The Troubled Journey

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 11

The Troubled Journey

SERIAL STORY

By MARGARET GLENN.

SYNOPoioJoan Martin cannot "get on” witn Janet,, her stepmother. The other Martin child- \ ren, Felicity and Jimmy, reel the -am , but it is ea3ier for them, as Felicity is married and living in London, and Jimmy is away at school. . ... At la3t Joan revolts, and goes to live with Felicity. She attends a private com- “ tfSS&TSSS *.t« i ! -'.v‘’lfittSfw* ‘head “or “It-Ta,* cornnwr- , IH j Matthews and Wjatt. \i phi i while ani'f has bitten very j ain't Marlin'- rniml. Site hales ... -t.'iMhililmi. ami I'lana to Hurl them ." 1 ' ,a 5 goes abroad to superM Iwiirriiii! job, anil FPllcrty^at:iit'i'rlilini fn" 1 l"lii I- aurpriseil to HUM l " trahani walling to run back to Lmiilon. CHAPTER VIII.— (Continued.) Mhe was not, normally, curious, but she would have given a great deal to know why Iter employer was miserable. She was by no means sure that miserable was the> rlgh word, but it certainly explained his manner in many ways. And she as - herself why she had never heard him speak of his wife, nor speak to hei over the telephone. It seemed that there was almost a mystery concerning Geoffrey Matthews' home life. She had not made many mends at Matthews and Wyatts’. The girls in the general office seemed suspicious of her, and although Ihey were all courteous enough the "Illy girl Who had taken to her at all was a fellow-secretary to the Export Shipping Manager. , „ J .. Dorothy Sayers was inclined to be tall, pleasant faced without being handsome or beautiful; and she was indubitably clever. She spent most of her spare time painting, and on several occasions she had Invited Joan to her flat, where they had chatted over tea, and had gone to a theatre. Neither of them talked a great deal of themselves, nor of other people. They frequently spoke hardly at “all during their evenings together, but each knew that the other had enjoyed herself. Dorothy had benefited from the “no Saturday” rule as well as JoanThe general staff was not so fortunate, which created yet another of the Invisible barriers between them and the secretarial staff. The second week-end which they had free Dorothy suggested that Joan should accompany her to her home in Joan was only too pleased to accept. She had spent several week-ends with Derek C.raham, but for the next month Derek said he would be busy .with some special pupils and she had been a little disappointed. This suggestion from Dorothy made a great deal of difference. When Derek heard of the idea he immediately suggested that Joan should borrow the Morris for the week-end. She had learned to drive, .uni she had all the necessary licenses. Derek had taught her, with his cumtomary patience, and she felt quite confident of handling the car. She was surprised that Derek had not yet broached the subject of marriage. If ever a man was In love he was with her. He had told her onoe, of his previous marriage, and she had felt Immensely sorry for him. She could easily understand now the reason for his seriousness, and the faot that his humour was never on the surface. He had suffered a great deal more than most people -suspeoted. But she guessed that his first marriage had nothing to do with his dlffldence in proposing to her. If she had boon head-over-heels in love with him she would have been worried, as well as puzzled. But she was still not certain that she loved him. He was a wonderful friend. She hated to think of what she would feel If he left London. But marlrage with him It was absurd, she told herself

