Will O’ the Wisp Read Online Free PDF Page A

things, a marble table supported by monstrously fat gilts Cupids, an Empire card-table with brass claw feet, and a frankly Victorian walnut pedestal table upon which stood a large group of stuffed birds under a glass dome.
    David wrinkled his nose at the room and disliked it a good deal. The carpet had once displayed magenta roses wreathed with blue ribbon on a pearl-grey ground. The magenta was now just a wine-coloured smear, and the pearl had darkened to smoke. The walls were covered with satin stripes that had once been white. From three of the walls a gloomy ancestor stared from his or her discoloured frame. Two of the ancestors were male, and one, the least attractive of the three, a female with an elderly simper.
    David disliked the ancestors even more than he disliked the room. He was frowning ferociously when the door opened and Eleanor came in. She wore a short grey skirt and a white jumper, and she was holding a smoke-coloured Persian kitten the kitten took both her hands. It had orange eyes, and it mewed fiercely and unremittingly because it wished to sit on Eleanor’s shoulder.
    Eleanor did not shake hands with David; she held the kitten, and she smiled, and said:
    â€œYou got here.”
    David said: “What a beastly room!”
    And then Eleanor laughed.
    â€œThank you, David!”
    â€œNonsense! It’s not your room. How does the same person manage to have wooden bears, and ivory and apes and peacocks, and poisonous ancestors, and ormolu tables?”
    â€œIt’s quite easy, really. The flat belongs to an old Miss Johnson. She left a much bigger house to come here; but she wouldn’t leave any of her furniture. Some of the things are inherited, and some were given to her—a brother in Burma sent her the peacocks long ago when she was young. And she simply loves the bears because she bought them herself in Berne.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œMilly told me. Milly knows her. She got me the flat by guaranteeing that I should be careful of the ancestors and kind to the bears.”
    Eleanor sat down beside the tea-table and put the kitten in her lap with a little pat.
    â€œTimothy, be good. Isn’t he a lamb, David?”
    â€œWhere did you raise him?”
    â€œMilly raised him. She is a good sort—she thought I’d be lonely. Oh, Timmy! ”
    After being patted, Timothy had crouched; his eyes glowed, his two inches of furry tail twitched. The moment that Eleanor looked away from him to David he leapt, took a clawing hold of the white jumper, kicked himself upwards, and landed, growling in a fierce whisper, in the hollow between Eleanor’s neck and Eleanor’s shoulder.
    Eleanor rubbed her cheek against him.
    â€œTimmy, you’re the worst kitten in the world!”
    Timmy stopped growling and began to purr. Just for a moment that soft triumphant purr was the only sound in the room. Then the door opened and the maid brought in tea.
    After a moment’s frowning consideration David pushed a chair up to the table and sat down with his back to the female ancestor.
    â€œThey’re all bad, but she’s the worst,” he explained. “I should think her name was Sophronisba. If I’ve got to look at one of ’em, I prefer the old buster whose top has faded into the general gloom. I say, mustn’t those tight white breeks have been the limit?”
    Eleanor laughed and gave him some tea. There was another little pause. Then he said, without looking at her:
    â€œI expect you’re glad to get home. Where are you going to live?”
    â€œI don’t know. I used to think I’d like London, but now I’m sure I shouldn’t.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI don’t know. It’s a lonely place—there are such a lot of people, and they’re all so busy. And oh, David, I do hate the crossings. I think I’ll just stay here till the country warms up, and then I’ll get a little car and run round till