Free Bella Poldark by Winston Graham

with her studies?'
    'Of a certainty. Oh yes. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. But the voice needs careful 'andling. You must avoid wear and tear. The slower one progresses, the more surely one progresses. Many leap too soon. Of course in my world there is much competition. But dere is always room for another if the talent is dere. I personally, venever I can, sing Mozart. This can be a top singer's salvation -- it helps to stay on der right path.'
    'Do you have many pupils?' Caroline asked.
    'Two, three only. But dey are not quite pupils. Dey are already singers. But Lady Poldhu, could you come back, return, after Easter? I can teach your daughter a great deal. A year mit me is worth two year mit anyone else.'
    In the evening, after a quiet supper, when for once Mrs Pelham was entertaining no other guests, they went into the choices thoroughly: Demelza, Bella, Caroline, Christopher, Mrs Pelham. Demelza said: 'Caroline, you are my oldest friend. Tell us, please, what thoughts you have.'
    Caroline rubbed her long patrician nose. 'First, I suppose you have to say that Christopher was right. Not only the teacher of his choice but two others, nominated by Aunt Sarah, have confirmed his opinion. This seems to prove that Isabella-Rose has exceptional talent. They would - could not be generous without good cause. Therefore, if you can afford the fees - and I know Ross can - the likely decision is that she should have a year or more's training to see what progress she makes.'
    Christopher said: 'I have already offered to pay the fees.'
    'We could not accept that,' said Demelza. 'Thank you all the same. We can meet them.'
    'Let us agree then that the expense is not a hindrance. Do we agree on the rest?'
    After a pause Demelza said: 'I think so ... yes.'
    'Then for that year - or several years if all goes well the question is . . .'. Caroline stopped. 'No. It is good of you
    to give me the floor, my dear, but I should not be talking like a judge dealing with the custody of a child. She is your child. I must not take over your role.'
    Demelza said: 'But do you not see, Caroline, that it is because I am her mother I cannot see this detached. So please go on.'
    Silence fell. Caroline sighed.
    'Well, if that is the provisional decision, some other important decisions or choices will need to be made. Of the three highly placed professionals we have seen today I know Bella would choose Mr Reumann--' "I never really said that!' exclaimed Bella.
    'I heard you whispering to Christopher, and I know why you fancy Mr Reumann, my dear. It is because he inhabits a theatre. And one of the finest in London. You came over visibly faint at the sight of stepladders and panels of scenery and the smell of cosmetics.'
    'You must not pull a face like that, Bella,' Demelza said,
    'you must be polite to your aunt.'
    Caroline laughed. 'Aunt in name only.'
    Christopher said: 'But did not Reumann say he could not take Bella at present? He surely meant - in fact he said -- come back in six months.'
    'True.'
    'Of course I was not with you,' Mrs Pelham said, 'but Madame Schneider sounds the most romantic to me - and perhaps the most practical! Indeed, I have heard her sing more than once, and her help would be invaluable. She is performing at present? Otherwise I might have invited her to sup with us before you returned home.'
    'Duke Street, St James's, is much further from here than Chancery Lane,' Caroline remarked. 'It is worth thinking of in the winter.'
    Demelza thought of that other side of London, of which they had seen plenty today, the endless beggars, some of them ex-soldiers lacking limbs, the pigs rooting free in the gutter, the crush of traffic, the smell of drains, the pie sellers, the quacks, the knife grinders who crammed the edges of the pavements, the ragged boys and barefoot children.
    She said: 'Mrs Pelham, is it true -- I only heard mention of it this forenoon - is it true that you would allow Bella to live here for a very short while until she found her feet?