Carolan sat on the table.
“Mamma, tell me about how you came to the shop. Where did you get all this furniture? It is by no means new; did you pick it up through the business?”
“When we came to the shop…” began Kitty.
“Well, it was just as it is now, when we came to the shop; I do not remember it any different.”
“Ah.” said Carolan, swinging her legs.
“I can guess what happened; my father bought the place just as it was furniture and all. He must have had a windfall, if before you were so poor that you had nothing to eat!”
“Yes, that was it,” said Kitty.
Carolan took her mother’s face between her hands and kissed it. She was thinking of Darrell’s trying to explain his business affairs to this adorable, inconsequent creature.
Poor darling Mamma, and poor darling Father! she thought. She leaped off the table and went back to the shop.
She decided to heap all the clothes into a corner and consult her father about them when he came in; and as she was doing this the bell tinkled and a man walked in. A customer! she thought jubilantly. But almost immediately she recognized him as Jonathan Crew.
“Good afternoon!” he said.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Crew.”
His great dark eyes went all round the shop, from the window to the newly exposed door.
“You are very busy…”
“Indeed yes. And you? You are not working this afternoon?”
When he smiled, his skin seemed tighter than ever. He exposed a row of strong white teeth.
“Sometimes I am sent from my office on certain commissions. If I execute them with speed, why should I not have a half-hour to spend as I will! You are well, after your adventures of yesterday?”
“Very well, I thank you.”
“And making good use of your time, I can see.”
“Do you notice any difference in the shop? But I suppose you do not; it was dusk when you saw it, was it not?”
“I notice some alterations; I have always been told that I am an observant man.”
“And the change is for the better?”
“Very much for the better!”
Kitty called through the door: “Who it that, Carolan?”
“It is Mr. Crew come to inquire how I am after yesterday’s journey.”
“Come in!” cried Kitty.
“Come in. Me Crew.”
Carolan led him into the parlour.
Kitty, sitting upright in her chair, extended her hand; she was like a queen graciously receiving an honoured subject.
“It is indeed kind of you, Mr. Crew.”
He bowed courteously over Kitty’s hand.
“I was anxious to know how your daughter was today. Ma’am. London gave her a rough welcome, I fear.”
“Not all London amused Kitty.
“And she has you to thank for that, sir!”
“It was the greatest pleasure to be of some small service.”
Carolan’s eyes strayed back to the shop.
There are one or two things I must dear up before my father returns. If you will excuse me, Mr. Crew… You talk to Mr. Crew, Mamma, while I finish.”
Kitty pouted. Was this the way to treat a gentleman caller! Carolan must learn better. There was a smudge of dirt across her nose, and her pretty hair looked most inelegant.
“Run to your room, darling.” said Kitty severely.
“Wash, and change your dress. I will entertain Mr. Crew while you do so.”
“No, no!” insisted Mr. Crew.
“I see I make a nuisance of myself. Miss Carolan is a young lady who, having started a job, win wish to complete it. I admire her for it; moreover I will help.”
“There is no need.” said Carolan. There is little to do now.”
“Nevertheless, I insist on helping!” And help he did; he worked very hard, stacking the old clothes together in a corner of the room.
This kind of shop interests me greatly.” he said.
“You never know what you will find!”
When they had finished. Carolan said: “I long to see my father’s face when he comes in.”
“He will be astonished, I am sure. How long do you stay, Miss Carolan ?”
“I am not certain. Two months, or possibly less.” Two months can be a long time. And your idea is to turn this shop, before you leave, into what it was surely meant to be?” That is my idea.”
“I sincerely hope that you will achieve it.” There is my mother calling; let us go to her.”
Kitty, the mother, a little shocked at the unconventional behaviour of her daughter, but smiling indulgently because she was such a child, said: “Now, Carolan, go to your room and wash your hands and face at once. To please me… go. I insist!”
When Carolan returned Mr. Crew was talking of London; and how vividly he talked! Carolan was ready to listen as eagerly as her mother. He told of the pleasure gardens, the coffee and chocolate houses, the play. He had seen Mr. Sheridan’s School for Scandal years back; he had seen the great Mrs. Siddons herself. He often caught glimpses of the Prince and Princess of Wales; and when he was a mere boy he had once seen the Prince with Mrs. Perdita Robinson; that was in the days when the Prince was young and handsome and had not put on weight so distressingly, before he had married Maria Fitzherbert. And yes, Mr. Crew confessed he had set eyes on the fair Maria too. He seemed to know everything and have been everywhere. Kitty loved such talk and drank it in eagerly. She told Mr. Crew that someone had said she was remarkably like Sarah Siddons, though for the life of her she could not see where! Mr. Crew put his head on one side and made a play of studying her critically. Yes, he said, there was a resemblance, but he thought it was chiefly in the expression.
“My little daughter is all agog to see the Town,” said Kitty.
“I trust, Ma’am,” answered Jonathan Crew, ‘that some day I may be allowed to show her a little of London__to show you both of course.”
“That is most kind. My poor husband is such a busy man; he is here and there on business, and there is little time for pleasure.”
“But perhaps,” said Carolan, “Mr. Crew is also a busy man.”
“I have some leisure,” he answered.
“And it is gracious indeed to offer to spend a little of it on us,” said Kitty.
“It is you who are gracious.”
“Flatterer!” laughed Kitty.
Oh, Mamma! thought Carolan. Don’t! He is not a bit like that. Can you not see?
But Kitty did not see; she gazed at the visitor admiringly, and fluttered her long golden lashes. Carolan was uncomfortable, over-silent and a little gauche.
Kitty thought: I am still attractive then! Here is a young man who calls to see my daughter and finds me more interesting. Does not a woman become more attractive as she grows older -providing of course she is not too old? What she gains in flesh she loses in gaucherie. For all we know, this man may be a great gentleman a rich merchant perhaps even a lord! How I wish I had put on the black velvet! Black is becoming to a fair skin. But perhaps this blue is more enchanting … Therese used to say blue was my colour.
“I must go,” said Mr. Crew.
“But I trust you will allow me to come again.”
He bowed over Kitty’s hand, and Carolan went to the door with him.
“I hope to see more of the interesting things in your interesting shop,” he said.
“Please come whenever you want to. My father has lots and lots of things tucked away, I’m sure. I vow he most likely keeps the best locked away in the basement.”
“I think that very likely. You are going to be his guide and counsellor-that much I see, Miss Carolan. Then I may call again?”
“Please do!”
Thank you! Thank you! Goodbye.”
Kitty was smiling when Carolan returned to the parlour.
“My dear, an admirer so soon!”
“Not an admirer at all. Mamma.”
“La! child. You are but a baby.”
To my mind,” said Carolan, ‘he admired you more than he admired me.”
“Nonsense!” said Kitty, smiling to herself.
“I am an old woman, though I do admit I was very, very young when you were born, Carolan.”