“If I had known!” he said, when I had finished. “Denis’s children! Well, I can alter one thing, at any rate: you needn’t stay here as general factotum a day longer. Come over to my place, and look after me, instead: I’ve a huge house, and my old housekeeper will welcome you with open arms. I won’t have you earning your living here.”
I felt myself turn scarlet with astonishment. It was a wonderful prospect. I couldn’t take it all in, but it flashed on me that it would be very soothing to meet Beryl McNab on equal terms. Then I caught sight of Mrs. McNab’s face as she moved slowly across the lawn with her head bent and the look of worry plainly in her face, and I knew I couldn’t do it. Father would have said it wasn’t the square thing.
“It’s ever so good of you, Dr. Firth,” I told him, “and I’m very grateful. Some other time it would be lovely. But I couldn’t throw over my job here. I don’t think it would be fair to Mrs. McNab: her hands are very full, and I do believe she is beginning to depend on me.”
“She could get some one else to depend upon.”
“Not in the middle of the holidays. She wouldn’t have taken me if she could have found some one older and more experienced. And the children are really pretty good with me—I think it’s because I am young enough to play about with them now and then. They hate the elderly governess type.”
“Are you working too hard?” he asked doubtfully. “You are far too thin, you know, young lady.”
I told him I was by no means over-worked; there was plenty to do, but nothing really difficult. He was not satisfied: that was clear. He asked me a great many questions, and finally repeated that Mrs. McNab should be asked to find some one to replace me.
We were supposed to be an obstinate family, and I may have a certain share of the quality. At any rate, I shook my head.
“Please don’t ask me, Dr. Firth, for I hate saying ‘No’ to your kindness. But I’ve undertaken a responsibility, and I don’t feel that I can drop it. You know, Father always taught us that it was an unpardonable thing to let anyone down.”
He looked at me keenly.