Speaker 1: Chapter twenty one of Cloudy Jewel. This is a liverbox recording.
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Speaker 1: Recording by anecimoun Cloudy Jewel by Grace Livingston Hill, chapter
Speaker 1: twenty one. There had been a little friction between Alison
Speaker 1: and Leslie, a part the use of the car. Alison
Speaker 1: had always been most generous with it until his sister
Speaker 1: took up this absurd intimacy with mortal Villers. It has
Speaker 1: been rather understood between them that Leslie should use the
Speaker 1: car afternoons when she wanted it, as Allison was busy
Speaker 1: with basketball and other things. But several times Allison had
Speaker 1: objected to his sister's taking her new friend out, and
Speaker 1: Leslie told him he was unfair. After a hitd discussion,
Speaker 1: they had left the question still unsettled. In fact, it
Speaker 1: did not seem that it could be settled, for Leslie
Speaker 1: was of such a nature that great opposition only made
Speaker 1: her more firm, and Julia Cloud advised her nephew to
Speaker 1: say nothing more for her time, let Leslie find out
Speaker 1: for herself the character of the girl she had made
Speaker 1: her friend. It was really the only way she would
Speaker 1: learn not to be carried away by flattery and high
Speaker 1: sounding words. Allison, grumbling a little, assented, but in his
Speaker 1: heart he still bold with rage and idea. That girl's
Speaker 1: winding his sister around her little finger just for the
Speaker 1: sake of using the car when she wanted it. It
Speaker 1: was not perhaps all happening that for two or three
Speaker 1: days Allison had left switchkey where his sister could not
Speaker 1: find it, and the hot war of words ended in
Speaker 1: Leslie's quietly ordering a new switch key, so that such
Speaker 1: a happening would be impossible in future, she would have
Speaker 1: one of her own. A car had come that very
Speaker 1: morning from the express office, notifying Leslie that there was
Speaker 1: a package there waiting for her, so when she started
Speaker 1: out with Myrtle, she stopped and guarded. She thusted it
Speaker 1: carelessly into the car, with a feeling of such faction
Speaker 1: that now Allison could not hamper her movements any longer
Speaker 1: by his carelessness. Which way shall we go? She asked,
Speaker 1: as she always did when taking her friends out, and
Speaker 1: Myrtle named the favorite pike where they often drove out
Speaker 1: Upon smooth white road, they sped rejoicing in the clear
Speaker 1: beauty of the day, and in the freedom with which
Speaker 1: they flew through space. Mortle had chosen to sit in
Speaker 1: the back seat and lulled happily among rugs and wraps,
Speaker 1: keeping a keen eye out on the road ahead, and
Speaker 1: shattering away like a magpie to Leslie, telling her what
Speaker 1: a darling she was she pronounced it darling, and how
Speaker 1: this ride was just one thing she needed to recuperate
Speaker 1: from her violent study of the night before. Incident to
Speaker 1: an examination that morning, Myrtle professed to be utterly overcome
Speaker 1: and exhausted by the physical effort of writing for three
Speaker 1: whole hours without a let up. If Leslie could have
Speaker 1: seen her meek paper, through which a much shortured professor
Speaker 1: was at that moment warily plodding, she would have been astonished.
Speaker 1: Leslie herself was keen and thorough in her class work,
Speaker 1: and had no slightest conception of what a lazy student
Speaker 1: could avoid when she set herself to do so. Five
Speaker 1: miles from home, two masculine figures came inside ahead, strolling
Speaker 1: leisurely down the road. Anyone watching might have seen Myrtle
Speaker 1: suddenly straightened up and cast a hasty glance at Leslie.
Speaker 1: But Leslie was white cheeks and shining eyes, was forcing ahead,
Speaker 1: regardless of stray strollers. At exactly the right moment, Myrtle
Speaker 1: leaned forward and clutched Leslie's shoulder, excitedly, Oh, Leslie, that's
Speaker 1: my cousin, Fred Higgs, and that must be his friend
Speaker 1: Bertram Laws. They're out for a hike. How lucky, stop
Speaker 1: a minute, please, I won't speak to my cousin. At
Speaker 1: the same moment, the two young men turned with a
Speaker 1: well chimed lifting of surprised hats. In response to Myrtle's
Speaker 1: violent waving and shouting. Leslie, of course slowed down. She
Speaker 1: could not carry a girl past her own cousin when
Speaker 1: she asked to stop to speak to him. Besides, it
Speaker 1: never occurred to her not to do so. Myrtle went
Speaker 1: through the introductions. Gleavely, mister Laws, meet my friend, Missus Clouds,
Speaker 1: my cousin Fred Higgs, Leslie, Pauline. Boys, isn't this great
Speaker 1: that we should meet out for a hike. We'll give
Speaker 1: you a lift. Which way are you going? Fred? You
Speaker 1: can sit in front with Leslie. I want part back
Speaker 1: here with me. Leslie caught her breath in a troubled exittancy.
