She came out once or twice to the dig, once in a car and twice with some young man on a horse on two horses I mean, of course.
It was at the back of my mind that she had a weakness for the silent young American, Emmott.
When he was on duty at the dig she used to stay talking to him, and I thought, too, thathe admired her.
One day, rather injudiciously, I thought, Mrs Leidner commented upon it at lunch.
The Reilly girl is still hunting David down, she said with a little laugh.
Poor David, she chases you up on the dig even!
How foolish girls are!
Mr Emmott didnt answer, but under his tan his face got rather red.
He raised his eyes and looked right into hers with a very curious expression a straight, steady glance with something of a challenge in it.
She smiled very faintly and looked away.
I heard Father Lavigny murmur something, but when I said Pardon? he merely shook his head and did not repeat his remark.
That afternoon Mr Coleman said to me: Matter of fact I didnt like Mrs L. any too much at first.
She used to jump down my throat every time I opened my mouth.
But Ive begun to understand her better now.
Shes one of the kindest women Ive ever met.
You find yourself telling her all the foolish scrapes you ever got into before you know where you are.
Shes got her knife into Sheila Reilly, I know, but then Sheilas been damned rude to her once or twice. Thats the worst of Sheila shes got no manners.
And a temper like the devil!
That I could well believe.
Dr Reilly spoilt her.
Of course shes bound to get a bit full of herself, being the only young woman in the place.
But that doesnt excuse her talking to Mrs Leidner as though Mrs Leidner were her great-aunt.
Mrs L.s not exactly a chicken, but shes a damned good-looking woman. Rather like those fairy women who come out of marshes with lights and lure you away.
He added bitterly, You wouldnt find Sheila luring anyone.
All she does is to tick a fellow off.
I only remember two other incidents of any kind of significance.
One was when I went to the laboratory to fetch some acetone to get the stickiness off my fingers from mending the pottery.
Mr Mercado was sitting in a corner, his head was laid down on his arms and I fancied he was asleep.
I took the bottle I wanted and went off with it.
That evening, to my great surprise, Mrs Mercado tackled me.
Did you take a bottle of acetone from the lab?
Yes, I said. I did.
You know perfectly well that theres a small bottle always kept in the antika-room.
She spoke quite angrily.
Is there?
I didnt know.
I think you did!
You just wanted to come spying round.
I know what hospital nurses are.
I stared at her.
I dont know what youre talking about, Mrs Mercado, I said with dignity.
Im sure I dont want to spy on anyone.
Oh, no! Of course not.
Do you think I dont know what youre here for?
Really, for a minute or two I thought she must have been drinking.
I went away without saying any more.
But I thought it was very odd.
The other thing was nothing very much.
I was trying to entice a dog pup with a piece of bread. It was very timid, however, like all Arab dogs and was convinced I meant no good. It slunk away and I followed it out through the archway and round the corner of the house. I came round so sharply that before I knew I had cannoned into Father Lavigny and another man who were standing together and in a minute I realized that the second man was the same one Mrs Leidner and I had noticed that day trying to peer through the window.
I apologized and Father Lavigny smiled, and with a word of farewell greeting to the other man he returned to the house with me.