The Acceptance World - Anthony Powell [42]
‘But promise you will ring up.’
She took Quiggin’s hand. He seemed surprised, perhaps even rather touched at the warmth with which she spoke. He replied with more feeling than was usual in his manner that he would certainly communicate with her.
‘I will let you know how St. J. is.’
‘Oh, do!
‘Without fail.’
‘Don’t forget.’
Mrs. Erdleigh, in her travelling clothes, had reverted to my first impression of her at the Ufford as priestess of some esoteric cult. Wrapped about with scarves, veils and stoles, she took my hand.
‘Have you met her yet?’ she enquired in a low voice.
‘Yes.’
‘Just as I told you?’
‘Yes.’
Mrs. Erdleigh smiled to herself. They piled into the car, Quiggin glowering in the back, hatless, but with a fairly thick overcoat. Stripling drove off briskly, sending the crisp snow in a shower from the wheels. The car disappeared into the gloomy shadows of the conifers.
We returned to the drawing-room. Templer threw himself into an armchair.
‘What a party,’ he said. ‘Poor old Jimmy really has landed something this time. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have to marry that woman. She’s like Rider Haggard’s She—She who must be obeyed.’
‘I thought she was wonderful,’ said Mona.
‘So does Jimmy,’ said Templer. ‘You know, I can see a look of Babs. Something in the way she carries herself.’
I, too, had noticed an odd, remote resemblance in Mrs. Erdleigh to his elder sister. However, Mona disagreed strongly, and they began to argue.
‘It was extraordinary all that stuff about Marx coming up,’ said Templer. ‘I suppose it was swilling about in old Quiggin’s head and somehow got released.’
‘Of course, you can never believe anything you can’t explain quite simply,’ said Mona.
‘Why should I?’ said Templer.
Tea merged into drinks. Mona’s temper grew worse. I began to feel distinctly tired. Jean had brought out some work, and was sewing. Templer yawned in his chair. I wondered why he and his wife did not get on better. It was extraordinary that he seemed to please so many girls, and yet not her.
‘It was a pretty stiff afternoon,’ he said.
‘I enjoyed it,’ said Mona. ‘It was a change.’
‘It certainly was.’
They began to discuss Planchette again; ending inevitably in argument. Mona stood up.
‘Let’s go out tonight.’
‘Where to?’
‘We could dine at Skindles.’
‘We’ve done that exactly a thousand and twenty-seven times. I’ve counted.’
‘Then the Ace of Spades.’
‘You know how I feel about the Ace of Spades after what happened to me there.’
‘But I like it.’
‘Anyway, wouldn’t it be nicer to eat in tonight? Unless Nick and Jean are mad to make a night of it.’
I had no wish to go out to dinner; Jean was noncommittal. The Templers continued to argue. Suddenly Mona burst into tears.
‘You never want to do anything I want,’ she said. ‘If I can’t go out. I shall go to bed. They can send up something on a tray. As a matter of fact I haven’t been feeling well all day.’
She turned from him, and almost ran from the room.
‘Oh, hell,’ said Templer. ‘I suppose I shall have to see about this. Help yourselves to another drink when you’re ready.’
He followed his wife through the door. Jean and I were alone. She gave me her hand, smiling, but resisting a closer embrace.
‘Tonight?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘Not a good idea.’
‘I see.’
‘Sorry.’
‘When?’
‘Any time.’
‘Will you come to my flat?’
‘Of course.’
‘When?’
‘I’ve told you. Any time you like.’
‘Tuesday?’
‘No, not Tuesday.’
‘Wednesday, then?’
‘I can’t manage Wednesday either.’
‘But you said any time.’
‘Any time but Tuesday or Wednesday.’
I tried to remember what plans were already made, and which could be changed. Thursday