CHAPTER EIGHT:

Some days later Simon was giving a small dinner party for some friends: Claire asked Tilda if she could be of any assistance and was given the task of arranging the flowers. Simon entered the room noiselessly just as she had finished, and after a critical glance at the table, he wanted to know what she was doing.

'I offered to help Tilda,' she answered. 'You don't mind? Everyone was so busy . . .' 

'Where's Lindy?'

'She has a small amount of homework to do, and I don't leave her alone she invariably manages to persuade me to do it for her.' Claire searched his face anxiously as she said again, 'You do not mind?'

'Not at all.' His eyes flickered over the table once more. 'You've made everything look very attractive indeed.'

The praise, unexpected though it was, had no significance when uttered with such stiff politeness. Claire murmured shyly that it was very kind of him to say so and then, picking up the basket and scissors, she moved towards the door.

At that moment Ursula entered the room, beautifully dressed, not a hair out of place, poised and confident as usual. Claire felt a tinge of envy at her assurance. She would never be disconcerted by Simon's air of superiority, however formidable it might be. Ursula's eyes scanned the table, then Claire's face, before she turned to Simon. 

'I see the flowers are done. . . . You did asked me to come early and arrange them? I haven't made a mistake?' The lanquid drwl and shifted yawn reminded Claire of kitten, though why she had no idea---unless it was because a kitten had claws. 

'I did, Ursula, and you should have informed Tilda. She didn't know and so she asked Miss Harris to do them. You don't mind, dear? It really doesn't matter so long as they're done.'

'Of course not,' came the quick reply. I'm sure I couldn't have done them half so well as this.'

Both Simon and Claire glanced at her uncertainly, but she smiled in her most dazzling way. Simon returned her smile, then nodded his dismissal to Claire, who left the room at once. Although pleased that Simon would have remained silent about his having asked Ursula to do the flowers, at that same time she was acutely aware of the deep enmity beneath Ursula's apparently friendly manner, and she was filled with a strange uneasiness as she went upstairs to Lindy. 

It was not long after this that Claire came to realize that her employer's presence, although invariably disconcerting, also did strange things to her--things which she refused to dwell upon, much less try to explain. She knew that the task of bringing Lindy and her Uncle together was going to prove much more difficult than she had at first imagined. In his presence Lindy was always constrained; also, her uncle must be acutely aware of her avoidance of him. And  if this wasn't enough to bring about a feeling of dejection, there was Simon's attitude towards herself, curt, aloof and often openly hostile, for he was clearly jealous of his niece's affection for her. Claire felt sure this stemmed from the knowlegde of his own failure with Lindy and not because of any real resentment against Claire herself. In addition to all this there was Ursula, Whose more insidious form of aggression was as disturbing as it was incomprehensible. Then, of course, there was Ken. . . . During his first few days at Melhurst he had spoken to several of the inhabitants, gaining information about their likes and dislikes, desires and needs. 

'Everyone seems glad the vicar is leaving,' he told Claire.'He won't mix; he's never been interested in his congregation and therefore has done nothing for the young people or the old. The vicar must take an active part in a small community like this. So many things are nedeed---a youth club, football and cricket teams, and some form of recreation for the old people ---an ''over sixties'' club or something like that.' he had gone on and on, carried away by enthusiasm and when Claire had warned him the possibility of his not even obtaining an interview he told her that the villagers believed Mr. Condliffe made it a point of honour to interview every applicant. 

'But he may have already made his choice, Ken don't build on it like this,' she pleaded.

'I'm not building, Claire. He may already have someone in mind, of course, but i stand - as much chance as anyone else. Oh, he'll be very selective, I know, because apparently he's extremely cautious. His father made mistakes in order parishes besides this one---Meg told me---and you know that although a patron makes the appointment, nothing short of immorality---or something just as serious---can remove the vicar once he's established. From what I gathered Mr. Condliffe is always most careful in his choice, and that's why I'm so optimistic. Once I gain the interview it's up to me to impress him. And I'll do it, Claire,' he added eagerly. 'I know I can do it.'

'You're building on it, Ken! '

'I'm optimistic, that's all.'

Claire sighed, feeling that in some way she was to blame for his lost chances. But to her utter astonishment Ken's next letter informed her that he had to come to Melhurst the following wednesday for an interview! 

She called on Meg to give her the news. 

'I can't stay many minutes,' she said as Meg opened the door. i mustn't be late for Lindy. But i had to tell you the news.'

'I thought Mr. condliffe was fitching Lindy now,' Meg interrupted, seeing the car at the gate.

'He has to go out this afternoon, so I'm doing it. What do you think Meg? Ken's having an interview after all!'

'I said you were worrying yourself unduly,' meg reminded her. Mr. Condliffe isn't the kind of man who'd be prejudiced so easily. Are you coming in for a cup of tea?'

'i haven't time--------Meg, aren't you pleased?'

'Of course i am, but I'm not falling over myself with surprise, if that's what you expect. You might have been working for Mr.Condliffe for a couple of months or so, but you haven't learned much about him. I knew he'd interview Ken; and i think we can safely say the living is his.'

Claire stared at her, speechless for a moment.

'How can you, Meg! You're as bad as Ken. there must be dozens of others wanting it.'

'They'll not come up to Ken,' Mag asserted, 'When Mr. Condliffe speaks to ken he'll know he's the man for Melhurst.'

'I give up,' laughed Claire resignedly, and then, more seriously, 'I do hope you're right. It'll be wonderful if Ken comes to live here; I've missed all my friends so much since leaving.'

There was a rather profound pause before Meg said, her eyes fixed on the distant height of Nab Scar, 'The vicarage is a very pretty place, my dear, Very pretty.'

'It is,' Claire agreed  placidly. 'Ken's aunt will adore it------ Now you have me taking things for granted!' 

'Ken's aunt?' Meg raised her brows. 'Do you really think she'll leave town?'

'Of course. She's always looked after Ken. They'd be lost without each other.' She smiled at Meg and added, We're only friends,  I wish you'd realize that.'

'Well, Ken is so very good-looking, you know, and it's only natural if folks have begun to think----'

'What do you mean?' Claire interrupted sharply.

'He did kiss you at the station when he arrived, and when people kiss at a station like Melhurst the tongues begin to wag.'

A vivid flush rose as Claire recalled her embarrassment when Joe, the porter, had grinned so broadly. Although she had forgotten the incident, she had later been vaguely troubled by Ken's attitude. They were only friends, he had said when leaving, but there had been more than friendship in his lingering gaze as the train moved out of the station.

 And so the incident had come to Meg's ears; did that mean, Claire wondered with increasing dismay, that everyone in the village had also heard about it? Would it eventually come to the ears of her employers? How contemptuous he would be! But surely it could not raech him. Much he interested himself in the life of the village he wouldn't hear the gossip that went on, for no one would venture to repeat it to him. In any case, why should she be concerned? After all, her private life had nothing whatever to do with her employer. 

In order to reach Meg's cottage Claire had to go about mile out of her way, and as she was coming out of the lane on the main Ambleside road she saw Ursula, who was out walking with the dogs. Ursula stared in surprise, then nodded, and as Claire drove on she stood watching her. Claire saw his through the mirror, wondering at the other girl's interest.

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