The Diary Of Pamela D.

Pamela cringed, despite Ellie's attempt to lighten her unintended slight against Norrie's incompetence. 'I didn't realize that I'd hurt her feelings. We've got some extra fruit that needs to be used up. How be I fetch her and we make preserves out of that?'

'That sounds splendid,' Ellie said, her enigmatic half-smile returning. 'I'm sure that with your help Norrie will be quite herself again.'

In fact, Norrie did quite well, for Norrie. She was having one of her good days and didn't forget a thing or become sidetracked. She quite forgave Pamela and seemed happier than she had been since Christmas.

As they were processing the bottled preserves, Norrie said, quite unexpectedly, 'I don't understand why Mr. Theo hasn't asked you to marry him. There's no one in his life, and you would be so good for him. I wonder why he hasn't seen that for himself yet?'

'I don't know what you mean! Mr. Theo would never want someone like me.' Pamela said brusquely. 'I just work in his house. He needs somebody like himself, someone who was born into wealth, who grew up with it, who knows how to deal with it.'

'Piffle! My dear, after the few short months you've been here, you practically run this establishment. You think I don't notice, or that old Norrie's wits are somewhat addled. But I do know this much! Theo relies on you. He depends on you. And the sooner he comes to realize this for himself, the better!'

'I do only what he tells me,' Pamela rejoined. 'I don't know the first thing about business.'

'Have you told him yet that you're in love with him?'

Pamela could only gape.

Norrie gave her a look that was all too knowing. 'Come, girl, everyone under this roof knows how you feel about him, with the possible exception of you and Mr. Theo himself. You've never been intimate with a man, have you.' It was a statement.

'What-?' Pamela, who had gone a deep shade of red, could only manage a squeak.

'You're still a virgin, aren't you? That's why you're so terrified to get too close to Mr. Theo. God knows, in this day and age, that's a rare commodity. Unless you want to end up a nun you'd better hurry up and tell him how you feel. He won't hold out hope forever, you know.'

'Norrie! Theo . . . he doesn't want me. He's not the least bit interested-'

'Then why'd he buy you all those new clothes, eh? I know, he told you that the money came from Mrs. D. Well, it didn't. If you must know, I overheard Mrs. D. saying that it was about time he was nice to the girl, meaning you. So there.'