‘Tell him to sit, then press down on his rear end.’
‘Sit,’ she said.
‘Say it louder, and pronounce the letter “t” very clearly. Then press down hard.’
‘Sit, Rusty!’ she said, and pushed him down. He sat.
‘There you are,’ said Charlie.
‘You’re so clever!’ Daisy gushed.
Charlie looked pleased. ‘It’s just a matter of knowing what to do,’ he said modestly. ‘You must always be emphatic and decisive with dogs. You have to almost bark at them.’ He sat back, looking content. He was quite heavy, and filled the chair. Talking about the subject in which he was expert had relaxed him, as Daisy had hoped.
She had called him that morning. ‘I’m in despair!’ she had said. ‘I have a new puppy and I can’t manage him at all. Can you give me any advice?’
‘What breed of puppy?’
‘It’s a Jack Russell.’
‘Why, that’s the kind of dog I like best – I have three!’
‘What a coincidence!’
As Daisy had hoped, Charlie volunteered to come over and help her train the dog.
Eva had said doubtfully: ‘Do you really think Charlie is right for you?’
‘Are you kidding?’ Daisy had replied. ‘He’s one of the most eligible bachelors in Buffalo!’
Now Daisy said to Charlie: ‘I bet you’d be really good with children, too.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that.’
‘You love dogs, but you’re firm with them. I’m sure that works with children, too.’
‘I have no idea.’ He changed the subject. ‘Are you intending to go to college in September?’
‘I might go to Oakdale. It’s a two-year finishing college for ladies. Unless . . .’
‘Unless what?’
Unless I get married, she meant, but she said: ‘I don’t know. Unless something else happens.’
‘Such as what?’
‘I’d like to see England. My father went to London and met the Prince of Wales. What about you? Any plans?’
‘It was always assumed that I would take over Father’s bank, but now there is no bank. Mother has a little money from her family, and I manage that, but otherwise I’m kind of a loose wheel.’
‘You should raise horses,’ Daisy said. ‘I know you’d be good at it.’ She was a good rider and had won prizes when younger. She pictured herself and Charlie in the park on matching greys, with two children on ponies following behind. The vision gave her a warm glow.
‘I love horses,’ Charlie said.
‘So do I! I want to breed racehorses.’ Daisy did not have to feign this enthusiasm. It was her dream to raise a string of champions. She saw racehorse owners as the ultimate international elite.
‘Thoroughbreds cost a lot of money,’ Charlie said lugubriously.
Daisy had plenty. If Charlie married her, he would never have to worry about money again. She naturally did not say so, but she guessed that Charlie was thinking it, and she let the thought hang unspoken in the air for as long as possible.
Eventually Charlie said: ‘Did your father really have those two union organizers beaten up?’
‘What a strange idea!’ Daisy did not know whether Lev Peshkov had done any such thing, but in truth it would not have surprised her.
‘The men who came from New York to take over the strike,’ Charlie persisted. ‘They were hospitalized. The
‘I never talk about politics,’ Daisy said gaily. ‘When did you get your first dog?’
Charlie began a long reminiscence. Daisy considered what to do next. I’ve got him here, she thought, and I’ve put him at ease; now I have to get him aroused. But stroking the dog suggestively had unnerved him. What they needed was some casual physical contact.
‘What should I do next with Rusty?’ she asked when Charlie had finished his story.
‘Teach him to walk to heel,’ Charlie said promptly.
‘How do you do that?’
‘Do you have some dog biscuits?’
‘Sure.’ The kitchen windows were open, and Daisy raised her voice so that the maid could hear her. ‘Ella, would you kindly bring me that box of Milk-bones?’
