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10
It was long after ten in the morning, when Graham wandered into the music room. Despite the fact that he was a several days guest in the Big House, so big was it that the music room was a new territory. It was an exquisite room where a warm golden light was diffused from a skylight of yellow glass.
Graham was lazily contemplating some pictures, when of his eye, he saw his hostess. She came in from the far entrance. She was clad entirely in white, and looked very young and quite tall.
They smiled greeting across the room. She came toward him.
You made a mistake with this room, he said gravely.
No, dont say that! But how?
It must be longer, much longer, twice as long at least.
Why? she demanded, with a disapproving shake of head.
Because, then, he answered, you will walk twice as far this morning and my pleasure of watching you will be correspondingly increased.
I see you are like Dick, she retorted. always with your compliments. Now I want to show you the room. Dick gave it to me. Its all mine, you see.
And the pictures?
I selected them, she nodded, every one of them. Theyre beautiful, arent they?
Graham was prepared to talk on pictures, when Donald Ware entered. His violin was under his arm, and he crossed to the piano.
Were going to work till lunch, Paula explained to Graham. Well see you there. You can stay if you care, of course; but I warn you its really going to be work. And were going swimming this afternoon. Four oclock at the pool, Dick says. Also, hes got a new song hes going to sing then. What time is it, Mr. Ware?
Ten minutes to eleven, the musician answered briefly.
Youre ahead of timethe engagement was for eleven. And till eleven youll wait, sir. I must see Dick, first. I havent said good morning to him yet.
Paula knew her husbands timetable. Her notes reminded her that he had coffee at six-thirty; was inaccessible between nine and ten, dictating correspondence to Blake; was inaccessible between ten and eleven, conferring with managers and foremen[59].
At eleven, unless there were unexpected telegrams or business, she could usually find Dick alone. Passing the secretaries room, she pressed the button that swung aside a section of filled book-shelves and revealed the tiny spiral of steel steps that led up to Dicks work room. A shade of vexation passed across her face as she recognized Jeremy Braxtons[60] voice. Jeremy was the general superintendent of the Harvest Group[61]. And the news he was telling was not good. She paused in indecision and stole back down the spiral on her way to the music room. She was depressed, due to her missing her morning greeting to Dick. But this depression vanished at seeing Graham, who had lingered with Ware at the piano.
Dont run away, she urged. Stay and watch the people work. Maybe you will start that book Dick has told me about.
11
On Dicks face, at lunch, there was no sign of trouble over the Harvest Group. After lunch everybody went out for a walk.
Paula wore a tan linen blouse with white turnback collar[62]. A short skirt reached the knees. Skirt and trousers were of fawn-colored silk corduroy. Soft white gauntlets on her hands matched with the collar in the one emphasis of color. Her head was bare.
I dont see how you can keep such a skin and expose yourself to the sun this way, Graham said.
I dont, she smiled with a dazzle of white teeth. That is, I dont expose my face this way more than a few times a year.
As four oclock approached, Donald Ware returned in a car to the Big House. Dick was at the pool when the party arrived, and the girls were immediately insistent for the new song.
It isnt exactly a new song, Dick explained, his gray eyes twinkling roguery, and its not my song. It was sung in Japan before I was born, and, I think, before Columbus[63] discovered America. Also, it is a dueta competitive duet with forfeit penalties[64] attached. Paula will sing it with meIll teach you. Sit down there, thats rightnow all the rest of you gather around and sit down.
Paula sat down, facing her husband, in the center of the sitting audience. Then he sang the song, which was short and which she quickly picked up