| III.1.086 |
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The Tutor's Dinner was an even dryer affair than it had been the year before. Vera was
there, again without Jack. She and Bluemud circled each other all evening but a haughty
gulf separated them. And there was Angel in a bright yellow dress talking excitedly with
Elizabeth. 'Well, Lizzie, have you asked him? What did he say?' 'Ah, Mr. Bluemud. It's good to seen you again. My, you do look well. I recently received a complete report on Elizabeth's work. I would like to tell you how pleased we all are with her.' The Rev. Williams had no trace of suspicion of Elizabeth or Bluemud now. While Bluemud discussed his daughter's work his eyes shifted constantly to Elizabeth and Angel talking across the room. They were good friends, it seemed. The girl was attractive, obviously independent with that dress and her too-long hair. Pity she was Passareil's daughter. Strange to think of her being raped. You'd think from the social stigma alone she would be crushed somehow, like a fallen petal. Must have guts. Elizabeth had had a narrow escape. Lucky for them the Bodley's weren't here! It'd be difficult to resist the temptation if they were to say something. If the boy were here... but the boy was dead. The Pastor babbled on. 'Hello, Mr. Bluemud,' said Angel later. There was a knowing look in her eye which he could not place. He dreaded to think what it meant. 'Good evening, Angel.' Bluemud tried to turn on all the charm. Such a vibrant, pretty girl! 'You're looking most attractive this evening!' 'Why thank you, Mr. Bluemud! Happy New Year!' 'What?' 'It's New Year's Eve in the Calendar of Ten Thousand Years. Don't you remember?' 'Oh, yes.' Must have some of that old southern blood in her somewhere. He made no attempt to hold Angel in conversation. Once again, he thought, it would be much better if she and Elizabeth weren't... The dull dry people stood about. A clock announced the tenth hour after noon. Bluemud was drawn into a group of male joke tellers including the hearty Albert Chang. Such men made Bluemud feel uncomfortable. He had never for the life of him been able to remember a joke. Oh, come on, he thought, I've got to get back. There's so much to do. But he had a guilty feeling he was trying to escape. Just before he had finally made up his mind to leave Vera came up wearing her social smile. Briefly he dreamed again of reaching out to her but then he checked himself: not the season for a stud, leave that to the winter; time to be going now. 'Eldridge, Lizzie is coming to stay with us for a few weeks if that is all right with you?' 'That's fine, Vera. Just fine. Send her away whenever you're fed up with her. She knows where to go. ' If only you knew what happened to your daughter, Vera, dear. I must say she conceals it very well. 'Look after yourself, Elizabeth. I probably won't be there when you get back. And don't be gone too long. There's plenty of work to do.' So much for semen! 'Good-bye, Mr. Bluemud,' said Helga Williams, 'Do come and see us any time.' As Bluemud was walking back to the parking lot, Elizabeth caught up with him. 'I thought you were going with the Passareil's.' 'I am, but I wanted to ask you something before you go. Would you mind if Angel came to Granite Gorge? I'm certain that she can be trusted, I really am. I get lonely there when you're away.' 'Is there something you haven't told me? Does she know?' 'Oh, no. No!' Bluemud thought hard before giving his reply. He said, 'Elizabeth, I trust you and I trust your judgment. You're my daughter and I have no other choice. If you really want to bring that girl to Granite Gorge and take the risk of ruining everything we've worked for then, of course you must. So, I won't say no, Elizabeth, but I think you should be careful.' |
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