'Could I speak to you for a moment Madam?'
'Yes Agatha?'
Before going on Miss Burch waited until Raunce, who was leaving Mrs Jack's room, should be out of earshot.
'It's Kate Madam. I wouldn't bother you Madam only it does seem not right to me that a slip of a girl can take him his tea first thing while he lies in bed there.'
'Whose tea good heavens?'
'Arthur Madam.'
'We must call him Raunce now Agatha. It does sound absurd I know. What's more I don't like that name.' Her voice had taken a teasing note. 'I think we shall have to change it don't you?'
'And he would not go to the funeral. He even boasts about it Madam.'
'Well we wouldn't have wanted him there would we?' she said. Miss Burch seemed pleased. 'And now he's moved down to Eldon's room and wants his morning tea brought him?' Mrs Tennant went on. 'Yes well thanks very much for telling me. I suppose one of the girls used to carry Eldon his cup first thing?'
'Yes Madam but that was different.'
'I know Agatha but I fancy that's the difficulty you see.'
'Very good Madam,' Miss Burch said grim.
'Oh yes and I forgot, where is the man,' and she called for
Raunce. There was no reply. 'He must have gone.' She rang the bell. 'I meant
to tell you both,' she continued, 'it's about Mrs Welch. Her nephew is coming
over tomorrow. Not for long mind, just a few weeks. He's old enough to look
after himself. She'll do everything for the little chap.'
Miss Burch did not look delighted but she said, 'Yes Madam.'
'He's a dear boy I believe and it will be nice for the children to have someone to play with. His name is Albert. Why what a coincidence. Yes Albert what is it?'
'You rang, Madam.'
'Oh it's of no consequence it was Raunce I wanted. That's all thank you. There's nothing else I think I will see Raunce some other time. I've simply got to rush out now to Michael.'
The morning was almost over and that afternoon, as Raunce was in his new armchair putting his feet up to study those two notebooks Edith, upstairs in the attic she shared with Kate and half undressed, was filling into a jam jar those eggs she had been carrying in Mrs Tennant's glove and which she intended to preserve with waterglass.
'You're surely not ever goin' to put that dirtiness on your face and neck sometime Edie?'
'I am that. It's good.'
'But not peacocks. Edie for land's sake.'
'Peacocks is no use. They only screech.'
'I can't make you out at all.'
Edith explained. 'Their eggs've got to be lifted when there's not a soul to witness, you understand, an' they must be peacocks. I wouldn't know for why. But you just ask anyone. They are the valuablest birds, the rarest.'
'And what if you come out in the spots like they have stuck on their tails?'
Edie turned at this to face Kate and put a hand along her cheek. She was naked to the waist. In that light from the window overgrown with ivy her detached skin shone like the flower of white lilac under leaves.
'Oh dear,' she said.
'And who's it for?' Kate went on. 'Patrick?' and in one movement she jumped on her bed, lay back. But at the mention of a name and as though they had entered on a conspiracy Edith blocked even more light from that window by climbing on the sill. The sky drew a line of white round her mass of dark hair falling to shoulders which paled to blue lilac She laughed in her throat.
As they settled down Kate said:
'So Mrs Welch is to have her sister's little boy to visit Albert his name is.' Edith made no reply. 'That'll be more for us that will,' Kate added.
'He'll do his own work. He's old enough,' Edith said. 'And it'll be a change for the children,' she went on referring to Mrs Jack's girls. 'They don't get much out of forever playing on their own the sweet lambs.'
'I wish I was back 'ome the age they are Edie.'
'Hard work never done a girl any harm.'
'But doesn't Miss Burch keep us two girls at it dear. Oh my poor feet.'
'Take your stockings off Katie and I'll rub 'em for you.'
'Not in that old egg you won't.'
Edith jumped down off the sill. She took up a towel which she laid under Kate's feet. She turned back to the washbasin to wet her hands in cold water. Then leaning over Kate who had closed her eyes she began to stroke and knead the hot feet. Her hair fell forward. She was smiling as she ministered, all her bare skin above Kate's body stretched white as spring again.
'Clean your teeth before you have to do with a woman,' Edith said, 'what talk is that?'
'Have you gone out of your mind then?' Kate asked, murmuring. 'But whoever said?'
'Mr Raunce.'
