It was a jolly company and even the servants gave the impression of enjoying the fun as they tripped round with the various dishes, supervised by the butler. I could sense a tremendous interest in me on all sides.
I remembered what our servants had said about Raymond's my "intended." I rather felt that was what was being thought here.
How the conversation came back to maps! It was rather as it was in our house. We had constantly talked of them, and on those occasions when Benjamin Darkin came to dinner they were the sole topic.
This was like our family —only larger. The Billingtons gave me the impression that they were doing exactly what they wanted in life, achieving their goals and not forgetting to be grateful to fate for giving them so much.
I could easily become a member of this family —a Billington. spending my life here in this heavy, stone Victorian house —what a purist would call a monstrosity of architecture. Of course it lacked the fascination of antiquity, the elegance of an earlier age: but I liked it, with all its flamboyant carvings, its twists and its twirls, its stone lions and dragons; and I knew that the Billingtons would not have changed it for the finest mansion in the country. And I could understand that.
Our house would seem a little sad after this.
But we should stay for at least a week. I was looking forward to that and I need not think of leaving yet—nor of making any hasty decisions.
Coffee was served in the drawing room when the men joined us after sitting over the port while Granny M. Mrs. Billington. Grace and I chatted together.
"It is so pleasant to meet all the family," said Granny M.
Grace surprised me when she said: "Oh . .. you haven't met everybody yet."
"But I thought you were all here?" said Granny M.
"Well, all except Grandmother," said Grace.
"Grandmother." explained Raymond, "is eighty years old. She very much wants to meet you but she was a little unwell yesterday and the doctor says she must rest today. If she is better tomorrow we will take you to meet her."
"I look forward to that."
"She lives in the past a great deal," said Mrs. Billington.
"She can tell some good stories about the family when she gets going," added Basil.
The evening passed in pleasant conversation, and Granny M and I had a chat in her room before retiring.
"What a delightful family!" she said. ~It makes you wish there were more of us. It's made me think of your father over there in Holland ... with those children. We ought all to be together."
"Why don't you ask him to come over?"
"I dont know. There's been a rift. He knows I don't like his living over there and getting out of the business as he did. That was a big
blow. What I should have done without Benjamin, I can't imagine. I envy these people. There are three sons... and the girl knows something about the business too."
"There is a fascination about map making. Our lives seem to revolve round it."
"Yes... But for it we should not be here. You would never have met Raymond. I like him, Annalice. I'm a good judge of people and I like him very much. I like the whole family. I should like to see a lot of them, be close to them."
"I know what you're saying, of course," I said.
"You are fond of him. And there is no doubt of his feelings for you."
"I like him very much."
"Feelings grow stronger, you know. Sometimes they need time. Oh, there's a lot of nonsense talked about taking one look and falling head over heels in love. You don't want to take too much notice of that. Sometimes... when all the surroundings are suitable... that's the best way. That's how it was with your grandfather and me. Everything fitted... and I was fond of him. I was fascinated by his enthusiasm for business. Well, you two start with that. I used to wish you were a boy, so that you could go into it thoroughly, make a career of it. It's difficult with girls. They don't have much chance. The only thing is marriage. Sometimes when you're very young, you don't think about it very much ... You don't think of the future."
I put my arms round her and kissed her. "It's all right, Granny. You don't have to sell him to me. I liked him from the first moment I saw him and I am liking him more and more every day."
She smiled and returned my kiss warmly, which was rare with her, for she was not demonstrative by nature.
"You children mean a lot to me," she said. "I often think about Philip and wonder. Suppose he never comes back."
"Don't say that, Granny. Don't even think of it."
"That's not very wise. It's better to face all possibilities, however unpleasant they may be. You can handle them better if they become realities. I was saying suppose, just suppose, Philip never came back ... one of those boys in Holland would have to inherit. Who knows, one of them might want to take up cartography as a career."
"Oh Granny, I don't want to talk like this. Not tonight, not here. I want to forget how worried we are."
"You're right, my dear. We're worrying about something that has never happened. I just want you to realize how good it is to have a family around you. Happiness does not just come to you, as young and romantic girls might think. You have to make it."
"You think Raymond is going to ask me to marry him, don't you?"
She nodded. "One little sign from you and he would."
"Granny, I have known him only three months."
"You've seen a great deal of him during that time."
"Yes, I have."
"And doesn't he improve on acquaintance?"
"I think perhaps he does."
Granny M nodded, well pleased.
The next day I was introduced to the grandmother. Grace took me up to her.
"She's a little deaf," Grace warned me. "She won't admit it, and often pretends she can hear when she can't."
I nodded.
"But she knows you are here and very much wants to see you."
I stood before her chair and she peered at me. Her eyebrows were grey and rather bushy, but her eyes beneath them were dark and alert.
"Ah. So you are the young lady I have been hearing so much about."
"Have you? I hope it was pleasant."
She gave a little laugh. "All very pleasant. Are you enjoying your stay here, my dear?"
"Very much, thank you."
"I am sorry I was in my room when you arrived. It was that young doctor. They order you about sometimes when you are getting on in years."
"Oh no, Grandmother," protested Grace. "You know you won't allow that."
"No, I don't, do I? I've got a will of my own. I expect they've told you. It's not a bad thing to have."
"I believe it is a very valuable asset."
"And I believe, young lady, that you don't merely believe that, but have one."
"Perhaps. I hadn't thought much about it."
"That proves you've got one. Well, sit down. Tell me about that Tudor Manor House. Your family has lived there for years, I believe."
"Oh yes, we've been there for ages. The family have been in possession from the time it was built."
"Very interesting. I wish we could go back so far."
"Grandmother always wants to delve back into the past, don't you, Grandmother?" said Grace.
"I like to think of those who have gone before. I hope you are
going to stay for a while, my dear, and not run away as soon as you have come."
"We shall stay here until the end of the week."
"You'll come and see me again, won't you?"
"I shall be delighted if I may do so."
"We thought we would just pop in and say how do you do, Grandmother. Annalice will come again tomorrow."
"Will you, my dear? I shall look forward to that."
Grace led the way out of the room.
"She's a little tired today. Then she gets rather absent-minded. So I thought we'd make it a brief visit. You can go and see her tomorrow afternoon if you feel like it."