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be anxious to see him settled。〃
The vicar's wife reflected that Teresa seemed to be the one person
who showed no immediate anxiety to supply Bertie with a wife； but she
kept the thought to herself。
Mrs。 Yonelet was a woman of resourceful energy and generalship；
she involved the other members of the house… party； the deadweight； so to
speak； in all manner of exercises and occupations that segregated them
from Bertie and Dora； who were left to their own devisings … that is to
say； to Dora's devisings and Bertie's accommodating acquiescence。
Dora helped in the Christmas decorations of the parish church； and
Bertie helped her to help。 Together they fed the swans； till the birds
went on a dyspepsia…strike； together they played billiards； together they
photographed the village almshouses； and； at a respectful distance； the
tame elk that browsed in solitary aloofness in the park。 It was 〃tame〃
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in the sense that it had long ago discarded the least vestige of fear of the
human race； nothing in its record encouraged its human neighbours to
feel a reciprocal confidence。
Whatever sport or exercise or occupation Bertie and Dora indulged
in together was unfailingly chronicled and advertised by Mrs。 Yonelet
for the due enlightenment of Bertie's grandmother。
〃Those two inseparables have just come in from a bicycle ride；〃 she
would announce； 〃quite a picture they make； so fresh and glowing after
their spin。〃
〃A picture needing words；〃 would be Teresa's private comment； and
as far as Bertie was concerned she was determined that the words should
remain unspoken。
On the afternoon after Christmas Day Mrs。 Yonelet dashed into the
drawing…room； where her hostess was sitting amid a circle of guests and
teacups and muffin… dishes。 Fate had placed what seemed like a trump…
card in the hands of the patiently…manoeuvring mother。 With eyes
blazing with excitement and a voice heavily escorted with exclamation
marks she made a dramatic announcement。
〃Bertie has saved Dora from the elk！〃
In swift； excited sentences； broken with maternal emotion； she gave
supplementary information as to how the treacherous animal had
ambushed Dora as she was hunting for a strayed golf ball； and how
Bertie had dashed to her rescue with a stable fork and driven the beast
off in the nick of time。
〃It was touch and go！ She threw her niblick at it； but that didn't
stop it。 In another moment she would have been crushed beneath its
hoofs；〃 panted Mrs。 Yonelet。
〃The animal is not safe；〃 said Teresa； handing her agitated guest a
cup of tea。 〃I forget if you take sugar。 I suppose the solitary life it
leads has soured its temper。 There are muffins in the grate。 It's not
my fault； I've tried to get it a mate for ever so long。 You don't know
of anyone with a lady elk for sale or exchange； do you？〃 she asked the
company generally。
But Mrs。 Yonelet was in no humour to listen to talk of elk marriages。
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The mating of two human beings was the subject uppermost in her mind；
and the opportunity for advancing her pet project was too valuable to be
neglected。
〃Teresa；〃 she exclaimed impressively； 〃after those two young people
have been thrown together so dramatically； nothing can be quite the
same again between them。 Bertie has done more than save Dora's life；
he has earned her affection。 One cannot help feeling that Fate has
consecrated them for one another。〃
〃Exactly what the vicar's wife said when Bertie saved Sybil from the
elk a year or two ago；〃 observed Teresa placidly； 〃I pointed out to her
that he had rescued Mirabel Hicks from the same predicement a few
months previously； and that priority really belonged to the gardener's
boy； who had been rescued in the January of that year。 There is a good
deal of sameness in country life； you know。〃
〃It seems to be a very dangerous animal；〃 said one of the guests。
〃That's what the mother of the gardener's boy said；〃 remarked Teresa；
〃she wanted me to have it destroyed； but I pointed out to her that she had
eleven children and I had only one elk。 I also gave her a black silk skirt；
she said that though there hadn't been a funeral in her family she felt as
if there had been。 Anyhow； we parted friends。 I can't offer you a silk
skirt； Emily； but you may have another cup of tea。 As I have already
remarked； there are muffins in the grate。〃
Teresa dosed the discussion； having deftly conveyed the impression
that she considered the mother of the gardener's boy had shown a far
more reasonable spirit than the parents of other elk…assaulted victims。
〃Teresa is devoid of feeling；〃 said Mrs。 Yonelet afterwards to the
vicar's wife； 〃to sit there； talking of muffins； with an appalling tragedy
only narrowly averted … 〃
〃Of course you know whom she really intends Bertie to marry？〃
asked the vicar's wife； 〃I've noticed it for some time。 The Bickelbys'
German governess。〃
〃A German governess！ What an idea！〃 gasped Mrs。 Yonelet。
〃She's of quite good family； I believe；〃 said the vicar's wife； 〃and not
at all the mouse…in…the…back… ground sort of person that governesses are
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usually supposed to be。 In fact； next to Teresa； she's about the most
assertive and combative personality in the neighbourhood。 She's
pointed out to my husband all sorts of errors in his sermons； and she
gave Sir Laurence a public lecture on how he ought to handle the hounds。
You know how sensitive Sir Laurence is about any criticism of his
Mastership； and to have a governess laying down the law to him nearly
drove him into a fit。 She's behaved like that to every one； except； of
course； Teresa； and every one has been defensively rude to her in return。
The Bickelbys are simply too afraid of her to get rid of her。 Now isn't
that exactly the sort of woman whom Teresa would take a delight in
installing as her successor？ Imagine the discomfort and awkwardness
in the county if we suddenly found that she was to be the future
hostess at the Hall。 Teresa's only regret will be that she won't be alive
to see it。〃
〃But；〃 objected Mrs。 Yonelet； 〃surely Bertie hasn't shown the least
sign of being attracted in that quarter？〃
〃Oh； she's quite nice…looking in a way； and dresses well； and plays a
good game of tennis。 She often comes across the park with messages
from the Bickelby mansion； and one of these days Bertie will rescue her
from the elk； which has become almost a habit with him； and Teresa
will say that Fate has consecrated them to one another。 Bertie might not
be disposed to pay much attention to the consecrations of Fate； but he
would not dream of opposing his grandmother。〃
The vicar's wife spoke with the quiet authority of one who has
intuitive knowledge； and in her heart of hearts Mrs。 Yonelet believed her。
Six months later the elk had to be destroyed。 In a fit of exceptional
moro