The English Tutor (28 page)

“
Don
’
t you believe in opposing your pupils, then?
”
she asked curiously.

“
Oh, yes, but I try not to make it obvious.
”

“
And you would suggest I don
’
t oppose Clodagh?
”

“
I would suggest you let things take their course, and if this engagement is only a whim, it will peter out itself. But Conn and your daughter have known each other since they were children, and there
’
s no reason why it shouldn
’
t be a success. They
’
re both twenty-two and should know their own minds, and, legally you know there
’
s nothing you can do.
”

“
Oh, legally! That
’
s how my husband talks.
”

“
I don
’
t think you
’
d like a runaway match, would you?
”

Her hard eyes looked alarmed.

“
No, I shouldn
’
t. Disgraceful! Well, perhaps there
’
s something in what you say. You seem a very wise young man, and the children are lucky to be under your care. I
’
ll think about it, but I shall never forgive my brother for his part in this affair, never! I think he encouraged it to spite me. because we
’
ve never seen eye to eye. How bad is his heart?
”

Mark shrugged.

“
It
’
s difficult to say. I don
’
t think Doctor Boyle was unduly anxious, but of course a heart is a tricky business and one never knows.
”

She got up and pulled on her furs.

“
You
’
ll stay, won
’
t you?
”
she said abruptly.

“
Stay?
”

“
I mean, you
’
re not thinking of leaving yet, or anything, are you?
”

“
Not until Brian is ready for school. That should be by the end of next summer if all goes well.
”

“
Good. I shall like to think of you here. I
’
m fond of my brother, really, though you might not think it to listen to us. If you can persuade him to send Clancy to me for a visit I
’
ll fit the girl out with some decent clothes and look round for someone suitable. If anything happened to Kevin she wouldn
’
t stand much of a chance shut up here alone with Bea.
”

“
I
’
ll tell him,
”
said Mark.
“
Now, if you
’
ll excuse me, I
’
ll go and fetch the car. I think you said your train went at three forty-five.
”

With Kate Desmond
’
s departure the house settled down again to its normal routine. In a little while Clodagh wrote to say that her mother had given in and was making the best of things, and she and Conn hoped to be married in the spring. They saw little of Conn, who was busy settling up his affairs, for which Mark was thankful. He was a little worried about Clancy, who did not look well, and appeared apathetic and easily tired. He thought it would be a good thing if she went away for a little and resolved to speak to Kevin about his sister
’
s offer. Clodagh was to stay with friends in Kildare for the first fortnight of December, and it might be a good opportunity for Clancy to visit her aunt.

It was difficult to devise much distraction, for the weather was bad, and there was little alternative to going for long walks in the rain or to the cinema in Duneen. On a wet afternoon, Brian could always find amusement and more personal attention with Agnes in the old nursery, but Clancy would sit idle in the schoolroom window-seat, staring out across the loch and drumming listless fingers on the glass.

Mark, finding her there one afternoon, asked rather impatiently why she could not find something to do.

“
What is there to do?
”
she replied, without looking round.

“
You always used to find plenty. Why don
’
t you read?
”

“
I
’
ve been reading with you all the morning.
”

“
Well, then, why not go out for a walk. Rain never used to stop you. I
’
ll come with you, if you like.

“
All
right,
”
she said apathetically, and uncurled a foot from under her.

He came and sat beside her.

“
Clancy, my dear, you must try to snap out of it,
”
he said kindly.
“
All this sitting about and mooning is bad for you. Life can
’
t stop, you know, because Conn and Clodagh are getting married.
”

“
I know,
”
she said, and sighed.
“
But it
’
s difficult. You see, Slievaun was the only place I had to go to.
”

He reflected that this was, in fact, true. The O
’
Shanes had no other neighbours who kept open house for young
people.

“
Well, you can still go there,
”
he said.
“
You aren
’
t going to cut Conn out of your life, are you?
”

She looked at him with dismay.

“
Oh, no!
”
she said,
“
as if I could! But just now—I hate the thought of the farm going, and all the stock. I couldn
’
t bear to see it being deserted bit by bit.
”

“
Yes, I think I can understand that,
”
he said.
“
Clancy, I
’
m going to speak to your father about sending you away for a bit. Your Aunt Kate, when she was here, offered to have you to stay and get you some clothes and give you a little gaiety. I think you should go.
”

“
I won
’
t go,
”
she said stubbornly.

