He says there's no reason why I shouldn't go. It's only for a few days, and it'l be good experience, won't it?"
"Excel ent experience," I enthused. "And I'm certain you'l enjoy it.
I can't tel you what a load that's taken off my mind. I real y don't know what else I would have done." Anna was smiling broadly. She was obviously excited by the prospect now she had accepted it. "Don't be too relieved. I've never done anything like this before. I might make a total mess of it."
"My dear, you'l be fine. I have every confidence in you. Just keep putting your hand up until either you've beaten everyone else, or the bidding goes beyond your limit. There's nothing to it."
"Wel , if you're sure you trust me." She laughed. "It's quite exciting, real y. I've always wanted to bid at a big auction."
"In that case I'm glad I've given you the chance before you leave. I can't tel you how grateful I am. So long as you're positive it won't be too much of an inconvenience. You mustn't feel obliged to go."
"I don't, real y. I'm looking forward to it."
"And you're sure Marty doesn't mind?" I found it easy to consider Marty's wishes when I knew they did not interfere with my own.
"Of course not. I dare say he'l be able to survive without me for a few days." Her face suddenly lit up. "In fact, there's nothing to stop him coming with me, is there? We could pay the extra airfare, and the difference for a double room. If you don't mind, obviously." I managed to smile. "Of course I don't mind. But wouldn't it be rather boring for him? Sitting in an auction room isn't everyone's idea of fun." It was no good. "Oh, Marty won't mind that," she said. "And he doesn't have to come to them if he doesn't want to. We can spend the rest of the time together."
"Yes, I suppose so." She looked at her watch. "I'l give him another fifteen minutes, and then I'l phone him. He should be back at the university by then." I could see she was completely taken with the idea. I went to
the office, where I did not have to sustain a facade of enthusiasm. I had not anticipated this. If Marty went with her, I would have gone to al that trouble and considerable expense for nothing. Worse, I would have to try and think of another way to isolate Marty, and there would be precious little time left for that.
I felt a fresh surge of antipathy for him. Even in this he was obstructing me. It was yet another grievance to add to my list.
Brooding on it, I sat and waited.
After a while the office extension pinged as Anna picked up the telephone downstairs. I resisted the temptation to try and eavesdrop.
I had managed it once, by accident. I did not trust my luck to hold a second time.
It seemed a long time before a second chime told me their conversation was over. Steeling myself, I went back downstairs. Anna was stil by the telephone. She looked reassuringly crestfal en, and my spirits immediately lifted.
"I've just spoken to Marty," she said. "He can't come."
"Oh, what a shame."
"I know. But he says there are too many loose ends for him to tie up at the university." She smiled, trying to hide her disappointment.
"Wel , it's only for three days, isn't it? And you know what they say about absence."
"I suppose so."
"I know it's no consolation, but I wil be giving you a bonus to show how much I appreciate this."
"Oh, you don't have to do that! I'm getting what amounts to a free holiday anyway." Relief had made me expansive. "You're stil pul ing my coals out of the fire, and I'm very grateful.
When you get back I want you and Marty to go to whatever show or restaurant you like. On me." Anna leaned forward and kissed my cheek. Her lips were cool, but my flesh felt branded by the contact.
"If you're any nicer to me, I don't think I'l be able to leave at al ."
"I may just hold you to that," I said, blushing.
There were no further hitches. On the morning of Anna's
departure I drove her to the airport. Marty came too. They sat together in the back of the car, and when I
"Excel ent experience," I enthused. "And I'm certain you'l enjoy it.
I can't tel you what a load that's taken off my mind. I real y don't know what else I would have done." Anna was smiling broadly. She was obviously excited by the prospect now she had accepted it. "Don't be too relieved. I've never done anything like this before. I might make a total mess of it."
"My dear, you'l be fine. I have every confidence in you. Just keep putting your hand up until either you've beaten everyone else, or the bidding goes beyond your limit. There's nothing to it."
"Wel , if you're sure you trust me." She laughed. "It's quite exciting, real y. I've always wanted to bid at a big auction."
"In that case I'm glad I've given you the chance before you leave. I can't tel you how grateful I am. So long as you're positive it won't be too much of an inconvenience. You mustn't feel obliged to go."
"I don't, real y. I'm looking forward to it."
"And you're sure Marty doesn't mind?" I found it easy to consider Marty's wishes when I knew they did not interfere with my own.
"Of course not. I dare say he'l be able to survive without me for a few days." Her face suddenly lit up. "In fact, there's nothing to stop him coming with me, is there? We could pay the extra airfare, and the difference for a double room. If you don't mind, obviously." I managed to smile. "Of course I don't mind. But wouldn't it be rather boring for him? Sitting in an auction room isn't everyone's idea of fun." It was no good. "Oh, Marty won't mind that," she said. "And he doesn't have to come to them if he doesn't want to. We can spend the rest of the time together."
"Yes, I suppose so." She looked at her watch. "I'l give him another fifteen minutes, and then I'l phone him. He should be back at the university by then." I could see she was completely taken with the idea. I went to
the office, where I did not have to sustain a facade of enthusiasm. I had not anticipated this. If Marty went with her, I would have gone to al that trouble and considerable expense for nothing. Worse, I would have to try and think of another way to isolate Marty, and there would be precious little time left for that.
I felt a fresh surge of antipathy for him. Even in this he was obstructing me. It was yet another grievance to add to my list.
Brooding on it, I sat and waited.
After a while the office extension pinged as Anna picked up the telephone downstairs. I resisted the temptation to try and eavesdrop.
I had managed it once, by accident. I did not trust my luck to hold a second time.
It seemed a long time before a second chime told me their conversation was over. Steeling myself, I went back downstairs. Anna was stil by the telephone. She looked reassuringly crestfal en, and my spirits immediately lifted.
"I've just spoken to Marty," she said. "He can't come."
"Oh, what a shame."
"I know. But he says there are too many loose ends for him to tie up at the university." She smiled, trying to hide her disappointment.
"Wel , it's only for three days, isn't it? And you know what they say about absence."
"I suppose so."
"I know it's no consolation, but I wil be giving you a bonus to show how much I appreciate this."
"Oh, you don't have to do that! I'm getting what amounts to a free holiday anyway." Relief had made me expansive. "You're stil pul ing my coals out of the fire, and I'm very grateful.
When you get back I want you and Marty to go to whatever show or restaurant you like. On me." Anna leaned forward and kissed my cheek. Her lips were cool, but my flesh felt branded by the contact.
"If you're any nicer to me, I don't think I'l be able to leave at al ."
"I may just hold you to that," I said, blushing.
There were no further hitches. On the morning of Anna's
departure I drove her to the airport. Marty came too. They sat together in the back of the car, and when I
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