several times, the way in which they were behaving- They were looked on by Mrs Gregory and by friends of his as unofficially engaged. They never missed a week without seeing each other at least twice. And yet no word had passed between them. Why ? Joan did not realise that her own attitude was the cause of it. Derek was very sensitive —and he dreaded to hear “no." Continually he delayed speaking to her. He hoped against hope that that slight coolness would disappear; lie sensed that she was not certain of herself, and he wanted to waP until she was. But in all things, like the immedi- I ate offer of the Morris for that week- j end, he was ready to help her. Dorothy Sayers was warmly appreciative of the offer, too. Both girls almost prayed for fine weather that Saturday, and when it i dawned, with the sky hidden by the j faint morning haze indicative of heat, Joan jumped out of bed in high glee. Mrs Gregory had put a spare room at Dorothy’s disposal for the night, and she was packing a lunoheon for them, despite their protest that they would be in Sussex before lunch time- “ You never know what will happen,” she said warningly. “Do you think we’ll run into a house?” asked Joan. The three women were having breakfast, just after nine o’clock. Sam was watching them, his ears cocked and his eyes fixed on their hands, for the slightest suggestion that a tit-bit was coming. Mr Gregory had already left for work. “You never know,” repeated Mrs Gregory, cutting wafer-thin sandwiches. , ~ _ “Let’s all be oheerful,” said Dorothy in a deep voice. *AII three of them laughed. Joan discovered a different person in Dorothy Sayers that morning. Generally so quiet, Dorothy ohatted brightly about a dozen and one things, revealing a general knowledge which astonished Joan. The latter had an impression that her friend had been relieved of some great worry, though she could not understand what it wasNot until they had reached Horsham, just after twelve o’clock, did Dorothy speak at all seriously. Then her first words astonished Joan, for she had never heard the other girl speak of personalities. “What do you think of Geoffrey Matthews?” asked Dorothy. • \lr Matthews.” Joan echoed the name. “Well,” she said hesitantly, I’ve, always found him very pleasant.” “That’s more than a lot of others could say,” laughed Dorothy. .loan shrugged her shoulders and was quick to the defence of hex* employer. “He lias'a great deal to do,” she said, “and he doesn’t always get the co-operation that he needs. Besides She stopped. She had been about to say that he was woi’ried by domestic matters, but she did not know definitely whether that was so, and in any case she shrank' from gossiping abo-ut him. One of the strictest rules which had been passed on \o her by hts first seoretary had. been: “Don’t talk —or you’ll be wanting another job.” “Besides what?” asked Dorothy, as they ran the car through that lovely Sussex town. Joan didn’t like to feel that she was distrusting her companion. She smiled a little. “Well, I’ve no right to say it, because I’m not sure; but I T ve an idea that he’s worried by home affairs.” There was a oomplete silence for a few minutes. Then Dorothy said, with a little gasp—“Do you mean to say you don’t know about that?” Joan Hushed a little. “Not a thing,” she confessed. “Is it common knowledge?”

Dorothy laughed a little, but said quickly—- “ Well, yes; but it happened before you came along. Mrs Matthews is—well, she drinks a lot.” “Great Scott!” gasped Joan. Dorothy's smile was a little grim. “Yes. She called at the office, in the middle of an afternoon, absolutely drunk. It was terrible. I don’t think I’ve even seen a man go so white as he did then.” Joan was flabbergasted. “I can understand it,” she said with feeling. “She tried to get in several other times,” said Dorothy. “It was all rather beastly. I've heard rumours that she took to some kind of drug, about a year ago, and has a teiTible time with her—so does Ralph.”

“Ralph?” Joan \va§ puzzled for a moment. Then: “You mean Ralph Matthews, his son?” “Surprised that 1 spoke of him so familiarly?” asked Dorothy, with a little laugh. “Poor Ralph. He’s such a nice lad, but he does fancy that he’s a Don Juan.” Joan felt a little bewildered. Geoffrey Matthews and his family had seemed to be in a different world from hers, but Dorothy seemed to talk as if she knew them both well. The other girl understood the expression in Joan’s eyes she said — “Before you took Miss Manders’ place Ralph used to visit the office regularly. 1 don’t know really why he stopped coming, but I haven’t seen him since you started.” “He hasn't been,” said Joan“l daresay he will one day,” said Dorothy. "Don’t take too much notice of what he tells you. I think he’d ■spend a fortune on any girl who looked pleasant at him.” Joan hardly knew whether to look shocked. In many ways she was unspoiled. She lived in a secluded little world, and even since she had been in London her only male friend had been Derek. Dorothy was revealing unsuspected depths of understanding. “Oh, he’s decent enough,” she said. “In fact, he’s a nice lad.” “You talk as if he’s about seventeen,” said Joan. “Nearer twenty-seven,” corrected Dorothy, to Joan’s surprise. “And you call him a ‘lad’,” laughed Joan. Dorothy was suddenly very serious. “I feel terribly old sometimes,” she said. “Don't you think I look it?” Joan felt a little awkward. Dorothy looked older than her age—which was twenty-six—chiefly because she usually affected that sei'iousness which ; characterised her at the office. But this morning she had looked years younger. “Y'ou don’t now,” Joan said, a little weakly. Dorothy chuckled.

“Well done," -she applauded; but there was an expression in her eyes which Joan couldn’t understand. She went on: ‘Til show you something-, when we get home, that will surprise you, and tell you a lot of things, my dear. And now I’ll tell you something which you’re not going to like —or 1 hope you won’t." Joan frowned. “That’s a mixed one," she said. Dorothy nodded. “You’ll know why I put it like that when I tell you that I’m leaving Matthews and Wyatt in a month’s time." “Leaving?" (To be continued.)