Velvet Shadows Read Free

supervision I would have spoken sharply. Only here I was no “lady instructoress.” Though if this was a sample of Victorine Sauvage’s usual conduct, I did not wonder that her brother wished her to have a companion.
    Mr. Sauvage switched to French, perhaps so trying to awaken his sister to her duties as hostess. But he neverglanced at her when she did not respond. At last he set down a cup, which I believed he had been holding merely as a matter of form, and launched directly into our business.
    “Mr. Hogle”—he was abrupt, brusque—“has made known to you the nature of my offer.” Awaiting no answer from me, he swept on, as if he found relief in direct speech rather than the polite platitudes of society. “I realize that such a radical change in your life will require reflection on your part. Unfortunately, I have only today received information which makes it necessary for us to depart to San Francisco earlier than I had anticipated. So I am afraid your choice must be made before this Friday.
    “Yes”—he must have read dismay in my expression, for he continued—“I know that is asking much of you. However, our party will travel by private car, that belonging to the president of the railroad. If you choose to accept we can pick you up at Ashley Station.”
    “Alain”—having set a last deliberate stitch, Mrs. Deaves was folding her embroidery—“it would be better for you to discuss this business with Miss Penfold and her advisor privately. Victorine needs her rest, the poor child is quite exhausted today. I am afraid our expedition yesterday was too taxing. Miss Penfold, please excuse us.”
    Her voice added another thickness to the barrier she was erecting between us. Making very clear that my position, should I take it, would be that of an employee, not a friend.
    With the aid of her maid Victorine was raised from her nest of cushions, and she leaned heavily on the girl’s arm as they disappeared into another room. After the door was closed I asked Mr. Sauvage a direct question.
    “Is your sister ill, sir? I have had no training in the care of ????? ?????Invalid, so my services might be of little use under those circumstances.”
    He was frowning, not in my direction, but at the door behind which Victorine had disappeared.
    “Victorine is not in the least ill,” he said with the force of a man holding back exasperation. “She has chosen toadopt this role because she is vexed. I shall be entirely open with you, Miss Penfold. I discovered my sister in France in a situation I did not like. She had impudently contracted an alliance with a person unsuitable in every respect. Now she bitterly resents my dismissal of that person, my forcing her to come to this country. But she is very young, and, I hope, in more natural surroundings, she can be weaned from both this entanglement and the unhealthy atmosphere in which she was unfortunately raised. Until a year ago I was unaware of her existence. When that was made known to me I had difficulty in tracing her. There were troubles—but it is unnecessary to go into those.
    “What does matter is that Victorine needs to have about her people without any connection with that old life, who can urge her to take an interest in this country. Augusta—Mrs. Deaves—is an old friend of my elder sister’s. I was most lucky to meet her in Paris, and she most graciously undertook to accompany us west.
    “But in California she has responsibilities of her own. She will be at hand, but she cannot remain constantly with Victorine. I know of your own present duties, Miss Penfold. To a somewhat lesser extent my sister, coming from an alien background, needs the same guidance Ashley Manor has given its students. I am happy that I may so turn to the daughter of Captain Penfold. Your father saved my mother’s life.” He spoke very forcibly. “I believe if his daughter will accept this commission I will have someone upon whom I may depend. Mr. Hogle must have made it