The Margery Sharp Collection Volume Two by Margery Sharp

Author:Margery Sharp
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2017-07-27T00:00:00+00:00

2

Mr Joyce arrived at the house in Alcock Road not exactly furtively (he took a taxi), but having dropped in at Bond Street first to leave word that if Miranda telephoned, he was at an auction. It was the first step towards what he hoped would be a very happy double life—he had already discovered, for instance, that at Richmond was a golf-course, and meant to play there with Harry on Sundays under cover of taking Turkish baths. The immediate prospect, of relieving his friend’s anxieties and saving him from starvation, was of course more delightful still; but as the taxi bore him down Alcock Road, it was a toss-up which took priority in Mr Joyce’s excited mind.

How astounding, therefore, that within an instant of his ringing the bell, both should have been even momentarily forgotten! To Mr Joyce’s amazement, the child who opened the door was a child he recognised. Short, stocky, fair-haired and grey-eyed—wearing the same jersey—actually with a stick of charcoal in her fist—there stood his faithless protégée of Almaviva Place.

“But this is crazy!” ejaculated Mr Joyce—even as he spoke grabbing hold of her. “Why didn’t your mother come to see me?”

“Oh, it’s you,” said Martha stolidly. “I haven’t got a mother. I’m an orphan.”

“But you told me—An orphan!” cried Mr Joyce. “Harry!” shouted Mr Joyce, thrusting her before him into the house. “Are you there, Harry?” Out burst Harry from the sitting-room; Mr Joyce thumped him gladly with the hand that wasn’t grasping Martha and hurried on. “Whose is this child, Harry? What is she doing here? I have a job for you, Conrad’s, Richmond,” added Mr Joyce rapidly. “Who is this child?”

“I told you about her, that’s Martha, Miss Diver’s niece,” said Harry Gibson, in natural astonishment, and thumping his friend back. “Did you say Conrad’s?”

“At Richmond, we will play golf, but never mind that now,” exclaimed Mr Joyce impatiently. “She told me her mother was Mrs Brown.” He shook Martha up and down. “Was it wrong? Why did you tell me wrong? Good afternoon, Miss Diver, have you a sister-in-law Mrs Brown?”

“No, Hogg,” said Miss Diver, adding to the confusion. “I’m afraid she’s dead. Oh, Harry, did I hear him say—?”

“Yes, he has!” exulted Harry Gibson.

“But she lives here, you look after her?” persisted Mr Joyce.

“Who, Martha? Of course,” said Dolores. “Oh, Mr Joyce, won’t you come into the sitting-room? Martha can come too—”

But Martha had had enough of being pulled about. She wrenched herself free and glowered all round.

“I don’t want to come into the sitting-room. I’d rather not,” said Martha, very plainly.

“Martha, do as you’re told!” cried Dolores. When their benefactor, their saviour, was taking an interest in her! “When Mr Joyce is being so kind!” cried Dolores—an unfortunate echo. Martha started off towards the kitchen; Dolores glanced in desperate apology towards Mr Joyce, and was surprised to see on his face a look not of anger or offence, but merely one of peculiar attentiveness.

“Stop a moment,” said Mr Joyce mildly.

Remarkably, Martha stopped.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.