The Tall Stranger

by D. E. Stevenson

  ‘You must go out, Henry,’ she said hastily. ‘I simply couldn’t do it if you were there.’

  ‘But I haven’t had any tea!’

  ‘I can’t help that – it’s business. Please go out, Henry. How would you like it if I insisted on being there and talking to you when you were standing on the quarter-deck steering your ship into harbour?’

  Henry had never stood upon the quarter-deck steering his ship into harbour but he knew what Barbie meant. As he went away obediently he reflected that as a Naval Officer’s wife she would have a real deal to learn.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  It was ‘early to bed’ that night for everybody at Oddam Castle, for they were all worn out, but just as they were leaving the drawing-room Jardine appeared and announced that there was a ‘pairsonal call on the telephone for Miss France.’

  ‘For me!’ exclaimed Barbie in surprise.

  ‘Take it in the dining-room,’ said Jennifer.

  Barbie was even more surprised when she heard Aunt Amalie’s voice – a faint far-away voice but definitely Aunt Amalie’s.

  ‘Darling, is something the matter?’ cried Barbie in alarm.

  ‘No, dear. Everything is quite all right. I just want to ask you something. I got your address from Mr Garfield. Can you hear me?’

  Barbie said she could.

  ‘You seem a long way off,’ said Aunt Amalie. ‘But never mind. I just want to ask if you can remember the name of Edward’s friend – the one who borrowed the hundred pounds.’

  Barbie was so staggered at the unexpected question that she could not reply.

  ‘Try to remember,’ said the far-away voice persuasively.

  Try to remember! As if she could possibly forget! ‘Hasn’t the money been repaid?’ asked Barbie.

  ‘Yes dear, he’s paid it back, but I want to know his name.’

  Barbie thought wildly; but she could see no way of avoiding the question. Aunt Amalie had rung up on purpose to ask and it was obvious that she intended to get an answer. After another slight hesitation Barbie answered truthfully. ‘Edward said his name was Tony Chancellor.’

  ‘Tony?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Anthony, I suppose?’

  ‘I suppose so.’

  ‘That’s all I want to know,’ said the far-away voice. ‘I’m sorry to have bothered you. How are you getting on? Not doing too much, I hope.’

  Barbie said she was getting on splendidly and feeling perfectly fit. Then she said, ‘Aunt Amalie, why do you want to know about that man? If the money has been repaid it’s all over and done with.’

  ‘Edward is coming down tomorrow night,’ explained Aunt Amalie. She added hastily, ‘There are the pips! Goodbye darling, take care of yourself –’

  ‘Golly!’ said Barbara softly as she replaced the receiver.

  Her mind was in such a turmoil that she stood there for some minutes trying to think it out. Why on earth had Aunt Amalie wanted to know the man’s name? Why? thought Barbie. Why on earth! And what would happen now! Well, I can’t help it, she thought.

  Three hundred miles away Amalie was putting down the receiver at her end of the line. Now she knew all about it. She had known before, really, but her talk with Barbie had confirmed her knowledge. Barbie’s reluctance to answer her question, and the way she eventually had answered, confirmed it beyond all doubt … ‘Edward said his name was Tony Chancellor.’ It was not a natural way of answering. Then afterwards Barbie had said, ‘Why do you want to know about the man? It’s all over and done with.’ This was a warning not to inquire further.

  Amalie decided to say nothing to Edward. It was the easiest way. It hurt to know that Edward had deceived her, and hurt all the more because it was so unnecessary, but she must just get over it as best she could. There was nothing to be gained by having a quarrel with Edward.

  Edward arrived in time for dinner; he was as gay as ever, charming and affectionate and full of amusing stories. He had brought a present for Amalie – a book which she had mentioned that she wanted but had not been able to get. It was a delightful book about Alpine plants with beautifully coloured plates but Amalie wished he had not brought it.

  After dinner they went into the drawing-room and Penney faded away in her usual tactful manner.

  ‘May I smoke, Amie?’ asked Edward.

  ‘Yes of course. You always smoke,’ she replied.

  ‘But I always ask, don’t I?’ said Edward smiling at her.

  Quite suddenly she was sorry for Edward – terribly sorry. He was so charming. He was so kind. There was just this one dreadful flaw which spoilt everything. It was like a disease, thought Amalie, gazing at him. You could not blame anyone for having a disease. You tried to cure them. Was it any good trying to cure Edward?

