“I think you'd better, we haven't done anything for him for a long time.”
“Well you must write the speech.
I'm getting too old for the girlish one I used to give them all.
And Angela says will we stay for the New Year?”
“That's easy. Not on her life, we won't.”
“I guessed not … though it sounds an amusing party.”
“You go if you like. I can't possibly get away.”
“That's all right.
I knew it would be `no' before I opened the letter.”
“Well what sort of pleasure can there be in going all the way to Yorkshire in the middle of winter …”
“Darling, don't be cross.
I know we aren't going.
I'm not making a thing about it.
I just thought it might be fun to eat someone else's food for a bit.”
Then Brenda's maid brought in the other tray.
He had it put by the window seat, and began opening his letters.
He looked out of the window.
Only four of the six church towers were visible that morning.
Presently he said, “As a matter of fact I probably can manage to get away that week-end.”
“Darling, are you sure you wouldn't hate it?”
“I daresay not.”
While he ate his breakfast. Brenda read to him from the papers.
“Reggie's been making another speech … There's such an extraordinary picture of Babe and Jock … a woman in America has had twins by two different husbands.
Would you have thought that possible? … Two more chaps in gas ovens … a little girl has been strangled in a cemetery with a bootlace … that play we went to about a farm is coming off.”
Then she read him the serial.
He lit his pipe.
“I don't believe you're listening.
Why doesn't Sylvia want Rupert to get the letter?”
“Eh?
Oh well, you see, she doesn't really trust Rupert.”
“I knew it.
There's no such character as Rupert in the story.
I shall never read to you again.”
“Well to tell you the truth I was just thinking.”
“Oh.”
“I was thinking how delightful it is, that it's Saturday morning and we haven't got anyone coming for the week-end.”
“Oh you thought that?”
“Don't you?”
“Well it sometimes seems to me rather pointless keeping up a house this size if we don't now and then ask some other people to stay in it.”
“Pointless?
I can't think what you mean.
I don't keep up this house to be a hostel for a lot of bores to come and gossip in.
We've always lived here and I hope John will be able to keep it on after me.
One has a duty towards one's employees, and towards the place too. It's a definite part of English life which would be a serious loss if …” Then Tony stopped short in his speech and looked at the bed.
Brenda had turned on her face and only the top of her head appeared above the sheets.
“Oh God,” she said into the pillow.
“What have I done?”
“I say, am I being pompous again?”
She turned sideways so that her nose and one eye emerged.
“Oh no, darling, not pompous.