The Magnificent Spinster Read Online Free PDF Page A

“The island has a taste too, doesn’t it?”
    Later, after Mr. Perkins had settled in to his room, the guest room with a balcony where he spent long hours reading and writing on the chaise longue and watching the sails float past, after he had hung up two suits and washed his hands, he joined Allegra, James, Snooker, and the girls for tea on the big porch. The girls sat in the swing, a couch suspended on chains, and swung back and forth, dangling their legs.
    â€œIt’s just a long soak in happiness to be here,” he said, “and yes, I’ll have a second cup.”
    â€œI presume the two couples have gone for a sail?” James asked his wife.
    â€œYes, Captain Philbrook thinks we’ll have fog tomorrow, so they took the chance.…”
    â€œNot much wind.”
    â€œCome and play a game of croquet before supper,” Alix begged.
    â€œMr. Perkins must be tired,” Snooker said, shaking her head. “He’s had a long journey, you know.”
    â€œI slept very well on the train, as a matter of fact. And why not a game of croquet?”
    â€œHurrah!” Jane was on her feet. “Mamma, Pappa, let’s all play!”
    Pappa had work to do in the office, but Allegra decided to come along and do some gardening while they played. But on the way she sat down on the cushioned bench in the office for a little talk with James. Vyvian had now been with them for nearly a week, and she was not entirely happy with the idea that this time Viola, surrounded by admiring young men as she had always been, might be serious. Vyvian certainly appeared to be. “Has he talked to you, James?”
    â€œNo, but I have, I think, seen that look of an impending talk in his eye.”
    â€œOh dear.”
    â€œWhy not, after all? He’s handsome enough, and very rich, from what I have learned.”
    â€œThat doesn’t matter,” Allegra said firmly.
    â€œViola is so sure of herself—I would prefer she married someone well enough off so she would not rule the roost in that area at least. Besides, Viola wants a life of fashion, you know. She has that air already of a woman of the world, as they say.”
    Allegra caught the twinkle in his eye. He knew very well that this family into which he had married prided themselves on not being worldly at all. It was one thing to give a million dollars to the Annex of Harvard, where women students were relegated; it was quite another to give balls and opera parties as Boston society did. The Truebloods were Cambridge and Cambridge was plain living and high thinking.
    â€œWe’ve produced a bird of paradise,” she said. “It seems very unlike us, James.”
    Then they both laughed and Allegra got up and kissed the top of his head.
    â€œIf you think they’ll be happy, dear …”
    â€œThat really cannot be foreseen, can it? One can hope, of course.… I like Vyvian. He has a sense of humor and seems a balanced young man. She could do worse, Allegra. Remember that Italian count?”
    She remembered all too well. Luckily all that was left of him was a pale-blue officer’s cape that Viola wore to dances.
    And Allegra walked up to the garden, thoughtfully, comforted by the shouts of laughter that greeted her as Mr. Perkins and her little girls shared some secret joke. Nevertheless, she was frowning as she picked dead heads off the dahlias and salpiglossis, the velvety salpiglossis she loved. If only Viola could fall in love with an unworldly young man!
    Though it was still light on the porch and the candles had not had to be lit for supper, when they all trooped into the big room, it was dark enough for the Aladdin lamps to be needed. The room was a little like a cave, shadowed on one whole side by the porch, and dominated by a great stone fireplace with a black bear rug before it, surrounded by deep sofas and velvet armchairs. This was the hour Jane loved almost best, the hour when they all