  ‘Amie, why are you looking at me like that?’ asked Edward.

  ‘I wasn’t,’ she said hastily. ‘I wasn’t looking at you in any – special – way.’

  ‘You were. There’s something the matter. Oh yes, there is. I know you so well. I’ve suspected – ever since I arrived – that there was something. You had better tell me and get it off your chest.’

  She could not speak.

  ‘Come on, darling,’ said Edward, sitting down and smiling at her encouragingly. ‘You had better tell me. Are you worrying about Barbie and me? You needn’t worry. Barbie has gone to Scotland on business (I discovered that from Garfield’s) so I can’t do anything at the moment, but when she comes home I shall trot along to the flat and see her – and we’ll kiss and be friends.’

  ‘I don’t think – she will.’

  ‘Why? Has Barbie said anything to you?’

  ‘Not really. She didn’t explain why you had – quarrelled.’

  ‘It was utterly ridiculous,’ declared Edward. ‘Barbie has a frightful temper. She flares up at nothing – and sulks.’

  Until this moment Amalie had been perfectly calm but quite suddenly she was very angry. She said, ‘That’s nonsense, Edward. She’s a little hasty sometimes but she never sulks. I don’t like to hear you speak of Barbie so unjustly.’

  ‘I’m not unjust. She took the huff over nothing. I don’t know now what it was all about.’

  ‘Is that true, Edward?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I wonder if it was anything to do with Mr Chancellor.’ She had not meant to say it, but she was so angry and the words burst out before she could stop them.

  ‘So she did tell you!’ exclaimed Edward furiously. ‘She told you all about it – after saying she wouldn’t! After saying you weren’t to be told because it would hurt you!’

  ‘Barbie didn’t tell me anything.’

  ‘Who did, then?’

  ‘Nobody,’ said Amalie. ‘Nobody told me. I just guessed that there was no such person as Mr Chancellor.’

  For a moment Edward hesitated and then he laughed. ‘Goodness!’ he exclaimed. ‘What a fright you gave me! How on earth did you get such an extraordinary idea? Toby Chancellor was at school with me.’

  ‘At school or at Oxford?’

  ‘At school of course,’ said Edward, but he said it uncertainly.

  ‘And is his name Toby – or Tony?’

  Edward had become rather pale. ‘Amie dear, what’s all this about?’

  Amalie was still angry. ‘You can’t remember,’ she said. Then she added, ‘My father always used to say liars should have good memories.’

  Edward rose and walked to the window. It was dark outside and the curtains had not been drawn. He stood there looking out and for a few moments there was silence.

  ‘You’re unkind,’ he said at last in a husky voice. ‘I love you better than anybody else – and I can’t – bear it.’

  ‘Oh Edward!’ she cried. ‘I love you too – that’s why I’m angry. Why didn’t you tell me the truth? Why didn’t you ask me for the money? You knew I would have given it to you. Why did you make up a long story …’

  ‘I don’t know. I just – thought of it. I said
it to please you.’

  ‘To please me?’

  ‘Well, it did please you, didn’t it?’

  ‘Oh Edward!’

  ‘I like pleasing people,’ he said defensively. ‘I like things to go smoothly and everyone to be happy. I like to be liked. Is that wrong?’

  ‘You like to have everything your own way.’

  ‘But if it’s the best way – best for everyone –’

  ‘Not if you have to tell lies to get it.’

  ‘I didn’t tell lies.’

  ‘You told me a long detailed story about a man who doesn’t exist.’

  ‘That isn’t lies,’ declared Edward. ‘It isn’t lies when you tell your secretary to say you’ve gone out if Mr So-and-So calls. It was just like that, Amie. Like saying you’re out when you don’t want to see a fellow – or admiring a girl’s frock when you think it’s ghastly. Everyone does it. Do you tell the truth all the time? Does Barbie? Of course not.’ He had been down in the depths but now he was perking up again and becoming quite cheerful. ‘Of course not,’ he repeated. ‘If you told the truth all the time you soon wouldn’t have a friend in the world. It’s the same in business. You wouldn’t do much good in business if you didn’t use your wits and play up to people a bit. Why only the other day …’

  He went on talking and she listened in dismay. She thought, but this is dreadful! He can turn black into white. He doesn’t know the difference. He has no moral sense … and this is Ned’s son, the little boy I loved and mothered! And Ned was the soul of honour – straight as a die! It must be my fault. Perhaps I didn’t bring him up properly. This is dreadful!

