Arnott was on the whole rather pleased to observe what he believed to be Pamela’s reawakened interest in life. He had resented her persistent avoidance of all save a favoured few of her former friends. Her attitude had struck him as a tacit reproach to himself, and this had annoyed him. Her resumption of neglected duties won him over to greater amiability, and kept him more at home. Since the birth of the boy, the care of whom had been a tie upon Pamela, he had fallen into the habit of motoring alone into Cape Town and spending much of his time at his club. The parental rôle was not at all in his line.
He could not understand why Pamela refused to engage a capable European nurse, and hand the care of the children over to her. Nevertheless, when Pamela suggested having a governess for them, he opposed the idea vigorously. A nurse was reasonable, he argued; but a governess was not a servant, and would be continually in the way. He disliked the idea of admitting a stranger into the household.
Pamela allowed the matter to drop for a time, but she did not give it up entirely. She discussed it with Mrs Carruthers, and Mrs Carruthers made inquiries for her, and ascertained that Blanche Maitland would be quite willing to undertake the position. After the lapse of a few months Pamela broached the project with greater determination. In the interval she invited Blanche to the house on several occasions with a view to accustoming Arnott to her. It was following one of these occasions that she opened the subject again.
“That girl seems to be here fairly often,” Arnott remarked. “What is the attraction?”
“I like her,” said Pamela. “She is quiet, and nice.”
“She’s quiet enough,” he admitted.
“I want you to agree to my engaging her as nursery governess,” she said. “Pamela is growing big enough to begin easy lessons, and both the children need a white woman’s care. They must have an educated person with them. It is impossible for me to be with them all day.”
“I don’t see why a good European nurse,” he began.
But she interrupted him firmly.
“There are very few good European nurses to be had out here,” she declared, and urged her reasons more strongly.