I've been drinking a whole lot.
Much the best thing.”
They took what was left of the Burgundy and ordered another bottle.
“Just come up for the night,” said Tony. “Staying here.”
“You've got a flat now haven't you?”
“Well Brenda has.
There isn't really room for two … we tried it once and it wasn't a success.”
“What's she doing tonight?”
“Out somewhere.
I didn't let her know I was coming … silly not to, but you see I got fed up with being alone at Hetton and thought I'd like to see Brenda so I came up suddenly on the spur of the moment, just like that.
Damned silly thing to do.
Might have known she'd be going out somewhere … she's very high principled about chucking … so there it is.
She's going to ring me up here later, if she can get away.”
They drank a lot.
Tony did most of the talking.
“Extraordinary idea of hers, taking up economics,” he said.
“I never thought it would last but she seems really keen on it … I suppose it's a good plan. You know there wasn't really much for her to do all the time at Hetton.
Of course she'd rather die than admit it, but I believe she got a bit bored there sometimes.
I've been thinking it over and that's the conclusion I came to.
Brenda must have been bored … Daresay she'll get bored with economics some time … Anyway she seems cheerful enough now.
We've had parties every week-end lately … I wish you'd come down sometimes, Jock.
I don't seem to get on with Brenda's new friends.”
“People from the school of economics?”
“No, but ones I don't know.
I believe I bore them. Thinking it over that's the conclusion I've come to. I bore them. They talk about me as `the old boy.'
John heard them.”
“Well, that's friendly enough.”
“Yes, that's friendly.”
They finished the Burgundy and drank some port.
Presently Tony said,
“I say, come next week-end, will you?”
“I think I'd love to.”
“Wish you would.
I don't see many old friends … Sure to be lots of people in the house, but you won't mind that will you? … sociable chap, Jock … doesn't mind people about. I mind it like hell.”
They drank some more port.
Tony said,
“Not enough bathrooms, you know … but of course you know. You've been there before, often.
Not like the new friends who think me a bore. You don't think I'm a bore, do you?”
“No, old boy.”
“Not even when I'm tight, like this? … There would have been bathrooms.
I had the plans out.
Four new ones.
A chap down there made the plans … but then Brenda wanted the flat so I had to postpone them as an economy … I say, that's funny.
We had to economize because of Brenda's economics.”
“Yes, that's funny.
Let's have some port.”
Tony said,
“You seem pretty low tonight.”
“I am rather.
Worried about the Pig Scheme.