  She was so upset that she ceased to listen to what he was saying and it was not until his voice stopped that she realised she had not heard.

  ‘You understand, don’t you, Amie?’ said Edward after a short silence. ‘You remember I was to try it for a year and see how I got on and how I liked it – and of course the year is up in October.’

  ‘You mean you’ve decided to give up your partnership in the firm?’ asked Amalie incredulously.

  ‘That’s what I’ve been telling you.’

  ‘I thought you liked it.’

  ‘Oh, I didn’t mind it at first, but it wasn’t really what I expected. I didn’t expect to get landed with a lot of office work. I like going about and meeting people – that’s my line. The other partners are such stick-in-the-muds that they don’t realise that. They don’t realise how valuable I am. Anyone can sit in an office and tot up figures but very few people can go out and make valuable contacts and bring in new clients.’

  ‘Have they told you to – to –’

  Edward laughed. ‘Oh, they haven’t sacked me – if that’s what you mean. It was mutual.’

  She wondered if it were true. She realised with a shock of horror that she would never again believe what Edward told her without wondering if it were true.

  ‘Of course I’ll get my money out of them,’ continued Edward. ‘At least it’s your money, but you won’t mind if I keep it, will you? It’s easier to get a really good job if you can put down some capital.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ she asked him.

  ‘That’s the question,’ said Edward jauntily. ‘What am I going to do? If I can persuade Barbie to be sensible I shall get another job in this country, if not I shall go abroad.’

  Amalie gazed at him. ‘Persuade Barbie to be sensible!’ she echoed. ‘You mean to marry her?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘But you’ve just said she was bad-tempered and sulky and –’

  ‘Oh, she’s not all that bad,’ declared Edward. ‘I’m very fond of Barbie – always have been – and of course there’s Underwoods. I suppose you thought I didn’t know that Father had left it to Barbie. I’ve known about it for months. I thought I’d like to see exactly how Father had left his money, so I paid a visit to Somerset House – you pay your bob and you can see anyone’s Will. I was pretty angry at first I can tell you.’

  ‘And then you decided to marry Barbie!’

  ‘Amie!’ he exclaimed in horrified tones. ‘You don’t really think that about me! You know I’ve always loved Barbie – ever since we were children – I’ve never thought of anyone else. Look, Amie, look at that!’ he added, taking something out of his pocket and holding it out to her. ‘That will show you! We cut it in half when we were children. Barbie has lost her bit, but I’ve always kept mine – all these years.’

  It was half a silver sixpence.

  Seeing is believing (as Henry Buckland had found). Whether or not it was true that Edward had treasured his half of the sixpence ‘all these years’ nobody but himself would ever know, but Amalie did not doubt the evidence of her eyes.

  ‘Oh Edward, I’m sorry!’ she exclaimed. ‘Oh Edward! What a pity it all is! What a dreadful pity!’

  ‘A pity!’ he echoed in surprise. ‘But if Barbie sees that – if I show her my half of the sixpence –’

  Amalie shook her head. She said wearily, ‘I don’t understand you, Edward, but I think I do understand Barbie. Perhaps it’s because we’re the same kind of person – underneath.’

  ‘Amie, listen!’

  ‘No,’ she said rising. ‘I can’t listen any more tonight. I’m – too tired. I don’t know when I’ve felt so – awfully – tired.’

  The feeling of utter exhaustion had come quite suddenly. She was so tired that the thought of going upstairs and undressing and getting ready for bed dismayed her … but she called Penney and Penney came and put her arm round her and together they went slowly up the stairs.