Speaker 1: This wasn't the kind of thing she had bargained for.
Speaker 1: It was sort of thing that her aunt and brother
Speaker 1: would object to most strenuously. Yet how could she object
Speaker 1: when her guests had asked them? Of course, Mortle didn't
Speaker 1: realize that it was not quite the thing for them
Speaker 1: to be off here in the country and chaperoned with
Speaker 1: two strange young men, though of course they weren't strangers really,
Speaker 1: both of them friends of Myrtles, and one her cousin.
Speaker 1: Mortle could not be expected to think how it would
Speaker 1: seem to her. But young men were not waiting for
Speaker 1: Leslie's invitation. They seemed to feel that their company would
Speaker 1: be ample compensation for any objections that might be had.
Speaker 1: The quarreled in with alacrity. The color flew into Leslie's cheeks.
Speaker 1: In her heart, she said, they were altogether too fresh.
Speaker 1: Why I suppose we can give you a lift for
Speaker 1: a little way, said Leslie, trying to sound patronizing. How
Speaker 1: far are we going? We turn off here pretty soon.
Speaker 1: Oh that's all right, said cousin Fred, easily any old
Speaker 1: road suitors. So it's going in this direction. Want me
Speaker 1: to take the will? No, thank you, said, Leslie coldly.
Speaker 1: I always drive myself. My brother doesn't care for me
Speaker 1: to let other people use the car. Ah, that's all right.
Speaker 1: I thought you might be tired, and I'm a great driver.
Speaker 1: People trust me, they won't trust any one else. That's right,
Speaker 1: Leslie chimmed in myrtle. Fred can drive like a breeze.
Speaker 1: You are to see him. Leslie said nothing, but dropped
Speaker 1: in the clutch and drove on. She was not prepossessed
Speaker 1: in Fred Hicks's favor. She let him make all the
Speaker 1: remarks and sat like a slim, straight, little offended goddess.
Speaker 1: But Fred Hicks was not disturbed in the least. He
Speaker 1: started in telling a story about the trip he took
Speaker 1: from Washington up to Harrisburg in an incredibly brief space
Speaker 1: of time, and he laughed uproariously at all his own jokes.
Speaker 1: Leslie was a girl of violent likes and dislikes, and
Speaker 1: she took one of them. Now. She fairly froze cousin Fred,
Speaker 1: though he showed no outward sign of being aware of it.
Speaker 1: Here's a nice road off to the right, he indicated,
Speaker 1: reaching out a commanding hand to the will suddenly turn here.
Speaker 1: Leslie with set lips Borne past the suggested road at
Speaker 1: ice speed. Please don't touch my will, was all she
Speaker 1: said in a hearty little voice. She was very angry. Indeed,
Speaker 1: they were nearing an old mansion close now for the winter,
Speaker 1: with a small artificial lake between the grounds and the highway.
Speaker 1: Leslie felt a passing wish that she might dump her
Speaker 1: a desired cargo in the lake and fly away from them.
Speaker 1: I think you'll have to get out at next cross roads,
Speaker 1: she said, with more dignity. I have to go home now. Why,
Speaker 1: Leslie cloud Eatn't any such thing broke in myrtle. You
Speaker 1: told me you could be out all quarter of six.
Speaker 1: It's only half past four. I thought you were a
Speaker 1: good sport. I've changed my mind, said Leslie coldly, bringing
Speaker 1: the car to a stand still. I'm going back right now.
Speaker 1: Do you and your friend want to get out here,
Speaker 1: mister Hicks. Fred Higgs lowed back in the car and
Speaker 1: leered at Leslie. Why no. I can't say I'm particularly
Speaker 1: anxious to get out, but I think i'd like to
Speaker 1: change around a little. If you'll just step over here,
Speaker 1: I'll run the car for you, My dear, I don't
Speaker 1: think myrtle is ready to go back yet, how about it,
Speaker 1: mirt He turned and deliberately winked at Myrtle, who leaned
Speaker 1: over with a light laugh and patted Leslie on the shoulder.
Speaker 1: There there, Leslie, don't get up in the air, she soothed.
Speaker 1: I'll explain all about it. If you'll just sturn around
Speaker 1: and go up that road back there. It won't take
Speaker 1: you much longer, and we'll be back in plenty of time.
