The Nutmeg Tree by Margery Sharp

Author:Margery Sharp
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media

6

It was curious that, after behaving in so perfectly ladylike a manner, Julia should have been troubled by her conscience. But so it was: as she sat comfortably in the car, her bag plumped out by Mr. Rickaby’s notes, she could not help feeling—well, mean.

“He asked for it,” she assured herself. “He was having a gamble, and he lost. I hope it’ll be a lesson to him.”

For some minutes this new view of her conduct—that she had been altruistically and deliberately showing Mr. Rickaby the folly of his ways—brought a certain comfort. But the comfort did not last. In spite of herself Julia could not help picturing him waiting and wondering, and then perhaps going into the shop, and making a fool of himself in front of the vendeuse, and then stamping out again with a hot and angry face. It was all part of the lesson, of course, but men did feel that sort of thing so.…

To cheer herself up Julia took out the new garters and tried them on. They were black, with silver crescents. She hitched up her skirt and stretched out a shapely but solid leg, and found the effect extremely good. It was just at that moment that the chauffeur turned round to ask a direction.

“C’est près de Belley, Madame?”

“Oui, oui,” said Julia, letting down her skirt again.

“Yes, yes,” said the chauffeur, grinning.

“You attend to your job,” said Julia.

She was furious as much with herself as with him, and the incident ruffled her. If it had been Susan in the car he would never have dared. But then Susan wouldn’t have been trying on garters.… “It’s not that,” thought Julia; “it’s just something about me. They see they can take advantage, and they do. Mean, I call it.”

Anger warmed her, and with the subconscious purpose of putting herself in the right, she directed it upon Mr. Rickaby. A man old enough to be her father—very nearly! “The old rip!” thought Julia. If she hadn’t had the sense to come away, goodness knew what mightn’t have happened! The idea that he was still at large in Aix, getting ready, no doubt, to entangle the next thirsty young woman who came his way, was quite distressing to her. She ought to have told the police about him. She ought to have given him in charge. He was a menace to female virtue, and it was no wonder girls went wrong.…

“All the same,” murmured the voice of Julia’s conscience—and oddly enough it was also the voice of red-haired Louise—“all the same, dear, you did lead him up the path.…”

Julia rapped on the glass and told the chauffeur to stop. They were just outside the village, and she had no wish to arouse unnecessary comment. When she gave the man his tip he did not touch his cap, but swept it off with a low bow; and though Julia was almost sure this was wrong, she dared not try to rebuke him. She had a strong presentiment that if she opened her mouth, it would be to swear.

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