"I notice some alterations; I have always been told that I am an observant man.”
"And the change is for the better?”
"Very much for the better!”
Kitty called through the door: "Who it that, Carolan?”
"It is Mr. Crew come to inquire how I am after yesterday's journey.”
"Come in!" cried Kitty.
"Come in. Me Crew.”
Carolan led him into the parlour.
Kitty, sitting upright in her chair, extended her hand; she was like a queen graciously receiving an honoured subject.
"It is indeed kind of you, Mr. Crew.”
He bowed courteously over Kitty's hand.
"I was anxious to know how your daughter was today. Ma'am. London gave her a rough welcome, I fear.”
"Not all London amused Kitty.
"And she has you to thank for that, sir!”
"It was the greatest pleasure to be of some small service.”
Carolan's eyes strayed back to the shop.
There are one or two things I must dear up before my father returns. If you will excuse me, Mr. Crew... You talk to Mr. Crew, Mamma, while I finish.”
Kitty pouted. Was this the way to treat a gentleman caller! Carolan must learn better. There was a smudge of dirt across her nose, and her pretty hair looked most inelegant.
"Run to your room, darling." said Kitty severely.
"Wash, and change your dress. I will entertain Mr. Crew while you do so.”
"No, no!" insisted Mr. Crew.
"I see I make a nuisance of myself. Miss Carolan is a young lady who, having started a job, win wish to complete it. I admire her for it; moreover I will help.”
"There is no need." said Carolan. There is little to do now.”
"Nevertheless, I insist on helping!" And help he did; he worked very hard, stacking the old clothes together in a corner of the room.
This kind of shop interests me greatly." he said.
"You never know what you will find!”
When they had finished. Carolan said: "I long to see my father's face when he comes in.”
"He will be astonished, I am sure. How long do you stay, Miss Carolan ?”
"I am not certain. Two months, or possibly less." Two months can be a long time. And your idea is to turn this shop, before you leave, into what it was surely meant to be?" That is my idea.”
"I sincerely hope that you will achieve it." There is my mother calling; let us go to her.”
Kitty, the mother, a little shocked at the unconventional behaviour of her daughter, but smiling indulgently because she was such a child, said: "Now, Carolan, go to your room and wash your hands and face at once. To please me... go. I insist!”
When Carolan returned Mr. Crew was talking of London; and how vividly he talked! Carolan was ready to listen as eagerly as her mother. He told of the pleasure gardens, the coffee and chocolate houses, the play. He had seen Mr. Sheridan's School for Scandal years back; he had seen the great Mrs. Siddons herself. He often caught glimpses of the Prince and Princess of Wales; and when he was a mere boy he had once seen the Prince with Mrs. Perdita Robinson; that was in the days when the Prince was young and handsome and had not put on weight so distressingly, before he had married Maria Fitzherbert. And yes, Mr.
Crew confessed he had set eyes on the fair Maria too. He seemed to know everything and have been everywhere. Kitty loved such talk and drank it in eagerly. She told Mr. Crew that someone had said she was remarkably like Sarah Siddons, though for the life of her she could not see where! Mr. Crew put his head on one side and made a play of studying her critically. Yes, he said, there was a resemblance, but he thought it was chiefly in the expression.
"My little daughter is all agog to see the Town," said Kitty.
"I trust, Ma'am," answered Jonathan Crew, 'that some day I may be allowed to show her a little of London__to show you both of course.”
"That is most kind. My poor husband is such a busy man; he is here and there on business, and there is little time for pleasure.”
"But perhaps," said Carolan, "Mr. Crew is also a busy man.”
"I have some leisure," he answered.
"And it is gracious indeed to offer to spend a little of it on us,” said Kitty.
"It is you who are gracious.”
"Flatterer!" laughed Kitty.
Oh, Mamma! thought Carolan. Don't! He is not a bit like that. Can you not see?
But Kitty did not see; she gazed at the visitor admiringly, and fluttered her long golden lashes. Carolan was uncomfortable, over-silent and a little gauche.
Kitty thought: I am still attractive then! Here is a young man who calls to see my daughter and finds me more interesting. Does not a woman become more attractive as she grows older -providing of course she is not too old? What she gains in flesh she loses in gaucherie.
For all we know, this man may be a great gentleman a rich merchant perhaps even a lord! How I wish I had put on the black velvet! Black is becoming to a fair skin. But perhaps this blue is more enchanting ... Therese used to say blue was my colour.
"I must go," said Mr. Crew.
"But I trust you will allow me to come again.”
He bowed over Kitty's hand, and Carolan went to the door with him.
"I hope to see more of the interesting things in your interesting shop," he said.
"Please come whenever you want to. My father has lots and lots of things tucked away, I'm sure. I vow he most likely keeps the best locked away in the basement.”
"I think that very likely. You are going to be his guide and counsellor- that much I see, Miss Carolan. Then I may call again?”
"Please do!”
Thank you! Thank you! Goodbye.”
Kitty was smiling when Carolan returned to the parlour.
"My dear, an admirer so soon!”
"Not an admirer at all. Mamma.”
"La! child. You are but a baby.”
To my mind," said Carolan, 'he admired you more than he admired me.”
"Nonsense!" said Kitty, smiling to herself.
"I am an old woman, though I do admit I was very, very young when you were born, Carolan.”
It was an hour or so later when Darrell came into the shop. Carolan waited in the parlour, listening for his exclamation of surprise and delight. She peeped through the parlour doorway at him. He was staring about bin as though he scarcely recognized the place.
She ran out to him.
"Do you not think it a great improvement?" she asked demurely.
"Why ..." he stammered.
"What .. . what has happened?”
She slipped her arm through his.
"You had so many pretty things tucked away, and you showed all the most unattractive of your stock. Now, Father, that is not the way to manage a shop!”
He was silent for a long time; she tried to see his face, but he had a gift of drawing the mask so firmly down that it was impossible to see behind it.
"Father .. . Father .. , you are not pleased then? You think I am an interfering, stupid creature ? You are not pleased ? ' He turned to her then. He took her hand from his arm and kissed it tenderly.
"You are a sweet daughter for a man to have, Carolan.”
Then you are pleased!”
"We will have a talk. I can see you have the makings of a business woman! ' He went to the shop door and locked it.
"But, Father .. ." she began.
There will be no more customers today," he said.
"I think you are very tired.”
He smiled his slow sweet smile.
"A drink and a rest would be very welcome, I admit.”
They went through into the parlour.
"Ah!" said Kitty. There you are, my love. And have you done good business? And would you like a drink? We have had a visitor today ..
. Carolan and I. He is quite a presentable young man, that. Carolan, a drink for me too; I declare my throat is as "A visitor?" said Barrett slowly.
"Mr. Crew," said Carolan.