Loving - Henry Green [32]
servants' hall. Breakfast that morning took place at first in utter silence. Even Kate looked down her nose. Raunce fidgeted and often glanced quickly at Edith who was hurried in everything she did. But as for Miss Burch she could not eat anything at all hardly. Her hand shook so she spilled the tea from out her cup. Only Paddy behaved as usual, concentrated on his food. Before this meal was done Miss Burch hastened out by the scullery door. She passed through to the kitchen. But Mrs Welch sat adamant with little Albert and barely looked round to return Agatha's dark good morning. So Miss Burch went off to her room to be alone. Meantime Charley spoke up in the hall. There's someone got to take the breakfast tray,' he said. 'Oh I couldn't,' Edith said at once, 'I'd spill it on that bed.' It was for her to answer because it was her duty each morning. There'll need be two trays,' Kate put in sly. There will not,' Raunce replied his eyes on Bert, 'the other party left the Castle first thing by pedal bicycle,' he said. The Captain?' Bert asked, 'I seen 'im as I was doin' the brass.' It was probably instinct made the lad continue as he did. 'What room did he occupy then?' he enquired. 'Ah you may well ask boy,' Raunce answered solemn. At that Edith broke out with, 'I'm surprised at you Mr Raunce I am really, that you should make a mystery out of nothing.' She seemed furious and Kate watched avidly. 'Listen Bert,' Edith went on, 'the Captain 'e spent the night in my lady's bed next 'er, an' she was nude I saw, only they overslept the two of them as I know from when I went to open the room in the morning. And don't you let anyone tell you different because it was me found it and called Aggie Burch so there.' 'I'll bet they overslept,' Kate announced while Raunce's lad gaped at Edith. Raunce could not let this pass. 'That's enough thank you my gel,' he said, 'I'll thank you...' he was going on when a great braying laugh started out of the lamp-man. It swelled. It filled the room. Raunce said, 'Look what you've done,' and in his turn began to laugh. Kate joined in. So at last did Edith. These two girls did not giggle this time, they both deeply laughed. Only Bert was left as if embarrassed, twisting a fork over and over on the table. 'Why?' Raunce threw out at the first pause and in Nanny Swift's falsetto. 'All night? And in the same bed as well? Oh dear.' 'And I hope she enjoyed it there,' Kate pronounced, become serious. 'Now Kate!' Edith said starting to blush. Raunce watched. 'I got nothing against 'er,' Kate went on. 'She's all right she is.; Because it's not natural for a married woman with 'er 'usband away i' at the war. Not that Mr Jack ever was...' but at this Raunce interrupted loud. 'Now then,' he said, 'what d'you know about bein' a married woman?' 'Not that 'e ever was much to go on with,' Kate finished dogged. 'You can say what you please,' Edith replied scarlet and they could all see that she was truly angry still. 'But 'e tried to get me in a dark corner one morning just the same,' she said. 'E didn't,' Raunce broke out. 'Oh there's no call for you to fash yourself Mr Raunce, there was I no harm done nor offence taken if you're so keen to learn.' 'I'm sure it's no concern of mine,' he said and seemed on tenterhooks. 'Now you mention it I wouldn't say he'd never made a grab at me,' Kate brought out in a small voice. With great calmness Raunce commented, 'You surprise me.' 'You don't like to say he'd never but you never have said he did,' Edith cried and seemed to accuse. 'O. K. dear O. K. I know you found Mrs Jack and the Captain.' 'Of course I found 'em,' Edith remarked subsiding. 'Well now who's going to take her tray?' Raunce asked. Tell you what, I will.' 'But that would give 'er the idea you thought the Captain was up there yet,' Edith objected. 'Go on then I'll take the old tray,' Kate offered. 'Then she'll think I'm on to what she was doing last night,' said Edith. 'Well so she must if you did discover 'em.' 'All right dear I needs must then even if I should drop it,' Edith announced as she got up from table.