Charles arrived back at our home several hours after he left. I'd been concerned he may not come back at all. The moment he entered the door he asked if he could speak to me alone. Naturally,I agreed. I expected him to beg me for a place to stay the night,or perhaps money,but I was proved wrong. What I did hear nearly knocked me out of my chair!
"Etienne..." He had said softly,his voice quavering with nervousness. "Yes?" I prompted him when he paused. It came out very fast. "You know Pearl and I have been friends,and closer,for a very long time now and... Well what I'm trying to say is... ..I want to ask her tomarry me." He was pale and gulping once he'd finished. From the first day I had been able to see them together. He began to shake before I answered,"I could not pick a better man than you to wed Pearl,Charles." The poor boy had to hold on to the table to keep himself steady. I gave him a tender smile. "Someone has to watch her when Melinda and I are gone,Charles. I would love for you to marry her."
I found myself with his arms flung around my neck the next moment. Strange,I thought,that he would be so sure of my daughter's answer. Of course,the next question from his mouth was where PEarl was. I pointed him to her room,telling him she'd be up there in a few minutes,that I wanted to have a word with her. Apparently something in my tone told him I wouldn't negotiate the point and he left to do as I'd asked. I wheeled myself into the study where I'd left my darling daughter a quarter of an hour or so ago.
Pearl looked up at me instantly as I entered and smiled. "We really will have to lubricate that old chair of yours,Papa." She said calmly,placing down her sketch pad and the small pencil she'd been using. I hadn't even heard it squeak. Once again,Pearl heard and saw many things most ordinary people didn't. They were either too busy and preoccupied or simply too uncaring to notice the tiny,almost insignificant details of life. "Pearl,dear." I started out quietly. "Charles wants to see you in your room. I want you tot hink very hard before you do anything,alright,sweetheart?'
I know there was a bit of wariness in my voice. She nodded,obviously curious,but thankfully spared me explaining with her silence and left the study. I sighed and gazed at the ceiling.
Should Pearl accept,which I had no doubt of,their marriage would constantly be marred by Annette,Jeanette and Elliot's group of boys. 'God help them,' I thought sullenly. 'They'll need it.'
"Etienne..." He had said softly,his voice quavering with nervousness. "Yes?" I prompted him when he paused. It came out very fast. "You know Pearl and I have been friends,and closer,for a very long time now and... Well what I'm trying to say is... ..I want to ask her tomarry me." He was pale and gulping once he'd finished. From the first day I had been able to see them together. He began to shake before I answered,"I could not pick a better man than you to wed Pearl,Charles." The poor boy had to hold on to the table to keep himself steady. I gave him a tender smile. "Someone has to watch her when Melinda and I are gone,Charles. I would love for you to marry her."
I found myself with his arms flung around my neck the next moment. Strange,I thought,that he would be so sure of my daughter's answer. Of course,the next question from his mouth was where PEarl was. I pointed him to her room,telling him she'd be up there in a few minutes,that I wanted to have a word with her. Apparently something in my tone told him I wouldn't negotiate the point and he left to do as I'd asked. I wheeled myself into the study where I'd left my darling daughter a quarter of an hour or so ago.
Pearl looked up at me instantly as I entered and smiled. "We really will have to lubricate that old chair of yours,Papa." She said calmly,placing down her sketch pad and the small pencil she'd been using. I hadn't even heard it squeak. Once again,Pearl heard and saw many things most ordinary people didn't. They were either too busy and preoccupied or simply too uncaring to notice the tiny,almost insignificant details of life. "Pearl,dear." I started out quietly. "Charles wants to see you in your room. I want you tot hink very hard before you do anything,alright,sweetheart?'
I know there was a bit of wariness in my voice. She nodded,obviously curious,but thankfully spared me explaining with her silence and left the study. I sighed and gazed at the ceiling.
Should Pearl accept,which I had no doubt of,their marriage would constantly be marred by Annette,Jeanette and Elliot's group of boys. 'God help them,' I thought sullenly. 'They'll need it.'