“I don't know about not liking her exactly.
She's just a joke, isn't she?”
“Is she … oh dear … She's had a terrible life you know.”
“So I gathered.”
“Be nice to her, Tony please.”
“Oh, I'll be nice to her.
Is she Jewish?”
“I don't know.
I never thought.
Perhaps she is.”
Soon after dinner Polly said she was tired and asked Brenda to come with her while she undressed.
“Leave the young couple to it,” she whispered outside the door.
“My dear, I don't believe it's going to be any good … the poor boy's got some taste you know, and a sense of humour.”
“She didn't show up too well at dinner, did she?”
“She will go on so … and after all Tony's been used to me for seven years.
It's rather a sudden change.”
“Tired?”
“Mmm.
Little bit.”
“You gave me a pretty long bout of Abdul Akbar.”
“I know.
I'm sorry, darling, but Polly takes so long to get to bed … Was it awful?
I wish you liked her more.”
“She's awful.”
“One has to make allowances … she's got the most terrible scars.”
“So she told me.”
“I've seen them.”
“Besides I hoped to see something of you.”
“Oh.”
“Brenda, you aren't angry still about my getting tight that night and waking you up?”
“No, sweet, do I seem angry?”
“… I don't know.
You do rather … Has it been an amusing week?”
“Not amusing, very hard work.
Bimetallism you know.”
“Oh yes … well, I suppose, you want to go to sleep.”
“Mm … so tired.
Goodnight, darling.”
“Goodnight.”
“Can I go and say good morning to the Princess, mummy?”
“I don't expect she's awake yet.”
“Please, mummy, may I go and see.
I'll just peep and if she's asleep, go away.”
“I don't know what room she's in.”
“Galahad, my lady,” said Grimshawe who was putting out her clothes.
“Oh dear, why was she put there.”
“It was Mr. Last's orders, my lady.”
“Well, she's probably awake then.”
John slipped out of the room and trotted down the passage to Galahad.
“May I come in?”