Loving - Henry Green [16]
but he had left whole pages of calculations on the probable loss of the volatile spirit arising from evaporation in a confined space from which the outside atmosphere was excluded. He had gone into it thoroughly, had probably been prepared for almost any query. Charley appeared to find it suggestive because he whistled. There was also an encouraging note of recent date to say that no questions had been asked for years. After the whisky had been blended in cask for a period at a calculable loss it was Mrs Tennant's custom to have her butler bottle it. Mr Eldon had charged her for new bottles every time. There was even a note of his about a rise in the cost of corks which he had not been able to use over again. What this forenoon halted Charley in the study while on his weekly round rewinding clocks was a reminder in the red notebook to charge 10s 6d for a new spring to the weathervane. This was fixed on top of the tower and turned with a wind in the usual way. Where it differed from similar appliances was that Mr Tennant had had it connected to a pointer which was set to swing over a large map of the country round about elaborately painted over the mantelpiece. Raunce did not know yet how the thing worked. He stood and pondered and asked himself aloud where he could say he was going to fix the replacements if she asked him. This map was peculiar. For instance Kinalty Church was represented by a miniature painting of its tower and steeple while the Castle, which was set right in the centre, was a fair sized caricature in exaggerated Gothic. There were no names against places. As Charley stood there it so happened that the pointer was fixed unwavering E. S. E. with the arrow tip exactly on Clancarty, Clan-carty which was indicated by two nude figures male and female recumbent in gold crowns. For the artist had been told the place was a home of the old kings./ Mrs Jack came in looking for a letter from Dermot. The carpets were so deep Raunce did not hear her. He was staring. She noticed he seemed obsessed by the weathervane and turned to find what in particular held him. When she saw and thought she knew she drew breath with a hiss. 'Raunce,' she said and he had never heard her speak so sharp, 'what is it?' He faced about, holding himself quite still. 'Why Madam I never heard you. The thing seems to have got stuck Madam.' 'Stuck? What d'you mean stuck?' 'It does not seem to be revolving Madam, and I'm sure the wind is not in that quarter.' She reacted at once. She strode up to that arrow and gave it a wild tug presumably to drag the pointer away from those now disgusting people lying there in a position which, only before she had known Dermot, she had once or twice laughed at to her husband. The arrow snapped off in her hand. The vane up top might have been held in a stiff breeze or something could have jammed it. Charley knew nothing as yet about Clancarty. 'It's the spring Madam,' he said cheerful as he took that broken piece from her. 'You noticed the arm did not have any give Madam?' 'Oh get on with your work,' she said appearing to lose control and half ran out. Shaking his head, grumbling to himself, Raunce made his way upstairs. He made his way smooth down the Long Passage until he found one of the girls. It was Edith opposite Mrs Jack's chamber, doing out this lady's bathroom. 'Hello ducks,' he whispered. 'What brings you here?' she asked as soft. 'Who d'you think?' he answered. 'Get on with you,' she said. 'Look it's like this,' he began. 'This weathervane now. Where's the old works? 1 mean behind a little door or suchlike there must be a spring to do with some clockwork. At least that's what I'm led to understand.' She looked disappointed. 'Behind a little door there's clockwork? Whatever's that?' she enquired. 'Don't ask me but Mr Eldon's left a book of directions which makes mention. Here,' he said, 'give us a kiss.' She said no as though she had been waiting to say this. She backed away against sweet primrose tiles. 'No,' she repeated quite loud and decided. 'Whatever's the matter with you these days?' he asked.