The Ugly Sister Read Online Free PDF Page B

wear his regimentals even when off duty. At supper Aunt Anna was in bed, but the other adults, four of them, were spaced down the long dining table. Tamsin and Mary and Desmond and I ate separately.
    I have described the main house with its long dark passage running along behind the big reception rooms, so that servants could enter each room by a side door leading from this passage and not disturb the gentry in the other rooms. Sometimes the servants’ doors were left slightly ajar, and when proceeding along this passage it was possible to overhear conversations that were not meant for one’s ears. I have to confess I had done this once or twice in the past, and tonight, after a sparse supper, I stepped out and along this passage to the servants’ door of the dining room, and as expected the last maid had not caught the latch.
    Supper was almost over there too, and I had just missed bumping into Slade on his way to the kitchen.
    Conversation about Aunt Anna. The Admiral indignantly brushed aside a suggestion from Edward Carlyon that there might be similarities between his wife’s condition and that of the late George the Third.
    The new baby had been left in care of a nurse at Tregrehan, but Anna Maria, fondly exchanging glances with her husband, was already fuller in the face, generally fuller of body than the slip of a girl whose first heliograph stood framed on a sideboard. My mother on the contrary had lost weight, and one of the rare signs of middle age was a sort of freckling under the eyes, and a hint of gauntness about her shoulders. But she was still a very handsome woman.
    I turned away for a moment, thinking I heard a footstep in the passage, and by the time I was reassured the conversation had turned to a subject more pertinent to me. I heard the name Abraham Fox.
    â€˜Who?’ asked Uncle Davey rather irritably, for he was slightly deaf. ‘ Eh? Eh? Oh, him. I do not think I should touch him with a bargepole.’
    â€˜It is not I who is thinking of touching him,’ my mother said tartly. ‘Or he me, I assure you. But he was at the Polwheles’ last Monday and he was making the greatest fuss of Thomasine. And his name counts for something.’
    â€˜Aye, name is fair enough – if you wish to be linked with God-fearing Quakers. But I do not think he is of that family. Comes he not from St Austell? What’s his father’s name? Eh? Paul? Robert? You should know, Edward, he’s in your parish.’
    â€˜Yes,’ said the Major. ‘I’ve met him. Can’t say that I know the man. All I can say is I’d be astonished if you found anything God-fearing about Bram Fox. Nor quaking, so far as I know. Father’s in china clay, but no position. I’m told Bram is the only son among a quiver of girls, but came in for money from an uncle. Spent it fast cutting a dash in the county. Suspect the Foxes of Falmouth look on him as a black sheep and want no truck with him.’
    â€˜He called here yesterday,’ my mother said.
    â€˜Did he, now! And did you receive him?’
    â€˜I did not.’
    â€˜Good. What was his excuse for calling?’
    â€˜We had met at the Polwheles’, as I have said. If his reputation is so dubious I am surprised they entertained him.’
    Anna Maria smiled. ‘Oh, he is popular, I believe. Fine company. It isn’t always worthy men who create most laughter at a party. But girls can usually discriminate.’
    My mother finished her tea and took a last sip of wine. She said to Anna Maria: ‘ I have had an offer from Mr Keating. It is quite a time since he wrote. He is offering me a short tour of Bath and Bristol and Cheltenham. Mainly classical roles. It is a good offer from him, and if I refuse it I suspect it will be the last.’
    Mother had been home since Christmas.
    â€˜Then I think you should take it.’
    â€˜Caring for the house with your mother in bed so much – and so