Chapter 16

‘Oh, you’ll be seeing her every day, Simon.’ Andrew hadn’t yet got his brother’s new name firmly fixed in his mind. ‘Esther is coming along.’

‘What?’ barked Peter. ‘With us? Impossible! Who told you that?’

‘Hannah. Esther is to help look after the sick babies—and their mothers.’

‘But’—spluttered Peter—’we can’t permit that! This girl—well, she isn’t a girl any more, Andy. She is a young woman. A very beautiful and desirable young woman—much too attractive to be exposed to all manner of indignities! There are some very rough people in these big crowds! If it’s anything like last summer, we shall encounter plenty of unpleasant incidents—without having Esther on our hands!’ After smouldering for a moment, he inquired, ‘Whoever put this foolish idea into her head?’

‘The Master,’ said Andrew.

‘She asked him if she might go along?’

‘No; it was his own idea. He invited her.’

Peter drew a deep, baffled breath that puffed his bearded lips when he let go of it. He shook his head, uncomprehendingly.

‘Our Master does some strange things, Andy.’

His brother nodded.

‘We had all noticed that, Simon. But—so far—everything he has done—’

‘I know! I know!’ broke in Peter, with an impatient toss of his big hand. ‘Everything he does is right!…But—how is it going to look for this lovely creature to be camped all summer with a dozen men?’

Andrew gave a slow, sly grin and remarked dryly that it would probably look better than if she were to be camped all summer with any one of them, a comment which his brother instantly resented with a scowl, a shrug, and an abrupt departure from the room.

The soft-spoken bachelor, who had intended no disrespect by his drollery, stared after the retreating figure and chuckled a little…’Ah—so that’s what ails Simon,’ he mused. ‘Esther has become important to him. He is getting touchy on the subject. Well, well—who would have thought it?’

Hannah bustled in from the kitchen now. It had been very quiet out there for some time. She began clearing the table and making quite an energetic task of it.

‘I wonder if Simon isn’t fond of Esther,’ she said, busily brushing crumbs.

‘Why not?’ rejoined Andrew casually. ‘We all are.’

Hannah’s lips firmed in a little pout. Then, deciding on a more promising strategy, she smiled, lowered her voice to a confidential whisper, and said, coaxingly, ‘Surely you know, Andy, that I wouldn’t say anything.’

Andrew soberly nodded his approval.

‘That has always been my policy, too,’ he said. ‘It certainly keeps one out of trouble, doesn’t it?’

Hannah did not pursue the subject any further, though the kitchen door plainly said ‘Humph!’ when she closed it behind her.

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