Love Lightning Old Virgin
Chapter XLII

Miss Dior looked at her fixedly, with an unsettling smile in her eyes, which made her sister feel disturbed, but all Miss Dior said was, “I'm sad you should feel so anxious towards her. He was definitely tired and tense, but that was what he would experience, wasn't it, after being awake for days? He seems, when I visited you, in very good condition!”

Mr. Arthur shook his head. “Ah, he never complained of pain and will continue to endure like that. It took him a long time until he was willing to admit that he felt tired half to death when #ax visited us. Not that he finally wants to do it.”

“I'm sure she doesn't want to,” said Miss Dior. “I've certainly heard of the news about the new bath on Abbey Street, but I don't know anything about it, except that it's run by someone named dr. Wilkinson's. And, I guess, if you just failed to persuade Majorie to try out that series of steam baths, she would certainly not give in to my persuasion either.”

“Oh, I thought he could be persuaded?” abugn. “He takes your opinion very seriously, I assure you. You have a big influence on him, you know that.”

“Masa? Well, I would think it would be impolite to use that influence in terms that only he can judge. But, you can calm down. Majorie can stay with me as long as she wants.”

“I know I can count on you,” Mr. Arthur said sincerely. “You want to change your clothes, so I won't hold you any longer! I myself must hurry, so I will say goodbye to you. I thought I'd stop by to see how Majorie was doing in a day and two, but I knew I could count on you to take care of her.”

“Didn't you bring her here so she can look after me?”

Mr. Arthur thought that ignoring this remark was a wise gesture, but halfway down the stairs, he remembered something he had forgotten to tell Caroline. He stopped, looked back, at his sister, and said, “Oh, by the way, Caroline, you asked me to send the maid to the nursery, didn't you? I didn't have time to send a message to Majorie, so I've arranged to hire a suitable girl to serve the nursery here.”

“You shouldn't bother doing that,” Caroline replied, somewhat moved.

“Absolutely no hassle,” said Mr. Arthur politely.

“I don't want to interfere with the work of your servants. Belevia has promised to take care of that problem today as well.”

By the time Miss Dior came down to the living room, Mr. Arthur had left the house, and the Majorie, as Miss Harrow had told him in a whisper, was leaving, lying on the bed with the curtains closed and warm bricks at his feet. Miss Harrow would have explained all the arrangements she had made for the convenience of the Majorie had Miss Dior not stopped her, and walked past her to greet Great Lord Curtis, yang had come to return gratitude for the party invitation the night before, and was making an awkward conversation with Cherry. Great Lord Curtis kissed Miss Dior's hand, and informed him of his intention to leave the business card, but upon hearing from Anash that Miss Dior was at home, he attempted to enter, only to see how things were going.

“Miss Constantine told me you went riding this morning. You are indeed tireless, dear Miss Caroline! And, as soon as I heard that Grand Madame Dior had been forbidden to stay with you, that must have meant that you were forced to bear a heavier burden. I hope we all wish you would take better care of yourself.”

“Dear Curtis, you speak as if I were one of those sick women who had been in a state of near-deepness. You should have known better. I guess I haven't been sick a day since I came to Rouen. About the fatigue from the small banquet, how weak do you think I am?” Miss Dior turned to Cherry, and said, “Darling, didn't you tell me you were going for a walk to Sydney Garden with Stonehenge, Edith, and Miss Jamien this afternoon? I intended to accompany you to Laura Place, and chat with Madame Stinchcombe, but I was worried that I would have to cancel it because Big Lady Dior had come to visit me. Oh, don't look so sad! Lisa can go with you to Laura Place, and I'll send a train to take you home again right at dinner. You're going to convey my apology to Mrs Stinchcombe, and explain the situation, aren't you?”

“Oh, yes, of course I will tell you, Madam!” cherry said, his frowning expression disappeared suddenly. “I'll be up to wear my hat immediately. Unless there's something you want me to do here?”

“Not at all,” Miss Dior replied, smiling affectionately at him. “Please say goodbye to Lord Curtis, and leave, or you will make them wait.” As the door closed behind Cherry, Miss Dior focused on Miss Harrow, speaking unfriendly. “You should also leave, Belevia, if you have promised to hire a suitable maid to serve the nursery, which I understand is the problem.”

“Oh, yes! I'm sure that's what you want me to do. If only I knew a servant would be needed, I would have come to the Civil Service Office this morning on my way home from Omaha Beach, only if I had done so, I would definitely be too late to greet the esteemed Grand Madam Dior, because, as it is, I need to shop around so much that I am barely late. Not that I meant to complain! That would be a very strange thing to do. But there it was, and I saw a train stop outside the house as I passed by the green window-leafed house, so I ran for the rest of the way, and arrived at Kirz's house just as Diandre was helping the nurse get off the train. So, I gave all my parcels to Anash, and told him to bring the parcels to the kitchen, and could even breathlessly greet the esteemed Great Lady Dior, who was very much in love, and explain to him how the situation is so that you are forced to put the fun task to me. Then, you know”

“Yes, Belevia, I really know, so you don't have to tell me anymore! These details may not be of interest to Grand Lord Curtis.”

“Oh, no! Men have never liked housekeeping, have they? I remember Dad once saying I was a chatty person when he told him some little incident that I thought would cheer him up! Well, I can't keep talking, can I? You and Lord Curtis want to talk about the party, and although I really want to stay, I have to leave with a heavy heart!”

Great Lord Curtis showed no willingness to follow his example, he stayed for more than an hour, and might have lasted for another hour had Majorie not entered the room. This gives Miss Dior a chance to meet Mr. Curtis, all he did was tell the man that Majorie should be in bed because she was so exhausted and not in good health to go down to the living room.