The Man in the Dark by Susan Scarlett

Author:Susan Scarlett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dean Street Press
Published: 2022-07-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

That expedition was like the turning of a key in a rusty lock. Slowly, creakingly, but surely, the door of James’ life opened. Every day something new found room to get in. Having walked in a wood in the country, it was a natural step to a walk in the Park. Having let Shirley make a habit of popping in and out of his room, it became ridiculous to confine himself to the one sitting-room, as if he were an invalid, so in no time he was all over the house. He could not break himself of feeling agonisingly self-conscious eating in public, but having coffee with the two girls became a matter of course. He still preferred his cluttered ugly room to Shirley’s sitting-room; he said her room smelt so clean he was afraid to smoke in it, but he sat there sometimes to hear her play, though more often they sat in his room after dinner. Shirley tried to get him to come to a musical play or a music hall, but at that he struck. One of his nightmares was of being led into a public place and greeted by an old friend and hearing pity in his voice. However, she did manage to get him to play cards. She bought two braille packs and, with a view to bridge later on, taught him Rummy, giving him plenty of time to finger the cards and learn to read their value quickly. James had at first jibbed at the idea, saying he had always hated cards, and anyway was a fool at braille and would never learn to use them. But after a night or two he was enjoying himself, and quite late he and Shirley were still at it, fighting out who owed who half a crown.

Marda deliberately took the smallest share in all this. Only the morning readings and sometimes the walks concerned her. She found even these difficult to manage in accordance with her conscience. Somehow, in spite of herself, and, as far as she could see, in spite of James, and with very little that was personal said, an intimacy was established. She, watching his face and noting a nervous twitch of his fingers or a tightening of his muscles, had a silent understanding of, and with him, far more binding than things said. And he, with steadily growing sensitiveness to her, not only knew when she was in or out of a room, but seemed to know her feelings as if he were a barometer and she the weather.

Marda worried and puzzled over herself and James. Only so rarely did he show any outward sign that he liked having her about; all that he reserved for Shirley. It was for her his face lit up when the door opened, and to her he called out “Hullo, Minx.” It was she that he seemed to want near him, petting her and teasing her. Only once did he show any sign of the man who had held Marda’s hand and quoted the “Song of Songs.

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