Speaker 1: The fab is I had a little blend in the
Speaker 1: back of my head when I came out this afternoon,
Speaker 1: and I want you to help me out. Now, be
Speaker 1: a good girl and let Fred run the car a
Speaker 1: little while. You won't do it any arm and your
Speaker 1: brother will never know a thing about it. Leslie's eyes
Speaker 1: were flashing and her head was held aughtily, but she
Speaker 1: kept her hands firmly on the wheel. Your friends will
Speaker 1: have to get out, Myrtle, she said coldly. I can't
Speaker 1: help you out in any scheme. I don't understand. You'll
Speaker 1: have to go to some one else for that kind
Speaker 1: of help. Myrtle pouted. I must say, I don't think
Speaker 1: you're very nice, Leslie Cloud, speaking in that way before
Speaker 1: my friends. But of course you don't understand, I'll have
Speaker 1: to tell you. Bart laws and I are engaged and
Speaker 1: you're going to turn down the next state to get married.
Speaker 1: Bart has licen and minister, and it's all arranged nicely.
Speaker 1: It's aunt will be there for a chaperon. If you
Speaker 1: behave yourself and do as we tell you, the old
Speaker 1: thing will go off quietly and no one will know
Speaker 1: the difference. You and I will go back home before dark,
Speaker 1: and everything will be lovely. You see, dear, I've been
Speaker 1: engaged all this time, only I can't tell you because
Speaker 1: my gardens don't approve of my getting married until I'm
Speaker 1: through college. I didn't understand why I had so much
Speaker 1: to do with Rich Price, but he was just a
Speaker 1: goal between for Bart and me. Now do you understand
Speaker 1: why I wanted you to go this afternoon? Morhal's voice
Speaker 1: was very soft and insinuating. She had tears always near
Speaker 1: to surface for red Use. You never have been in love, Leslie.
Speaker 1: You don't know what it is to be separated from
Speaker 1: the one who is all the world to you. Come now, Leslie,
Speaker 1: I'll do anything in the world for you if you'll
Speaker 1: only help me out now, and if I won't asked Leslie, calmly, deliberately,
Speaker 1: as if she were really waiting the question. Well, if
Speaker 1: you won't putting the person called Fred IgGs, why bart,
Speaker 1: and I will just fix you up perfectly harmlessly in
Speaker 1: the back seat there wherey can't do any damage. And
Speaker 1: he put his hand in his pocket and brought out
Speaker 1: the end of an ugly looking rope. And then we'll
Speaker 1: take charge of this expedition and go on our way.
Speaker 1: You can take it or leave it as you please.
Speaker 1: Shut up there, murd We haven't any more time to
Speaker 1: waste behind schedule now. Leslie's mouth shut in a pretty
Speaker 1: little tight line, and her eyes got like two blue sparks,
Speaker 1: but her voice was cool and steady. Well I won't,
Speaker 1: she said tensely, and with a sudden motion, she crept
Speaker 1: switch key, and, springing to her feet, flung it far
Speaker 1: out across the road, across a little scuttled canoe that
Speaker 1: lay at the bank, and plung into the water. Before
Speaker 1: the other occupants of the car could realize what she
Speaker 1: was doing. Fred Hicks saw just an instant too late,
Speaker 1: and sprang for her arm to stop it, then rose
Speaker 1: in its seat with curses on its lips, watching the
Speaker 1: exact location of the splash, and calling to his mate
Speaker 1: to go out and fish for it. Leslie sank back
Speaker 1: in her seat, tense and white, and both young men
Speaker 1: sprang out and rush to the shore of the little lake,
Speaker 1: leaving a stream of unspeakable language behind them. Myrtle began
Speaker 1: to berate a friend, You little fool, she said. You
Speaker 1: think you've stop this, don't you. But you'll suffer for this.
Speaker 1: If you make a slate, I'll see that you don't
Speaker 1: get back to your blessed home for a whole week,
Speaker 1: and when you do, you won't have such a pretty
Speaker 1: reputation to go on as you have now. It won't
Speaker 1: do a bit of good either, for those two men
Speaker 1: can find that switch key, or if they can't, Fred
Speaker 1: knows how to start a car without one. If only,
Speaker 1: I've made a lot of trouble for yourself, and that's
Speaker 1: all the good it will do you. You thought you
Speaker 1: were smart, but you're nothing but an ignorant little kid.
Speaker 1: But ignorant little key was not listening. Trembling fingers, she
Speaker 1: was pulling off strappings from a small package, and suddenly
Speaker 1: a warning weird cut short mirthless herring. She lured forward
Speaker 1: and tried to pull Leslie's hand away from the wheel.
Speaker 1: Bart come quick, She's got another Harry Boys. End of
Speaker 1: Chapter twenty one. Recording by Annety Monk from Portugal,