'So it's Mr to you? I shan't ever. I couldn't, not after he's been Charley all this time. Oh honey is that easing my arches.'
'It's only right now he's got the position,' Edith said. 'I wish I had your ankles dear I do.'
'But why the teeth?' Kate asked.
'I expect it's smoking or something.'
'Does Patrick?'
'Oh he's got a lovely lot,' Edith said. 'But I can't say as I shall see
him even this evening. Talk of half days off in this rotten old country, why, there's nothing for a girl when your time is your own.'
'You're telling me,' said Kate.
Then Edith sat down on the side of the bed, and shook the hair back from off her face.
'Here we are,' she went on, 'the two of us on a Thursday and still inside, with nothing to move for. And the Germans across the water, that might invade any minute. Oh I shall have to journey back home. Why I'm browned off absolutely.'
Kate took her up. 'I don't think there's much in this talk about the Jerries. And if they did come over that's not saying they'd offer any impoliteness, they're ordinary working folk same as us. But speak of never going out why Charley Raunce hasn't shoved his head into the air these three years it must be.'
'Wrong side of the window is his name for it He should've grown up with us as children. Kate, my mother had every window open rain or shine and so they stayed all day.'
'He writes to his,' Kate said, 'not like you you bad girl. When did she get word from you last?'
'There's times I say that's the one thing keeps me here. I
daren't go back when I've kept silent such ages, while she's on every week
writing for news.'
'Why, listen to those birds,' Kate said.
Edith looked out. A great distance beneath she saw Mrs Tennant and her daughter-in-law starting for a walk. The dogs raced about on the terrace yapping which made the six peacocks present scream. The two women set off negligent and well dressed behind their bounding pets to get an appetite for tea.
'Was it the beginning or the end of June Jack wrote that he expected to get leave?'
'Why I told you,' Mrs Jack answered sweet and low. 'Any time after the third week in May he said.'
'I'm so glad for you both. It's been such a long time. I expect you'll go to London of course.'
'Simply look at the daffodils,' her daughter-in-law exclaimed. 'There's masses of new ones out you know. Oh isn't it lovely. Yes it's a hopeless time of the year here isn't it? I mean there's no shooting or fishing yet. He'd get very restless poor dear.'
'D'you know what I thought last night?' said Mrs Tennant. 'As I
got into bed? I shall probably be down at Merlow all the time and you won't see anything of me but I half made up my mind I would come over with you.'
'How lovely,' her daughter-in-law replied clear as a bell. 'Oh but then we must have an evening all together. Jack would be terribly disappointed.'
'Darling you've seen so little of each other with this war coming directly after the wedding. I do feel for your generation you know., Of course I'd love it. Still I don't mean to butt in. I mean the leave is precious, you must have all of him.'
There fell a silence.
'Really,' she added, 'I'm not sure what I'm saying,' and dared to look full at her son's wife. This young woman was poised with an object, it may have been the dry white bone of a bird that she was about to throw. She flung it a short distance. The dog faced in the wrong direction, ears cocked, whining, while attendant peacocks keenly dashed forward a few paces.
'Oh Badger,' she said and wiped her fingers on a frilled handkerchief, 'you are so dumb.'
'We could do a play together,' Mrs Tennant proposed.
'How lovely. The only thing is the children. I imagine it's all right leaving them. I mean nothing can happen can it?'
'I'd thought of that. I don't think so. We did before.'
'I know. Then that will be lovely.'
'When d'you think he'll let you know dear?'
Mrs Jack showed irritation. 'No Badger no,' she said. On being spoken to the dog made as if to leap up at her. 'Down damn you,' she said. 'Oh you know how it is,' she went on, 'the usual, three days notice at the most. On top of everything you've got to be looking your best as though you'd been in and out of the London shops all winter.'
'You won't have to worry your head over that,' Mrs Tennant archly told her. 'Oh by the way did I ever mention about Mrs Welch's nephew coming over to stay?'
'How old is he?'
'Just the right age Violet, nine next March. I thought it would be nice for the children that's why L bought his ticket. His father's the chauffeur to old Lord Cheltenham.'
'My dear have you broken it yet to nanny?'
'No darling to tell you the truth I didn't dare.'
'It is a bit of a facer isn't it?'
