• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 3165 0

not destitute, but I was penniless this morning. So I ran out and sold a cabinet to Sir John Robertson. The old fellow had offered me a hundred and forty pounds for it before the war. He would only pay forty to-day--because of the immorality of my character.' Sylvia had completely got hold of the old collector. He went on: 'The Armistice came too suddenly. I was determined to spend it with Valentine. I expected a cheque to-morrow. For some books I've sold. And Sir John was going down to the country. I had got into an old suit of mufti and I hadn't a civilian hat.' Reverberations came from the front door. He said earnestly:

'Mrs Wannop...If Valentine and I can, we will...But to-day's to-day!...If we can't we can find a hole to get into...I've heard of an antiquity shop near Bath. No special regularity of life is demanded of old furniture dealers. We should be quite happy! I have also been recommended to apply for a vice-consulate. In Toulon, I believe. I'm quite capable of taking a practical hold of life!'

The Department of Statistics would transfer him. All the Government Departments, staffed of course by non-combatants, were aching to transfer those who had served to any other old Department.

A great many voices came from below stairs. He could not leave Valentine to battle with a great number of voices. He said:

'I've got to go!' Mrs Wannop's voice answered: 'Yes, do. I'm very tired.'

He came mooning slowly down the stairs. He smiled. He exclaimed:

'Come up, you fellows. There's some Hooch for you!' He had a royal aspect. An all-powerfulness. They pushed past her and then past him on the stairs. They all ran up the stairs, even the man with the stick. The armless man shook hands with his left hand as he ran. They exclaimed enthusiasms...On all celebrations it is proper for His Majesty's officers to exclaim and to run upstairs when whisky is mentioned. How much the more so to-day!

They were alone now in the hall, he on a level with her. He looked into her eyes. He smiled. He had never smiled at her before. They had always been such serious people. He said:

'We shall have to celebrate! But I'm not mad. I'm not destitute!' He had run out to get money to celebrate with her. He had meant to go and fetch her. To celebrate that day together.

She wanted to say: 'I am falling at your feet. My arms are embracing your knees!'

Actually she said:

'I suppose it is proper to celebrate together to-day!'

Her mother had made their union. For they looked at each other for a long time. What had happened to their eyes? It was as if they had been bathed in soothing fluid: they could look the one at the other. It was no longer the one looking and the other averting the eyes, in alternation. Her mother had spoken between them. They might never have spoken of themselves. In one heart-beat apiece whilst she had been speaking they had been made certain that their union had already lasted many years...It was warm; their hearts beat quietly. They had already lived side by side for many years. They were quiet in a cavern. The Pompeian red bowed over them; the stairways whispered up and up. They would be alone together now. For ever!

She knew that he desired to say 'I hold you in my arms. My lips are on your forehead. Your breasts are being hurt by my chest!'

He said:

'Who have you got in the dining-room? It used to be the dining-room!'

Dreadful fear went through her. She said:

'A man called McKechnie. Don't go in!'

He went towards danger, mooning along. She would have caught at his sleeve, but Caesar's wife must be as brave as Caesar. Nevertheless she slipped in first. She had slipped passed him before at a hanging-stile. A Kentish kissing-gate. She said:

'Captain Tietjens is here!' She did not know whether he was a Captain or a Major. Some called him one, some another.

McKechnie looked merely grumbling: not homicidal. He grumbled:

'Look here, my bloody swine of an uncle, your pal, has had me dismissed from the army!'

Tietjens said:

'Chuck it. You know you've been demobilized to go to Asia Minor for the Government. Come and celebrate.'