The girl in the blue dress by Mary Burchell Page B

was when she was away from him
that she questioned herself in tormenting detail about the real state of affairs.
And, during the hours that she sat sewing in her light, pleasant room at the
top of Huntingford Grange, there was all too much time to think things over.
    Sara made no further reference to their revealing conversation.
She remained polite and friendly al though, like her mother, not intimate. And
she was undoubtedly as pleased as Madeleine with the completed dresses for Lady
Welman's charity dance. In addition, like Madeleine, she expressed genuine and friendly
interest in the fact that Beverley too was coming to the dance.
    She did not ask if Beverley's fiancé would be accompanying
her, but she must have passed on the news of
the engagement, for Madeleine offered warm congratulations and said she
supposed Geoffrey Revian, would also be at the dance.
    Madeleine was far more expansive than her elder sister.
She used to come and talk to Beverley quite a lot, sometimes about Beverley's
affairs, as when she enquired about the engagement, but mostly about her own
theatrical hopes and aspirations.
    "It makes them seem more real when I talk to
you about them, " she told Beverley. "I always remember the calm way
you listened when I first told you I wanted to be an actress, and how you spoke
as though anything were possible, if only one were sufficiently determined."
    "Did I speak like that?" Beverley was
amused. "I hope I didn't encourage you unduly in something quite unpractical."
    "Oh, no. You merely gave me a new slant on how to look at one's ambitions, " Madeleine
assured her. "I'm always thinking now of just how I might man age
to have at least a year in London at the Academy. I'd know, after that, if I
were really any good, and I think I'd abide by their decision."
    Beverley said nothing, but reflected that few who are
once bitten by the urge to act or sing ever accept the discouraging verdict of
others. They are always going to give themselves just one more chance and one
more year. However, her comments were not necessary.
Madeleine ran on quite happily on her own
steam.
    "Of course, " she said, '"once Sara
is married, with a flat in town, as well as
Eithorpe Hall, things will be simpler."
    "But is she going to have
a flat in town?" Beverley looked
up from her work.
    "Oh, I expect so. In fact,
yes, of course she must! Everyone wants that, " Madeleine-declared
comprehensively. "Besides, think how useful it would be for us all."
    Beverley wondered if this view
had been presented, in so many words, to
Franklin Lowell and, if so, what his
reaction had been. But, whether it had or not, Madeleine's casual statement
made it increasingly obvious that most of the Wayne family's hopes and plans
did indeed depend on Sara's marrying well.
    Toni, too, of course, learned
very soon of Beverley's engagement, and she rushed into the room on her return
from school, still panting from the rapid ascent of two flights of stairs.
    "Is it true, Miss
Farman?" she enquired, with dra matic
brevity.
    "Is what true?"
Beverley looked up and smiled at her.
    "Are you really going to
many Geoffrey Revian?
    "Yes. We've known each other' for a long time, you know." Beverley explained, in as
matter-of-fact a tone as she could, "and now we have decided to get
married."
    "You aren't wearing a ring." Toni drew
near and inspected Beverley's hand a trifle
disapprovingly.
    "No. He's having his
grandmother's ring reset for me. He
designed the new setting himself, and it's really lovely."
    "Is it?" Toni stood
and looked at her, and Beverley guessed that the little girl was busily sorting
out some-awkward contradictions in her
own mind. Then at last ' she said, "Miss Farman, "
    "Yes, Toni?"
    "You know what I told you
about Sara and Geof frey Revian, the
first day you were here."
    "I remember you did tell me something that was worrying you."
    "Well, when I told you I
saw them with their arms round each
other, I guess 1 was mistaken."
    "You mean you didn't