'You see I couldn't very well refuse,' Mrs Tennant said, 'and it will be so good for the children.'
'What's he like?'
'Oh Mrs Welch is a most superior woman. I'm sure he'll be perfect. I wouldn't mind if there were any possible children down in the village But even Michael's eldest boy at the Lodge Gates is dressed as a girl.'
'Do they really still believe the boys get carried off by fairies?'
'Well if they do they could expect fairies to see through the skirts. But couldn't you say the little chap's been ill?' she asked her daughter-in-law.
'Then she'd think she'll have to nurse him,' Mrs Jack objected.
'But couldn't you promise her that Mrs Welch won't let him out of sight Violet?'
'It is so difficult isn't it? And it's just what Evelyn and Moira have been wanting. Anyway bother nanny.' The two women smiled at one another, grew mischievous. 'I'll tell you what,' Mrs Jack went on, 'why don't we say it's Mrs Welch's illegitimate? Then she'll be so thrilled she'll look after him like one of her own.'
Mrs Tennant tee hee'd.
'Oh Violet you are naughty,' she said.
'Well I don't know why not. After all the worry they bring it would be a score to give them something to really chatter about.'
'And then we should have to find another cook and another nanny,' Mrs Tennant objected. 'It's quite bad enough having them die on one. Besides, Nanny Swift will think it out for herself. I shouldn't be a bit surprised if she didn't start throwing dark hints before the child has been here ten days.'
'D'you think it's true then?'
'My dear what do we know about the servants? Agatha took the trouble only this morning to let out some frightful double meanings in connection with Kate and Arthur. I must remember to call him Raunce.'
'Kate? I'd've thought it would be Edith. I wish I had that girl's skin.'
'Yes she's a lovely child isn't she? D'you know Violet I don't think I care what they do so long as they stay.'
'You poor dear,' Mrs Jack said. 'Why look,' she went on, 'there it is already.' And there it was close, on a low hill, surrounded by cypresses amongst which grew a palm tree, the marble pillars lying beside jagged cement topped walls against a blue sky with blue clouds 'D'you think we have to go right up this time?' she asked.
'I don't think we need today, do you?' her mother-in-law replied.
Calling to the dogs they turned for home. They began a talk about underclothes.
But Kate and Edith were not to get out of the Castle without difficulty. As they came down their passage ready dressed for the afternoon they were halted by a broken noise of sobbing.
'Why listen,' Kate said, 'it must be the old girl herself. Now what do you say to that?'
'You go on dear,' Edith answered, 'don't wait for me.'
'Ah now come on Edie, half the day's gone already, you don't want to bother.'
'Why the poor soul,' Edith said and went in, shutting the door after.
Miss Burch lay on her bed wrapped in a huge blue crocheted shawl. She had taken off her wig and wore a lace mob cap which hung askew. With hands inside that shawl and face sideways on the pillow over a patch of wet Miss Burch seemed given over to despair and sobbed and shook and hiccuped.
Edith took off her beret, sat on the bedside shaking her hair free.
'Oh Burchie Burchie,' she said, 'why whatever's the matter?'
She got no other answer than a wail. Then Miss Burch rolled over face to the wall. The cap twisted off her head. Edith gently put it back and because her shiny skull was sideways on that pillow she could only place the cap so that it sat at right angles to Miss Burch's pinched nose, as someone lying in the open puts their hat to protect their face and terrible eyes.
'Now then,' Edith tried again, 'what's this?' She spoke soft.
'Oh I can't bear it,' Miss Burch cried out, 'I can't bear it.'
'Can't bear what dear?' But the sobbing started redoubled.
'Now Burchie don't take on so, you shouldn't,' Edith went on, searching over this cocoon with her hand for Miss Burch's where it lay wrapped warm to her side, 'listen to me dear, it can't be so bad. You let me bring you a nice cup of tea.'
'I can't bear it,' Miss Burch replied a trifle calmer.
'It wouldn't take me more than a minute to run down. No one would ever know, the kettle was nicely on the boil in the hall when I just left it. You see now if that mightn't do you good.'
'Nothing'll ever be the same,' was all Miss Burch said.
'Now don't talk so wild Burchie. You just go easy and let me fetch you a good cup of tea.'
'You're a good child.'
'Of course I am. There dear. Rest yourself.'