Loving - Henry Green [75]
they could not regard the thing as lost. Well that's quite right because I'm wearing it now. But what I can't and shall never understand is what the boy thought he had or had got, whichever it was. Now d'you think I ought to take all this further?' 'It's so complicated,' Mrs Jack complained. 'Would you advise me to have Raunce in and get to the bottom of things I mean?' At this question the younger woman suddenly displayed unusual animation. She got up, stood with her back to the light, and began to smooth her skirts. 'Not if I were you,' she said. 'Let sleeping dogs lie.' This answer probably made Mrs Tennant obstinate. 'But I should at least like to know where it was found,' she cried. 'Why there is Edith. Edith,' she summoned her shrilly, 'come here a moment I want you.' The girl came modest through the open portals. She did not look at Mrs Jack. 'Where did you find my sapphire ring in the end Edith?' 'Me Madam?' she replied almost sharp, 'I never found your ring Madam.' 'But Raunce told me you did when he gave it back.' 'Not me Madam," Edith said looking at the floor. 'Then who did find it then?' 'I couldn't say Madam.' 'Oh why is there all this mystery Edith? The whole thing's most unsatisfactory.' The housemaid stayed silent, calm and composed. 'Yes that's all how you can go,' Mrs Tennant said as though exasperated. 'Shut the door will you please?' When they were alone again Mrs Tennant raised a hand to her ear which she tugged. 'Well there you are Violet. What d'you think?' 'I expect you heard wrong. Perhaps Raunce said someone else.' 'Oh no I'm not deaf yet. I know he named Edith.' 'Darling,' Mrs Jack entreated, 'I'm sure you're not. At all events you've got your ring back haven't you?' 'Yes but I don't like having things hang over me.' 'Hanging over you?' 'When there's something unexplained. Don't you ever feel somehow that you must get whatever it is cleared up? And then I don't think I can afford to keep the insurance going. It comes so frightfully expensive these days. But if I feel that there is someone not quite honest who perhaps was caught out by the servants and made to give the thing back then I do think it would be madness to let the insurance drop. Violet don't you find that everything now is the most frightful dilemma always? But I don't suppose you do. You're so wonderfully calm all the time dear.' 'I'm not if you only knew. But you've got so many worries with everything you have to manage.' 'That's just it. And when you feel there's someone in the house you can't trust matters become almost impossible.' 'Someone you can't trust?' the young woman asked in an agitated voice so that Mrs Tennant looked but could not see her expression, standing as she was against the light. 'Why yes,' Mrs Tennant said, 'because that ring must have been somewhere to have been found.' 'Oh of course.' 'Then Violet you don't really consider I need do any more?' 'Well I don't see why. I'd let sleeping dogs rest,' the young woman repeated. 'Well perhaps you're right. Oh and darling Violet there's this other thing. You know Agatha is ill now so that with Nanny Swift that makes two trays for every meal. As a matter of fact Jane and Mary are being very good and I've been able to ease things for the pantry by telling Raunce to discontinue the fires now it's so much warmer. The pictures won't come to any harm for the weather really is quite hot. At the same time it makes rather a lot for Edith when she has to take the children out. There's all the cleaning still to be done as usual. So I was wondering Violet darling if you could possibly take on the children a bit more after Jack's leave is up but only in the afternoons of course.' As soon as the children were mentioned the younger woman relaxed, sat down again. There came over her face the expression of a spoiled child. 'Why of course,' she said. 'I was going to anyway.' 'You are a brick Violet. One knows one can always rely on you. Things are really becoming detestable in these big houses. I must have a word with Doctor Connolly. It's all very well I shall tell him his killing