Mistress of the House Read Free

place. You must be tired after your journey, my dear, and would like to settle in.”
    “I’m not a bit tired, but I’d like to see it.”
    “I’ll take you in the car,” said Mr. Humphries, “and we’ll go round by the road, as you have your bags to take. But if you go now, you’ll have to eat another tea, because we shall get there at their tea-time. They have it a little later than we do, to fit in with the poultry and the milking and so on.”
    “Oh,” said Laurie with sudden interest, “is it a farm?”
    “Yes. We forgot to mention that. Does that make any difference?”
    “Yes, it does. I’m prepared to like it now. I have a very soft spot for farms.”
    They smiled on her, liking her freshness. She stood up, prepared to depart, buttoning her jacket and pulling on her gloves. She was a small person, well dressed, her hair beautifully dressed and brushed. Unobtrusive, thought Mrs. Humphries, but not a bit subservient.
    Laurie went out to the car with Mr. Humphries, and set out for the farm. They made polite conversation about the countryside, he pointing out the landmarks, Laurie admiring everything. They turned off the main road on to the farm road, a rough one with dried mud tracks along it, and evidence of the cows and horses that frequently used it; and then they came to the farm. Laurie had no time to study the house before they had drawn up at the front door and Mr. Humphries was helping her to get out, and leading her into the hall.
    “I expect everybody is at the back,” he said. “I usually use the back door. Anybody at home?” He lifted his voice for the last three words, and then went and knocked on the open door, but without waiting, went to the back of the hall and opened another door. He looked round, found nobody there and coming back, peeped into another room. “Oh, there you are, Max,” he said. “I’ve brought Miss Giles along.”
    “Come in,” said a man’s voice clearly. “I heard you arrive, but I’m on the ’phone. Isn’t Mother around?”
    “She’s not in the kitchen, and nobody has answered my knock.”
    “Well, come in, Mr. Humphries and bring Miss Giles. I won’t be a moment. Hallo!” He went back to his telephoning, and Mr. Humphries led Laurie into what was obviously the office.
    They seated themselves while Max finished his conversation. He smiled at Laurie and nodded, and she smiled back, listening to him and studying her surroundings. It was a bare little room, with its big desk, its one armchair and two small chairs, its charts hanging on the wall, and its worn rug and heavy curtains. The desk was crowded with papers, but she noticed at once that they were methodically arranged. She looked at the man seated behind the desk. ‘Mmmmm,’ thought Laurie. ‘I expect he’s married and runs the farm with his wife. And his mother lives here. Or perhaps he has a family and calls his wife Mother.’ He looked about thirty-five, she thought. Almost certainly married. Farmers usually were.
    He rang off.
    “How do you do, Miss Giles?” he said, standing up and offering her his hand. She shook hands with him. “I hope we shall make you comfortable. I’ll go and find my mother. She’s about somewhere; probably in the garden. Won’t you come into the kitchen? It’s much pleasanter than this.”
    Before he moved, however, his mother came into the room.
    “Ah,” she said. “I heard your voices. I’d only just gone up the garden to get the washing in. You’ll be Miss Giles, now? And I expect you could do with a cup of tea?”
    “There’s no hurry,” said Laurie. “I had some at Mr. Humphries’s house.” Mr. Humphries was introducing them all round.
    “Well, I expect you could drink another. It’s all ready in the kitchen, if you like to come through. What about you, Mr. Humphries?”
    “I’ll get back, if you don’t mind. I’ve left all Miss Giles’s bags in the hall. I expect she’d like to get settled down. Don’t bother to come over