he was not likely to be home early for dinner.
From the open window of the drawing-room, Louise, standing a little back in the shadows of the room, watched Margaretâs head disappear below the wattle fence. She then closed the window and drew the curtains across it. This was an ordered regulation because the sun would shortly move round to flood the room and might bleach the valuable carpet. Louise approved of the regulation. She had been brought up to believe that windows were there to be shut against excessive cold, unusual heat and all draughts.
Having finished with the window and its curtains she went across the room to where another pair of windows looked out on the road. From here, by craning her neck, she could see part of the main thoroughfare with the buses and heavy traffic pouring along it. She stayed watching until she saw a tall figure swing round the corner in her direction. Then she drew back until the figure, passing the window, raised a hand and turned a smiling face in welcome.
Immediately she went out into the hall and when the bell rang below in the Ogdensâ quarters she leaned over the basement staircase and called, âI am going out. I will open the door. Do not you come up.ââ
âAsk her if itâs Mr. Sudenic,ââ Mrs Ogden said. âSheâll know. Sheâs always at the window.ââ
Mrs. Ogden had her feet up after lunch and was not inclined to move.
âIs it Mr. Sudenic?ââ Ogden called out.
âI do not know. I open the door â yes?ââ
âYou do that, miss,ââ came the answer. âIf itâs Mr. Sudenic show the gentleman into the drawing-room and inform Mrs. Colin. In the garden, she is.ââ
âI do that,ââ Louise called back. The bell rang again.
Directly she opened the door Boris snatched her hand, held it while he closed the door and then drew her into the drawing-room. Having shut that door too he put both arms round her and kissed her long and hard.
Louise came up from the kiss with a sigh of content, followed by a smile.
âDarling,ââ said Boris, fervently, âYou are beautiful like a dream.ââ
âThat is not very original.ââ
âIn English, I cannot yet be original. You prefer I tell you in French or in German? Or perhaps in Polish. There I can be most original, but you do not understand.ââ
âWe must speak in English. I am here to learn this language.ââ
âThe hard-working Swiss. Wonderful. I tell you again then â but not speaking.ââ
The next kiss told Louise more than any words could do in whatever language. But she did not lose her head. After all, she had known about Borisâs feelings for over a month and she was a very sensible girl with her European feet well on the ground.
So now, though gentle and smiling up at him, she pushed him slowly away.
âYou must go to her,ââ she said. âIn the garden. She waits for you.ââ
Boris nodded, gravely. In spite of his delight in the girl he had never taken her into his confidence in any direction, neither telling her about his past, nor very much about his present life in London. And whenever she tried to discover his future plans he always managed to switch the inquiry to her own. Louise was aware of all this and naturally curious. But she also rather enjoyed the mystery, because she rightly felt it was a true one. This was no charlatan but a man of strange and terrible experiences. One day, she promised herself, she would make him speak. But not yet.
âWell, go then,ââ she laughed, giving him another little push. âShe may have heard the bell. It rings below and Mrs. Ogden has always the windows open.ââ
With a quick final kiss Boris turned towards the curtained opening to the balcony. But Louise, remembering, ran up to hold him back.
âYou have not said where we meet
From the open window of the drawing-room, Louise, standing a little back in the shadows of the room, watched Margaretâs head disappear below the wattle fence. She then closed the window and drew the curtains across it. This was an ordered regulation because the sun would shortly move round to flood the room and might bleach the valuable carpet. Louise approved of the regulation. She had been brought up to believe that windows were there to be shut against excessive cold, unusual heat and all draughts.
Having finished with the window and its curtains she went across the room to where another pair of windows looked out on the road. From here, by craning her neck, she could see part of the main thoroughfare with the buses and heavy traffic pouring along it. She stayed watching until she saw a tall figure swing round the corner in her direction. Then she drew back until the figure, passing the window, raised a hand and turned a smiling face in welcome.
Immediately she went out into the hall and when the bell rang below in the Ogdensâ quarters she leaned over the basement staircase and called, âI am going out. I will open the door. Do not you come up.ââ
âAsk her if itâs Mr. Sudenic,ââ Mrs Ogden said. âSheâll know. Sheâs always at the window.ââ
Mrs. Ogden had her feet up after lunch and was not inclined to move.
âIs it Mr. Sudenic?ââ Ogden called out.
âI do not know. I open the door â yes?ââ
âYou do that, miss,ââ came the answer. âIf itâs Mr. Sudenic show the gentleman into the drawing-room and inform Mrs. Colin. In the garden, she is.ââ
âI do that,ââ Louise called back. The bell rang again.
Directly she opened the door Boris snatched her hand, held it while he closed the door and then drew her into the drawing-room. Having shut that door too he put both arms round her and kissed her long and hard.
Louise came up from the kiss with a sigh of content, followed by a smile.
âDarling,ââ said Boris, fervently, âYou are beautiful like a dream.ââ
âThat is not very original.ââ
âIn English, I cannot yet be original. You prefer I tell you in French or in German? Or perhaps in Polish. There I can be most original, but you do not understand.ââ
âWe must speak in English. I am here to learn this language.ââ
âThe hard-working Swiss. Wonderful. I tell you again then â but not speaking.ââ
The next kiss told Louise more than any words could do in whatever language. But she did not lose her head. After all, she had known about Borisâs feelings for over a month and she was a very sensible girl with her European feet well on the ground.
So now, though gentle and smiling up at him, she pushed him slowly away.
âYou must go to her,ââ she said. âIn the garden. She waits for you.ââ
Boris nodded, gravely. In spite of his delight in the girl he had never taken her into his confidence in any direction, neither telling her about his past, nor very much about his present life in London. And whenever she tried to discover his future plans he always managed to switch the inquiry to her own. Louise was aware of all this and naturally curious. But she also rather enjoyed the mystery, because she rightly felt it was a true one. This was no charlatan but a man of strange and terrible experiences. One day, she promised herself, she would make him speak. But not yet.
âWell, go then,ââ she laughed, giving him another little push. âShe may have heard the bell. It rings below and Mrs. Ogden has always the windows open.ââ
With a quick final kiss Boris turned towards the curtained opening to the balcony. But Louise, remembering, ran up to hold him back.
âYou have not said where we meet
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