“Well, you see—” he began, and stopped.
“Did you speak?”
“I want to thank you. I think it most awfully kind. Still, I believe my mother would like to write. She’s—”
“Yes?”
“We’re all of us rather old-fashioned people, you see.”
“Oh yes, I see. I think you might even say—very,” said Claudia, gaily. “Well, settle it any way you like. I only warned you because I dare say I shall soon be having plenty of applications and getting my time filled up. And you had better tell her that my terms are ten pounds for one week, or fifteen for a fortnight. It is always well,” she added, “to have things square beforehand. Now I must get to work.”
Left to himself, Harry Hilton’s face broadened into a smile. He lit a cigarette, stuck his hands into his pockets and sauntered towards the river to see whether any fish were rising. His head was full of Claudia’s face, and the flashings and cloudings which swept across it, giving it a charm even more irresistible than mere beauty. He felt a great desire to stand well with her. “If I can get her to Thornbury, and let her go ahead with some of the young trees, she’ll be pleased. The mater will ask her, fast enough, if she knows I want it; and I’ll get Philippa to tackle—her, and see that she writes a civil answer. I want her to make a good impression. I wonder if I’m falling in love? Well, hang it all! if I am, it’s not unpleasant. I don’t mind. I hope it won’t spoil my fishing. ‘Ten pounds for a week, and fifteen for a fortnight’! Oh, I say, I can’t tell the mater that, I really can’t!”
He was laughing again, for he was not yet so much in love as to fail to see the comic side of Claudia’s announcements. His nature was simple and broadly lined, but furnished with good common sense which would prevent his ever making a fool of himself, or being made a fool of by others. Claudia, at this period of her life, admired complexity and unfathomable sayings, and it would have mortified her beyond expression to have realised with what ease Harry pushed aside her small eccentricities as absolutely matters of no moment. They did not affect the attraction he felt a whit more than an unbecoming fashion would have detracted from his admiration for a beautiful face. Then how frank she was, how free from petty ways and shams! He looked at the hand in which her white hand had rested, and his smile became very grave and tender. He stood so long, indeed, that Vic, the fox-terrier, came back and jumped on him inquiringly. Harry patted her, laughed happily again, and set himself to consider the best method of getting an invitation to Thornbury couched in such terms as should satisfy Claudia’s views as to the exigencies of political economy. He made up his mind to go home himself the next morning, and he had a hope that Claudia would express a little regret at his leaving—a hope which was not realised. All that fell from her was a casual remark at dinner.
“Let me know as soon as you can if you want any time kept for Thornbury, for I shall be writing to the college in a day or two.”
“And what does the college do?” asked Philippa.