The Career of Katherine Bush. Glyn Elinor

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      "It is not very easy to be a competent moneylender's secretary and a shorthand writer."

      "No – perhaps not."

      "Mr. Livingston and Mr. Devereux will tell you that I did not make a failure of it."

      "Really?"

      Katherine was silent.

      "Really," Lady Garribardine repeated again. "You mean that you think you can pick up things quickly."

      "Yes."

      "It is certainly an advantage. I hoped to find something exceptional when I advertised."

      "Yes, I noticed that – and it was because your advertisement was unusual that I applied for the post."

      She rather wondered if she ought to have put in any "Ladyships"; she remembered Hanson, Lord Algy's valet, was very prodigal of such marks of respect – that is what had deterred her. Liv and Dev often used them, too – to new and prosperously connected clients – but she did not wish to be subservient more than was necessary. She would watch and listen – as she had watched about the oysters.

      "Can you read aloud?"

      Lady Garribardine was fixing her with her flashing brown eyes, which contrasted so unfavourably with the bronze-gold wig she wore so bravely.

      "I have never tried. If I did it wrong the first time and you corrected me, I expect I wouldn't do it twice."

      "That is something – and your voice is refined – you did not acquire that at the – er – pork butcher's?"

      "No, I acquired it by listening to members of the upper classes who came to borrow money – I had a cockney twang like my sisters, I daresay, in the beginning."

      "That shows you can learn things."

      "Yes, it is only stupid people who can't."

      "You are not stupid, then?"

      "No, but Mr. Livingston or Mr. Devereux can tell you; either will speak for me."

      Lady Garribardine was amused; she digressed a little from her cross-examination.

      "You found Jews agreeable to work with?"

      "Very. You know where you are with them. They do not pretend, and they are very generous."

      "In-deed!"

      "Yes – people have a preconceived notion of Jews, I find – quite faulty as a rule – they know what to pay for – they are far less fools than other races. I respect them."

      "That is most interesting."

      Katherine was silent again.

      "Why did you leave them?" – after a pause in which Lady Garribardine was pitilessly scrutinising her possible secretary.

      "Because I had learned all that I could there, and I wanted a new vista – "

      "And you think you would find it with me?"

      "With any lady in your world – you can learn things wherever you go, if you wish to."

      "Very true. And how about French – you speak that?"

      Katherine Bush reddened a little. A memory came to her of the profound shock that the French of Paris had been to her ear.

      "I can write it quite correctly – but I have discovered that my pronunciation is ridiculous." She confessed it quite frankly.

      "How did that happen?"

      "I taught it to myself – mostly – and then I heard it spoken – and I knew mine would sound wrong."

      "Do you think you could overcome that?"

      "Yes, if I were in France long enough."

      "Have you travelled?"

      "No – not really. I have been to Paris for a holiday once – I have only learnt about places."

      "And English literature?"

      "It is the thing I care most for – I have read a great many books. I read usually until about one in the morning."

      "Have you a good temper? You are not uppish, eh?"

      "I suppose it depends – I know that when you take money to do a thing you have got to do it, and put up with orders and manners that you would not stand for one second if you were the person paying."

      "That is quite a good definition of respectful service."

      "It is common sense."

      "You appear to have some of that."

      Again silence.

      "I have not a good temper!" Lady Garribardine laughed – she was greatly diverted.

      "I guessed not."

      "How?"

      "I had to read characters quickly at Livingston and Devereux's – "

      "You are observant?"

      "I think so – "

      "Can you play the piano?"

      "I could once, and I had a queer gift for reading the notes – but I have never practised since we had a gramophone – I grew to loathe music."

      "That is hopeful – "

      Then Her Ladyship got up and went to her writing-table, terribly littered with all sorts of papers. She dived among a conglomerate mass – and picked up two letters.

      "Would you oblige me by answering these, Miss – er – Bush? I could then better judge of your capabilities."

      Katherine took them; on one envelope was written in a spidery hand in pencil, "Refuse gracefully;" upon the other, "Get out as best can."

      She looked for a portion of the blotting pad which was clear enough to use, then she sat down and selected a pen, while she glanced up with her steady wise eyes.

      "Has Your Ladyship any particular paper for this sort of thing?" Here was a suitable moment for the use of the honorific she felt.

      "Yes, that white paper with the coronet in plain black and the address."

      Lady Garribardine sat down by the fire and stared into it. She had not been so interested in a specimen of humanity for years.

      Katherine Bush read the letters through carefully and the first one a second time, then she began to write:

      To the Secretary of the League for Discouraging Polygamy among the Mohammedans of India:

      Dear Sir,

      I am asked by Sarah Lady Garribardine, to tell you that while sympathising deeply with the admirable object of your League, she thinks the field over which it must obviously be spread is too vast for a small contribution to be СКАЧАТЬ