The Young Intruder Read Online Free Page B

trip to Lisbon; and this old friend of yours who was so charming. Do tell me more about her.”
    “I don’t know that there is much to tell you that you would find interesting. She and her husband were both great friends of mine: they were gay, light-hearted, cultured people. You would never have thought that she fought a constant battle against ill-health.”
    “Oh, she was married?”
    “Indeed, yes.”
    “I jumped to the conclusion that she was an old love of yours.”
    “Nothing could be farther from the truth. She and Edward were so much in love with each other that they made other people feel discontented with their lot.”
    “But she knew you well enough to ask you to settle her affairs?”
    “Yes.”
    “Had she much to leave?”
    “She had only one thing to leave—and she left that to me. A legacy, you might say.”
    “A legacy, to you, who couldn’t possibly need it.”
    “A legacy of a most unusual kind,” he said, smiling. “Now you are making me curious again. Are you going to tell me what it is?”
    “Certainly. Her daughter.”
    “Her daughter ? Peter, you are joking.”
    “I assure you I am not. There were no relations who could look after her; she could not be left to wander Europe alone, obviously; and Laura knew that she could trust me to do my best for her.”
    “What an amazing thing! Whatever will you do with her?”
    “She is in my house now. I brought her back with me. I have an idea of making her my ward.”
    “Oh, Peter,” said Lydia, laughing. “It seems quite ridiculous for you to have a ward. Surely it isn’t necessary to go so far. Will she go to school? Is she a child?”
    “Not much more,” said Peter.
    She looked at him sharply.
    “How much more?” she asked. “How old is she?”
    “Nineteen.”
    There was a short silence.
    “I should hardly call her a child,” said Lydia drily.
    “She seems like it to me,” he said.
    “But you can’t keep her in your house, Peter.”
    “Why not? Priscilla is there to help look after her, and I am hoping that she will do a great deal to help Douglas.”
    “Ah yes.” Lydia was thoughtful. “That is possible, of course. Perhaps it could be a good thing for Douglas.”
    She forsook this subject and began to talk to him of other things, but when he later dropped her in Bond Street before returning to his office, she asked him:
    “Are you going to this party for Signor Micotti tonight, Peter?”
    “Yes, may I pick you up?”
    “No. I’ll pick you up, if I may. I’ll come along in time for some coffee with you after dinner. I’d like to say hallo to Douglas, and I do want to see your little legacy.”
    “Oh, the curiosity of women,” he said.
    “You must allow us a few foibles,” she laughed. “Well, thank you for lunch, Peter, and I’ll see you this evening.”
    He left her standing on the pavement, and she began slowly to walk along Bond Street. A girl of nineteen, she thought, brought up on the Continent. This would definitely need looking into.
    Alison, who had been left in the dining room with Priscilla that same morning, found herself in a somewhat constrained and embarrassed atmosphere. Priscilla was silent, and Alison thought she was cross at having to order tea when there was already plenty of coffee. In fact, Priscilla was awkward and shy, having no idea what to say to this young stranger who had so recently lost her mother, and who somehow had to be fitted into the household. She excused herself and went away, leaving Alison with a distinct impression that she was annoyed about the newcomer.
    Nora came in later to clear away the breakfast things. The new young lady, looking small and forlorn in her black dress, was staring out of the window. Nora proceeded to make cheerful conversation for her benefit.
    She was piling things on to her tray, very efficiently, very brisk and cheerful. She added:
    “Mr. Douglas sent his compliments, and says he hopes to see you when the morning torture is over.”
    “The