  Edward stood in the hall and watched them (he had offered to help Amie up the stairs but his services had been refused). He had a feeling of depression and loneliness. He had a feeling that his best friend had deserted him. It was a horrible feeling while it lasted … but it did not last long.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  The first night of Barbie’s homecoming she and Nell sat up till all hours talking. Barbie did most of the talking and there was so much to tell that her throat was quite rough by the time she had finished. She told Nell all that had happened, starting from her arrival at Ryddelton Station … but she did not mention Henry Buckland. Barbie had decided not to tie herself in any way, not even by mentioning his name to Nell. When Henry walked into the flat – walked into her own everyday life – she would know for certain whether he was really and truly the One. There was another reason, too. She had ‘gassed’ to Aunt Amalie about Henry Buckland, preparations had been made for him – and he had not come. This time there would be no ‘gas’ and no preparations, so of course he would come.

  Of course he would come. It was only now and then at odd moments that Barbie was beset with doubts. It was as if Something said to her, ‘Supposing he doesn’t come? He said he would come before – and he didn’t. What will you do if he doesn’t come?’ ‘Of course he’ll come,’ said Barbie to the Something.

  Nell was a little half-hearted about the plan for Agnes. ‘Oh, Barbie, I don’t know …’ said Nell. ‘Of course it would be marvellous for her, but supposing they didn’t like the poor little creature and sent her back? It would be worse then, wouldn’t it? Agnes would have had a taste of Paradise.’

  ‘Wouldn’t it be better to have had a taste of Paradise than never to have known anything but that?’ asked Barbie, pointing in the direction of the Other Flat.

  ‘And there’s Glore,’ added Nell. ‘Glore might make herself a nuisance.’

  ‘Not to the Scotts,’ said Barbie confidently. ‘The Scotts can look after themselves … and from now on we’re going to look after ourselves too. Kind but firm is the recipe for dealing with people like Glore.’

  Barbie had a good opportunity of trying out her recipe next morning, for Glore’s usual knock was heard as they were finishing breakfast.

  ‘Don’t bother, leave it to me,’ said Barbie, gulping down the last mouthfuls of coffee and rushing to the door.

  ‘Oh Miss France, you’r
e back!’ exclaimed Glore. ‘Did you have a nice holiday in Scotland?’

  ‘It wasn’t a holiday, it was business, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.’

  ‘Is Nell in?’

  ‘She’s finishing her breakfast. We’re rather late this morning.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Glore. ‘Oh well, I’ve just come to borrow your electric iron. Mine is out of order.’

  Barbie smiled kindly. ‘Your iron has been out of order for weeks, hasn’t it? The best thing to do is to take it to the electrician – the one at the corner is quite good; he’ll put it in order for you.’

  ‘Oh!’ said Glore.

  ‘Take it along this morning,’ said Barbie … and she stood there, still smiling kindly in a Jennifer Scott manner.

  ‘Oh, well – yes – I could, I suppose.’

  Having settled the matter satisfactorily Barbie produced a letter. It was written upon thick paper and was addressed to Mrs Evans in large bold hand-writing (hand-writing which Mr Garfield would have recognised).

  ‘Here’s a letter,’ said Barbie. ‘It’s from Mrs Scott – the lady I was staying with in Scotland. I haven’t time to talk about it now.’

  ‘What is it?’ asked Glore eyeing it with suspicion.

  ‘Take it and read it,’ said Barbie. ‘It explains itself. I must fly or I shall be late. I’ll be home at six if you would like to come and talk to me about it.’

  ‘But Miss France –’

  ‘I really must fly,’ declared Barbie and she thrust the letter into Glore’s hand.

  Barbie was a little late in arriving at Garfield’s and Mr Garfield was waiting for her. They went into his office, and together they examined all the measurements and patterns, and Barbie explained her notes. She told him what the Scotts wanted done and what she had advised.

  It took a long time to go through everything and when they had finished Mr Garfield sat back in his chair and looked at her. ‘You’ve excelled yourself, Miss France,’ he said solemnly. ‘Yes, you’ve excelled yourself. It couldn’t be better. What a head you’ve got!’

  ‘We can do it soon, can’t we?’ said Barbie anxiously.

  ‘We can do it soon – and we will. It’s a big job of course – all those chairs to be upholstered and everything – but we’ll put it through quick. Top priority – see? We’ll put it in hand straight off and what’s more we’ll cut the prices. Good advertisement, you see. Opens new ground. People coming in and seeing the place and saying, “Where did you get it done?” and then saying, “Garfield’s. They did it straight off in ’alf no time – and it wasn’t expensive, neither.” ’