The Determined Bachelor by Judith Harkness

Author:Judith Harkness [Harkness, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780786755110
Publisher: Argo-Navis

Chapter XIII

If Anne had been twice stunned that afternoon, the first time at seeing her employer changed from his usual self into a laughing stranger, and then, as quickly, back again, she was destined to be still more amazed by the events of the next few days. Nicole could offer no explanation for her guardian’s transformation, but with a child’s acceptance, would not question it either. It seemed to her only that Sir Basil had come into his true self, had found the good nature which, before, had been hidden by some freak of nature or accident. She was, therefore, perplexed by her governess’s questions more than by the change itself.

“Why, I suppose he has not been feeling well,” she offered, with a shrug of her shoulders. “In any case, I like him much better now—and I believe he likes me a little bit, too! We did have such a lovely time, Miss Calder—if only you had been with us!”

Anne wished she had been there even more than her pupil, if only to see what had set off his good humour, for she would not believe it had happened of itself. As to the succeeding transformation, she was perfectly sure that she knew what had caused that—the sight of her had obviously affected him very badly. What else could explain his instantaneous change of mood, the moment he had seen her? If this was too unlikely an explanation, considering that she could not mean anything to him, she nevertheless managed to explain it to herself: “It is perfectly clear: Sir Basil detests women, and even I, a lowly governess, must represent to him the idiocy of my sex.”

The explanation would not satisfy her completely, however. Anne was too keen to judge of human nature, for so she had always believed, to think that so profound a metamorphosis could have been set off only by the sight of her. She would not give it any further thought, however: what had been once of great interest as the subject of a novel, could offer no further amusement now that she had given up the project. And well out of it I am, too, thought she. Sir Basil is beyond everything for changefulness and obscurity. Had I the time and the energy, I might devote myself to a lifetime study of his character and still remain as puzzled as I am now.

Indeed, Sir Basil was so unlike any gentleman that Anne had ever seen that he defied every preconception she had ever entertained about manhood. Even excepting his difference in station, wealth, sophistication, and education, she could not reconcile his strange ways with any idea she had ever had of human nature. When he ought to have been warm, he was cold, when another man might have been angry, perverse, or passionate, Sir Basil remained aloof and cool. Never mind: She would do her work, and have done. Only let some other theme present itself to her, and she would take up her pen again.

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