“As a friend?”
Juliet looked up at him. “I think it would be better that you should know, Roger,” she said, “and I’m sure Miss Redding herself would prefer it—that I pay her for several hours a day of regular work. You’ve only to see her to understand that she does this simply because it’s the only thing open to her as long as her father and mother can’t spare her to go away. She gave up her college course in the middle because she said they were pining to death for her. They are in very greatly reduced circumstances, after a lifetime of prosperity. She’s a rare creature—I’m learning to appreciate her more every day. She’s never said a word about her loneliness here, but it shows in her eyes. It’s a perfect delight to me to have her with me, and I mean to give her all the fun I can. For all that demure manner and her Madonna face she’s as full of mischief as a kitten when something starts her off.”
“Juliet,” said the doctor soberly, turning to look searchingly down at her in the moonlight, “would you be willing to let me come often?”
Juliet looked up quickly. “So that you may see her?” she asked straightforwardly.
“Yes. I won’t pretend it’s anything else. I can tell you honestly that if there were no other reason I should want to come because of my old friendship for you and Anthony, and because this evening in your little home has given me a rare pleasure. I know of no place like it. But I’ll tell you squarely that I want the chance to meet your friend often and at once. If I don’t you will have other people coming out from town——”
“Yes,” said Juliet, and something in the way she said it made him ask quickly: “Has that already happened? Am I too late?”
“I don’t know whether you’re too late, but I know that we’ve suddenly grown most attractive to another man from town. If you had gone into Rachel’s home the odour of violets would have met you at the door. He sends them every few days.”
“Ah!” said the doctor. It was not much of a comment, but it spoke volumes. He had been keen before—he was determined now. Violets—well, there were rarer flowers than those.