One Woman Too Many by Ruby M. Ayres

Author:Ruby M. Ayres
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Chapter IX

It had not occurred to Janet that Louise Farnham, hearing of Muriel’s arrival at Donhead Cottage, should immediately seize upon the opportunity to get in touch with her, and to make capital out of her previous friendship with the wealthy Conways.

She was essentially a woman who thought in terms of pounds, shillings and pence, and therefore the majority of names on her visiting list were more distinguished by the size of their banking accounts than they were by their breeding, with the result that as soon as she heard the news that the doctor’s Miss Haynes had a sister staying with her, she promptly ordered the car.

Morris was, as usual, playing golf, and it was about four o’clock when Louise arrived at the cottage, and greatly impressed Sallie by first enquiring whether Mrs. Conway was at home, and then by presenting her with a visiting card.

“I shall be so delighted if she will see me,” she said ingratiatingly and as at the moment Muriel happened to be coming down the stairs, it was too late to excuse herself as she might otherwise have done, for Louise immediately greeted her smilingly,

“I am sure you are Mrs. Conway—I am Mrs. Morris Farnham, and as I was once a great friend of your in-laws, I felt that I simply must call and make your acquaintance.”

“ Golly!” Muriel thought in dismay, but there was no help for it but to ask Louise to come in.

“I only arrived yesterday,” Muriel told her, and then a little suspiciously, she asked : “How did you know I was here?”

Louise laughed as they shook hands.

“In this place everything is known almost before it is an accomplished fact,” she said. “I am sure by this time your sister has already realised that it is so! And incidentally, you are not in the least like her! I should never have taken you for sisters. And so you are married to Philip Conway! Of course he was only a schoolboy when I used to visit Long Mile, and that seems only yesterday! Time flies so quickly, doesn’t it?”

She seated herself by the window, evidently determined to stay, Muriel could see, and so somewhat reluctantly she mentioned tea.

“I should adore a cup!” Louise declared. “That is, if it won’t be giving a great deal of trouble.”

“It won’t be any trouble,” Muriel assured her. “Janet always has tea about this time. I’ll tell Sallie—” she turned at the door to say, “But Janet is out, and I’m afraid she won’t be in just yet—”

“But I came to see you!” Louise protested smilingly.

And so tea was brought.

“And now we can have a nice little chat,” Louise said affably. “Do tell me how everyone is?”

“If you mean my father-in-law, he has lumbago,” Muriel said drily, “which is why I am here instead of at Long Mite— and my husband is away on business for a few days. Will you have some cake? It’s very good—Janet made it.”

“It looks delicious,” Louise said approvingly. “Miss Haynes is so wonderfully capable, isn’t she?”

Muriel frowned a little.

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