an d her home only a few miles away, would be admirable, Sylvia would automatically be accepted everywhere. Arnold cared nothing for the social round, but he was prepared to accept Sylvia ’ s interest . These things were important to her — then let her have them.
    Between tea and supper, when the visitors had gone and Patrick was upstairs with Arnold in the study, and the curtains were drawn against the winter cold, Ingrid and Sylvia sat together in the living room . Ingrid was turning over the pages of a magazine, while Sylvia talked to her of Pamela. Most of it was not very interesting to Ingrid. She too knew, that Sylvia was a soc i al climber, and the illustrious names connected with Pamela ’ s were merely dull to her. She listened politely, however, and gathered that Patrick, too, was very fond of Pamela. Almost as fond as Pamela was of him. Indeed, said Sylvia contentedly, nothing in the world would give her greater pleasure than to hear that they were going to make a match of it.
    “ And the advantage is by no means on one side, ” added Sylvia. “ I know her family is one of the best, but Patrick has a fame and renown of his own. They want him in Canada, and in Australia, but he prefers to stay in England, and of course this Government doesn ’ t want to let him go. Oh no, Pamela would get just as much as she gave. ”
    Ingrid thought it was a strange way to think of marriage, all this getting and giving. And she wondered if Patrick thought of it in the same way: if he, too, thought that his brains and brilliance allied to Pamela ’ s fortune and family name would make them unassailable. He and Sylvia were brother and sister after all. They looked alike, except that S ylvia was a colourless and plainer version of Patrick, and it was possible that they thought alike too. Then let them have their material marriage, thought Ingrid. She would demand a very different kind.
    Sylvia sank into silence. She had issued a warning and she hoped that Ingrid had recognized it. It said, as plainly as she could say without putting it into actual words: Keep off the grass. She did not like Ingrid. She never had, although she had never realized that the cause of her dislike was an obscure form of jealousy. She did not think, either, that Ingrid was abnormally interested in Patrick, but she had considered the warning necessary and now she had given it. And would give it again whenever it seemed desirable. By way of finding another string to her bow, she
    “ Laurence Pinder is a very agreeable young man. Don ’ t you think so? ”
    “ Very, ” said Ingrid. “ I like him very much. ”
    “ Anyway, he will make a pleasant distraction for you while you have to wait on a poor old invalid like me. ”
    Well, thought Sylvia, we will see how that works.
    Ingrid did not think of Laurence as a distraction. She did not need distraction, and if she had, there was plenty to be found in the school itself, and the boys it contained. She felt that between herself and Laurence was the