"He just came to inquire how I was after yesterday's excitement.”
Kitty smiled slyly, and Carolan felt she wanted to escape from her sad father and slyly smiling mother.
Darrell twirled his ale round and round in the tankard.
"Carolan," he said, as though choosing his words carefully.
'business is complicated. Odd as it may seem to you, those old clothes are more important to the business of the shop itself than the jewellery. But my main business is not done in the shop; I do not sell much over the counter. This is how I do my business my chief business, you understand I meet a man who wants something; I try to get it for nun. Do you understand? It is not a matter of showing goods in a shop window. This is not so much a shop as a store-room. That door you have discovered; I would rather have it covered. Listen, Carolan, I will tell you something. This is a very poor neighbourhood in which we live; it is a dangerous neighbourhood. Beyond that door is a flight of stairs which leads down to a basement room; and in this room I keep my more valuable stock. You understand? A man may come into the shop to ask the price of a second-hand coat, but he may be a burglar spying out the land. I would rather people did not know of that door. That is why I have kept it covered with those old clothes.”
"I see." said Carolan humbly, 'that I have been rather foolish. Oh, Father, why do you not tell me that I am an ignorant girl from the country who, because she knows so little, thinks she knows much!”
He put his hands over hers.
"You are sweet," he said, 'and I love your solicitude. But this business is too involved for you to understand in a few weeks. While you are here I want you and your mother to enjoy yourselves. I am going to plan some excursions for you. Do not worry yourself about dull commerce!”
"I am sorry. Father.”
"Bless you," he said.
"God bless you and keep you out of harm all the days of your life!”
A week passed, and it was a full one for Carolan. When her father went out on business she insisted on looking after the shop; it was now as she had first seen it, the old clothes huddled in the doorway, the door to the storage basement concealed by musty coats. Carolan did not think of altering it now. She understood that her father was no ordinary shopkeeper; he was known in the coffee and chocolate houses of the town as an enterprising merchant. If a rich man wanted an ornament for his wife, sweetheart, mother or daughter, he would get into touch with Darrell, and Darrell would do his best to procure what was wanted.
He told Carolan that he had started in this humble shop, and because he wished to save quickly that he might retire to the country at the earliest possible moment, lie did not see why he should take more expensive premises. He liked, too, to keep up the business of selling old clothes. The poor in the neighbourhood knew they could get what they wanted at a fair price from his shop.
"One day," he said.
"I may take you along to the coffee house with me." Then he added quickly, as though his pride and common sense were having a struggle from which common sense came out triumphant: "Not That would be foolish; though I should have liked to show them my daughter.”
She went through Kitty's wardrobe with her. and helped to make alterations. They sat for hours together in the little par-lout while Kitty talked, chiefly of the day when they would retire to the country and she would have her. own house. She would not be house-proud like her Aunt Harriet; she would be no goddess of the still-room. No! But she would entertain, and there would be servants to wait on her and her guests, and a full larder always. Therese should come back and set about the task of resuscitating her beauty.
On one occasion Darrell hired a cabriolet and they all drove round London. Then they had a picnic on Hampstead Heath and took a trip to the Bald Faced Stag in Epping Forest. It was all delightful and full of interest the best way of making the days pass quickly while one waited for news of a lover.
"You are very good to me." Carolan told Darrell.
"But is not all this very expensive?”
"It may be," answered Darrell. 'but a visit from a daughter can be a most special occasion. I shall tell you now, I am planning a visit to the playhouse, and then of course we must all go to Ranelagh ... or do Vauxhall Gardens appeal to you more?”
Carolan put her arms round his neck and kissed him. which made him flush with pleasure. He. who was undemonstrative himself, loved such gestures in his wife and daughter.
Jonathan Crew came to the shop often. He would sit in the parlour and talk to Kitty and Carolan. A most interesting man, he was, and how well he knew London! There was no place one could mention without his knowing a good deal about it; and in his quiet, unimpassioned way, he was a vivid talker.
"Has it struck you," said Kitty one day, 'that Mr. Crew has a good deal of leisure?”
"It had not until you mentioned it," replied Carolan.
"Mamma, why do you look so full of wisdom?”
"For this reason, my dear. The hours of a clerk are very long. Does a clerk get so much leisure for visiting ladies?”
"He has explained; he comes here when sent out on some commission.”
"Ah!" laughed Kitty.
"I was not born yesterday!”
"Oh, Mamma, why must you see intrigue in the most ordinary things!”
"Intrigue? I? My dear, I would have you know that I am a few years older than you are. I have lived; why, I could tell you ... but no matter. It is an extraordinary thing to me, if not to you. that Mr.
Crew has so much time on his hands. Has he the air of a clerk, think you? Those eyes of his do they look as if they have stared at rows of figures? Does he look as if he has spent long hours on an office stool?”
"The elbows of his coat were very shiny, I noticed!”
"La! What a baby it is! What could be easier, for one with means at his command, than to acquire the shiny-elbowed coat of a clerk! I have a theory; suppose he came here to explore these parts. He might be a most important person! You laugh. Carolan. but do you or do you not know more of the world than I?”
"I do not dream, as you do, Mamma.”
"Stuff and nonsense! It might well be that he belongs to the quality and poses as poor Mr. Jonathan Crew in order that he might make our acquaintance.”
"Why ever should he do that, Mamma?”
"Kitty patted her hair.
"Because, my child, he may be tired of sycophants; he may want friends for his own sake. My dear, you are not without attractions.”
Carolan laughed, but Kitty only smiled. She had her own private thoughts on the matter, and these she would not admit to anyone.
Carolan was in the parlour one day when the shop door bell rang. It was morning; her mother was still a-bed, and Darrell had gone out for an hour or so, he said. Millie was working in the kitchen.
Carolan went into the shop. A man was standing there. He had his back towards her. and, as she approached with a bright "Good morning', he turned and she was looking into a pair of blue eyes that twinkled merrily. She had seen them before, and they must have made a vast impression on her, for she recognized them at once as belonging to the man who had stolen her handkerchief.
"Good morning," he said, and she knew that he recognized her. for a look of embarrassment passed quickly over his face. He added quickly: "I came to see Mr. Grey.”
She answered: "He is out; I will attend to you. What is it?”
Now the embarrassment had left him; he was mischievous, amused.
"That is very kind of you.”
"Not kind at all. I am here to serve my father's customers. What is it you want?”
His eyes went round the shop and fell on some oddments of jewellery lying in a tray.
"A ring," he said.
"A ring for a lady...”
He moved towards the tray, but she was before him. She put her hands over the tray and faced him squarely.