He smiled.

“
Yes, you will. I shall speak to your father tonight.
”

She gave him a long look, remembering his kindness in moments of stress, and remembering, too, how he had paid her the compliment of his own confidence the night of her birthday, and had kissed her good night in the hall.

“
I—I don
’
t think I want to leave you just now,
”
she said, to her own surprise.

His light eyebrows shot up, then he smiled.

“
That
’
s very charming of you, Clancy, and very unexpected,
”
he said,
“
but you
’ll
go, all the same.

She sighed.

“
I suppose I will if you say so,
”
she said.
“
You seem to be a horribly strong-minded person when you like.
”

Kevin, when approached, was inclined to be obstructive, but was over-ruled in the end.

“
After all,
”
Mark pointed out,
“
however much you choose to forget it, Kilmallin, you have a duty to your daughter. It
’
s time she took an interest in her appearance, and it
’
s time she had a change of environment. Let her go for a fortnight. I think she needs it.
”

“
Does she want to go?
”
asked Kevin with surprise.

“
No,
”
said Mark,
“
but that
’
s neither here nor there.
”

“
There
’
s no man I know talks to me as you do,
”
said Kevin, exasperated.
“
All right, let her go, and if she comes back with fancy ideas, you
’
ve only yourself to blame.
”

So, on a day in December, when the soft rain pattered on the station roof, Mark saw Clancy off to Dublin. She stood there on the chilly platform, looking forlorn and a little lost, and Mark said, laughing:

“
Cheer up! Anyone would think you were going into exile instead of to Dublin for a fortnight
’
s holiday.
”

She did not smile.

“
I don
’
t think it will be much of a holiday with Aunt Kate giving orders all the time,
”
she said.
“
It will be as bad as you and your eagle eye.
”

“
Have I an eagle eye?
”

“
It sees much too much at times.
”

He looked down at her quizzically.

“
That might be taken several ways. Am I really such a gorgon?
”

She looked up at him. He seemed very tall, and the brim of his wet felt hat was pulled low on his forehead, throwing his eyes into shadow, but his mouth was kindly and a little inquiring.

“
No,
”
she said,
“
you
’
re a dear, and I shall miss you. Would you—would you write to me?
”

He looked surprised.

“
If you like. Will you answer?
”

“
Yes. Yes, I will.
”

“
All right. Here
’
s your train.
”

She leant out of the carriage window.

“
You won
’
t go before I come back, will you?
”
she asked absurdly.

He laughed.

“
Of course not. I shall probably be here for nearly another year. You know that.
”

The guard blew his whistle, and Clancy suddenly leant from the window and gave Mark a hug.

“
Good-bye,
”
she said.
“
I
’
ll bring you a present from Dublin.
”

The train moved out slowly. He stood and watched it, waving as long as he could see her, then he turned and walked back along the empty platform. He realized with exasperation that he was going to miss her. He was going to miss her abominably.

The house was full of preparations for Christmas when Clancy returned. Mary Kate made innumerable plum puddings which everyone had to stir, hams hung in the kitchen, and Michael John went out each morning to decide which was the fattest turkey. Christmas-cards littered the schoolroom table and Brian daily counted up his pocket-money and planned presents.

Mark wondered if Conn would come this year, and, perhaps, Clodagh, and he reflected that possibly it was the thought of Christmas which had been troubling Clancy before she left.

She had written twice from Dublin, the first letter a brief little scrawl sounding very homesick, but the second was more cheerful and full of typical accounts of her doings, which made Mark smile.

Sitting in front of his fire in the tower room, Mark thought a good deal about her, and found himself worrying unduly about her future. What, he repeatedly told himself, could it matter to him what became of the girl after he had left Kilmallin? But he knew it did matter. One could not live so close to people and not become involved with their lives, and Clancy, the strangest and most difficult of all his many pupils, had wound herself very securely round his heart.

Conn came over, once, to tell them the farm was sold. He would be starting work, he said, in Philip Desmond
’
s office early in the New Year.