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By Root 2229 0

four almost black carnations for the ladies. When he reached the room where they were sitting there was a burst of laughter. He paused on the threshold rather bewildered: "Come in, darling, it isn't anything. It's only we had a bet on what coloured button-hole you'd be wearing and none of us won." They still giggled a little as they pinned on the flowers he had brought them; all except Mrs. Beaver who said, "Any time you are buying cuttings or seeds do get them through me. I've made quite a little business of it, perhaps you didn't know... all kinds of rather unusual flowers. I do everything like that for Sylvia Newport and all sorts of people." "You must talk to my head man about it." "Well to tell you the truth I have-this morning while you were in church. He seems quite to understand." They left early, so as to reach London in time for dinner. In the car Daisy said, "Golly what a house." "Now you can see what I've been through all these years." "My poor Brenda," said Veronica, unpinning her carnation and throwing it from the window into the side of the road. "You know," Brenda confided next day, "I'm not absolutely happy about Tony." "What's the old boy been up to?" asked Polly. "Nothing much yet, but I do see it's pretty boring for him at Hetton all this time." "I shouldn't worry." "Oh, I'm not worrying. It's only, supposing he took to drink or something. It would make everything very difficult." "I shouldn't have said that was his thing... We must get him interested in a girl." "If only we could... Who is there?" "There's always old Sybil." "Darling, he's known her all his life." "Or Souki de Foucauld-Esterhazy." "He isn't his best with Americans." "Well we'll find him someone." "The trouble is that I've become such a habit with him-he won't take easily to a new one... ought she to be like me, or quite different?" "I'd say, different, but it's hard to tell." They discussed this problem in all its aspects.

Three

Brenda wrote:

Darling Tony,

Sorry not to have written or rung up but I've had such a busy time with bimetallism. v. complicated. Coming down Saturday with Polly again. Good her coming twice-Lyonesse can't be as beastly as most of the rooms can it. Also charming girl I have taken up with who I want us to be kind to. She'd had a terrible life and she lives in one of these flats called Jenny Abdul Akbar. Not black but married one. Get her to tell you. She'll come by train 3. 18 I expect. Must stop now and go to lecture.

Keep away from the Demon Rum. xxxxx

Brenda.

Saw Jock last night at Caf�e Paris with shameless blonde. Who? Cin no Djinn how? has rheumatism and Marjorie is v. put out about it. She thinks his pelvis is out of place and Cruttwell won't do him which is pretty mean considering all the people she has brought there.

"Are you certain Jenny will be Tony's tea?" "You can't ever be certain," said Polly. "She bores my pants off, but she's a good trier." "Is mummy coming down today, daddy?" "Yes." "Who else?" "Someone called Abdul Akbar." "What a silly name. Is she foreign?" "I don't know." "Sounds foreign, doesn't she, daddy? D'you think she won't be able to talk any English? Is she black?" "Mummy says not." "Oh... who else?" "Lady Cockpurse." "The monkey woman. You know she wasn't a bit like a monkey except perhaps her face and I don't think she had a tail because I looked as close as anything... unless perhaps she has it rolled up between her legs. D'you think she has, daddy?" "I shouldn't be surprised." "Very uncomfortable." Tony and John were friends again; but it had been a leaden week. It was part of Polly Cockpurse's plan to arrive late at Hetton. "Give the girl a chance to get down to it," she said. So she and Brenda did not leave London until Jenny was already on her way from the station. It was a day of bitter cold and occasional rain. The resolute little figure huddled herself in the rugs until they reached the gates. Then she opened her bag, tucked up her veil, shook out her powder puff and put her face to rights. She licked the rouge from her finger with a sharp red tongue. Tony was in