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By Root 2640 0

I left Carolo, as you know, I was kept by Donners for a time. At least people are all aware of that. It is such a relief not to have to explain everything about oneself to everyone. We met just about the time when Donners was getting restive about the way Baby Wentworth was treating him. He was taking Lady Ardglass out quite often too, but she never really liked being seen with him. I think she found him terribly unsmart. So did Baby Wentworth, I believe, if it comes to that. I did not mind that drab side of him. I got tired of him for other reasons, although he can be nice in his own particular way. He is awful, of course, at times. Really awful. But he can be generous – I mean morally generous – too. I am not interested in money. One thing about Donners, he does not know what jealousy means. When Baby was running round with Ralph Barnby, he did not mind at all. That did not affect me in one way, because unlike so many women, I prefer only one man at a time. But it is nice not to be bothered about where you went last night, or where you are going to tomorrow afternoon. Don’t you agree?’

‘Certainly I do. Was Carolo like that – jealous in that way?’

‘A bit. But Carolo’s chief interest is in making conquests, he doesn’t much mind who it is. I shouldn’t wonder if he doesn’t run after Audrey Maclintick. Probably Maclintick would be glad of someone to keep her quiet and take her off his hands. What a bitch she is.’

‘All the same, there is a difference between being fed up with your wife and wanting another man to take her off your hands.’

‘There wasn’t in Carolo’s case. He was thankful when I fixed myself up. That is part of his simple nature, which is his chief charm. I had really left Donners by the time I met Hugh. What do you think about Hugh?’

‘I should guess that he was not particularly jealous as men go.’

‘Oh, I don’t mean that. He isn’t. I mean what do you think of him as a man?’

‘You know quite well, Matilda, that he is a great friend of mine.’

‘But his work … I do think he is … frightfully intelligent … a great man … whatever you like. Everything one says of that sort always sounds silly about someone you know – certainly someone you are married to. I had quite enough of being told my husband was a genius when I was Carolo’s wife. But you do agree about Hugh, don’t you, Nick?’

‘Yes, I do, as a matter of fact.’

‘That is why I am so worried about the symphony. You see, I am sure it will not be properly appreciated. People are so stupid.’

I longed to hear more about Sir Magnus Donners; whether some of the very circumstantial, very highly coloured stories that circulated about the elaboration of his idiosyncrasies, were at all near the truth. However, the moment to acquire such information, the moment for such frivolities, if it had ever existed, was now past. The tone had become too serious I could not imagine what the next revelation would be; certainly nothing so light-hearted as a first-hand account of a millionaire’s sexual fantasies.

‘Then there is this business of both of us having a career.’

‘That is always difficult.’

‘I don’t want never to act again.’

‘Of course not.’

‘After all, if Hugh wanted to marry a squaw, he could easily have found a squaw. They abound in musical circles. It is the answer for lots of artists.’

‘Hugh has always been against squaws. Rightly, I think. In the long run, in my opinion, a squaw is even more nuisance than her antithesis – and often cooks worse too.’

‘Then why do Hugh and I find it so difficult to get on together?’

‘But you always seem to get on a treat.’

‘That’s what you think.’

‘Well, don’t you – when you look at the Maclinticks, for example?’

‘And then …’

I thought for a moment she was going to speak of the child’s death, which I now saw had dislocated their marriage more seriously than anyone had supposed from the outside. Instead, she returned to her earlier theme.

‘And now he has gone and fallen in love with your sister-in-law, Priscilla.’

‘But—’

Matilda laughed at the way in which I failed to find any answer. There was really nothing for me to say.