Read Dorothy Eden for Free Online Page B

additional things I have got. The miniatures and the Dresden ladies are mine. I confess I love small things.’ He curved his fingers as if he were imagining them round one of the slender china waists. ‘It’s just a foolish idiosyncrasy of mine. But most of the other things were my wife’s. I’m too sentimental. But we like it, don’t we, Margaretta?’
    Again the girl made no response. Dundas leaned over to a small table to pick up an enamelled snuff-box.
    ‘My wife brought most of these from England. She was English, you know. She had no relatives in New Zealand.’ He held the box up to the light and blew on it gently. ‘A little dust, pet,’ he murmured. ‘But your father’s too fussy, isn’t he? And this piece is Satsuma. Not particularly valuable, but the colours are good.’ He revolved a shining blue bowl in his hands. ‘And this little one is French enamel. As a collection there’s not very much, but I value it. You must see my studio and my dark-room, Miss Ashton. Margaretta helps me with the printing and developing.’
    Alice tried to talk to the downbent head.
    ‘That must be interesting, Margaretta.’
    Her only response was an ambiguous movement of the head. It was clear that Margaretta was not going to be drawn out just then. She was very rude, but she was at a difficult age, when nothing was simple, when one’s loves or hates were extravagant and exhausting. It seemed that Margaretta might hate the cluttered room, with its museum-like atmosphere. It was a great pity about her clothes. An attractive dress might do a lot for her.
    Thinking of clothes, Alice began to chatter.
    ‘Camilla’s left practically all her things in the house. I wonder what I should do with them.’
    ‘She’ll send for them, I should think.’
    ‘Yes. I expect so. She’s much too thrifty just to discard them. I had a glance through her stuff, but the only interesting thing I found was the calendar.’
    Dundas looked up.
    ‘The calendar?’
    ‘Camilla has a shocking memory,’ Alice explained. ‘She always jots things down. She’d been doing it on one of those desk calendar things where there’s a leaf for every day.’ Something prompted her to add, ‘It’s quite illuminating. That, and Webster’s chatter. Webster’s an amazing creature—he talks like a parrot. Actually better than any parrot I’ve heard.’ Abruptly she stopped chattering as she became aware of Dundas’s peculiarly colourless gaze. His eyes were like clear water.
    ‘What particular things were on the calendar?’
    (Why, he’s got a guilty conscience, poor sweet, Alice reflected amusedly.)
    ‘Oh, this and that. People. Things she was going to do. I shall keep it to tease her with.’
    ‘I’d like to have a look at it,’ Dundas said. ‘It might give a clue as to her whereabouts. The man—’
    ‘Oh, there isn’t only one man in it,’ Alice said flippantly. ‘All the same, you know, I hardly think Camilla would want them all reading her private comments.’ Suddenly, with his tense gaze on her, she was sorry for her urge to tease him. ‘She was naughty, you know,’ she said gently. ‘I think perhaps it’s a good thing she’s gone.’
    Dundas breathed heavily.
    ‘Perhaps it is. But we were fond of Camilla, in spite of her faults. All of us. In fairness to her, if you don’t wish that diary to be read, I think it should be burnt.’
    ‘I agree,’ said Alice. ‘But later. When we’re quite sure—’
    ‘Sure of what?’
    ‘That Camilla’s all right. Just at present there may be occasion to refer to that diary.’
    Dundas’s clear colourless gaze never left her.
    ‘You think so? In what way, Miss Ashton?’
    ‘Well—in case this elopement of hers is a hoax.’
    ‘I hardly think that would be so. At this stage I almost hope not. For the sake of the school I wouldn’t like any more scandal.’ He paused, to add perplexedly, ‘Fancy your thinking something like that. But why?’
    ‘Who is this mysterious Dalton