“If you are sure you don’t mind,” she said.
“Why should I mind? The girl is harmless enough,” he replied. “I don’t like the idea of her spending her evenings alone.”
“No,” Pamela said, perching herself on the arm of his chair, and turning a smiling face to his. “I don’t like it either. But I am just a little reluctant to admit her altogether as one of the family. It’s going to put a finish to this comfortable state of affairs.”
He laughed, and got an arm about her waist.
“I suppose it is,” he allowed. “But if you will introduce strange young women into the happy home you must put up with that. It was your doing, remember.”
“I know,” Pamela assented. “But you must admit, Herbert, that it has been a success.”
“I don’t deny it,” he returned. “So far as I am able to judge, the arrangement has worked towards the greater comfort of the establishment all round. That’s one reason why I think we ought to study the girl. At present she is being treated like an upper servant. That won’t do. A girl needs some society outside the nursery.”
“Very well,” agreed Pamela. “We will inaugurate the new system to-morrow.”
Accordingly on the morrow Miss Maitland joined them at dinner. Although Arnott himself had suggested, and practically insisted on this extension of privileges, he made very little effort in helping Pamela in the laborious task of sustaining conversation during the meal, or later when they sat on the stoep. The governess occupied herself with some sewing, and Arnott sat under the electric light and read the papers, only very occasionally throwing in a remark. Pamela found the evening very tedious, and was relieved when punctually at nine-thirty Miss Maitland retired. Never very talkative, Miss Maitland’s powers of conversation seemed to dry up in Arnott’s presence. She seldom looked at him, and never addressed him spontaneously.
“Bit dull, isn’t she?” Arnott observed, when she had left them and gone indoors. He dropped his paper on to the floor and yawned. Then he got up. “You don’t seem to have the knack of setting her at her ease,” he said irritably.